CELTIC STUMBLE

UNBEATEN in seven and back at the top of the Premiership table — yet something about this Celtic team remains off-kilter.

It might simply be the absence of the Parkhead crowd. The teething problems that go with assimilating a bunch of new signings is surely a contributory factor, too.

However, as Neil Lennon watched Livingston substitute Carlo Pignatiello fluff a stoppage-time chance to head an equalising goal, there was a sense that the champions are expending far too much nervous energy in pursuit of league points.

True, its not every week a player will come up with a strike as impressive as that unleashed by the visitors’ Jullien Serrano as this game drifted towards its conclusion.

But having responded forcefully to the loss of an early penalty to take a half-time lead, Lennon’s players looked relieved to hear the final whistle blow.

A busy transfer window has deepened an already strong pool of players available to the Celtic manager and he has been eager to rotate. There were three changes to the team that prevailed at St Mirren in midweek, with Jeremie Frimpong, Olivier Ntcham and Albian Ajeti taking the places of James Forrest, Patryk Klimala and Odsonne Edouard.

Those three dropped to the bench and were joined by Tom Rogic but rumours of a Leigh Griffiths return to the match-day squad again came to nothing.

Lennon has been vocal about his fears that a lack of spectators could blunt his team’s edge the longer it is forced to play behind closed doors.

To mitigate, the club have been pumping crowd noise over the tannoy system but, even with a range of sounds at the operator’s fingertips, nothing can explicate that instinctive, collective reaction to a contentious moment on the field.

Would referee Gavin Duncan have been influenced by a louder call for a penalty when an unsighted Ciaron Brown accidentally blocked Ryan Christie’s shot with an arm? Possibly not.

But perhaps the lack of a scrutinising home audience allowed the official to be clear-eyed as he made the call on Kristoffer Ajer’s hand-ball as Scott Tiffoney attempted to cross from the byline.

Jason Holt blocked out the canned atmosphere to fire the ball high past Vasilis Barkas from the spot.

Without the crowd to spark a reaction, Celtic had to find the answer within and they did so in a manner befitting serial winners. Rather than sulk, they forced themselves ahead within seven minutes.

Callum McGregor took the initiative for the equaliser, arrowing the ball towards the top corner from just inside the penalty box, with a deflection off Nicky Devlin’s back helping his effort find its target.

McGregor was also to the fore for the second goal, piercing the Livingston defence with a pass into the run of Greg Taylor, the weight of the ball allowing the wing-back to pick out Christie, who finished from close range.

With Edouard afforded a rest on the subs’ bench, Christie was playing in support of Ajeti, who continues his quest for full fitness after a £5million move from West Ham.

Ajeti’s willingness to stay high and play up against the opposing defence offers a different kind of option for Lennon and the Swiss international has also proved himself adept at bagging a goal, even while short of full power.

His fourth Premiership strike was a coolly taken left-foot strike after swift, direct play saw the ball move from Ntcham through to Christie, whose pass tempted Robbie McCrorie into an ill-advised dash from his line.

Early in the second half, there was no sense of just how crucial that goal would prove.

Shane Duffy’s strike rate has been threatening to rival the club’s forwards following his loan switch from Brighton. There was to be no third consecutive goal for the Irish defender, though, his closest attempt coming with a trademark towering header at the back post that found the side-netting.

Having started with Scott Pittman in support of Tiffoney, Gary Holt and David Martindale had attempted to match Celtic’s shape but with McGregor and Ntcham playing with verve in midfield, they could not match the home team’s quickness and intensity.

The now customary glut of substitutions brought the novel sight of two brothers being summoned to enter the fray at the same time — but on different sides.

First onto the pitch was Celtic’s James Forrest, quickly followed by Livingston’s Alan. In normal circumstances, there would have been a sizeable family contingent here to see the siblings play against each other for the first time. Instead, it was left to those in the directors’ box to mark the occasion with some formal applause. The win seemed secure but Celtic were disabused of that thought by Serrano’s strike, a thumping, swirling gem of a hit from outwards of 20 yards. Barkas leapt but needn’t have bothered as the ball fizzed beyond him.

There ensued some nervy minutes for the home side with Livvy sub Pignatiello finding space in the box but failing to find a good aerial connection to send the ball wide.

Lennon’s relief was matched only by Holt’s frustration at the end. ‘There’s big disappointment that we didn’t get more,’ said the Livingston boss. ‘Celtic’s second goal was offside and we had a great chance at the end through Carlo.

‘He knows to get into those areas. I think he’s maybe took his eye off it and he won’t sleep tonight.’