LIVINGSTON
LIAM KELLY ALAN LITHGOW CRAIG HALKETT DECLAN GALLAGHER BOBBY BURNS SHAUN BYRNE SCOTT PITTMAN STEVEN LAWSON STEVEN LAWLESS KEAGHAN JACOBS DOLLY MENGA 8 7 8 7 6 7 7 6 6 7 6 CELTIC went from light show to fight show as the Hoops were made to scrap for the point that sent them top.
The Parkhead side managed to shine against Leipzig last week but there was nothing flashy about this stalemate with Livingston.
The Lions left Brendan Rodgers’s men toothless as the champions saw their domestic juggernaut grind to a halt against a team who are making a name for themselves as a nightmare to play against.
Gary Holt’s men are no longer top-flight shock troops.
It’s no surprise to see them squeeze the life out of Celts – as just about every other side in the division has found the Tony Macaroni a brutally tough place to get out of in one piece.
It’s not just the plastic pitch that rivals hate – it’s the men on it who do their bit to make West Lothian one of the most dreaded stopping points in the Premiership.
Livi had to dig in towards the end of the game with back division stalwarts Craig Halkett, Declan Gallagher and Alan Lithgow rock solid in front of a heroic Liam Kelly.
But there was also a bit of fortune as outball specialist Dolly Menga was left off the hook despite aiming a headbutt at Ryan Christie.
The frontman can expect a call from the compliance officer but Celtic spent most of their Sunday lunchtime headbutting an amber brick wall.
The in-form Hoops had rattled 23 goals in their last five games in Scotland and taken Leipzig down in Europe but ran into a group who defended their goal like the family jewels.
Holt’s outfit kept the Parkhead men at bay for long spells and when the expected late onslaught came they were prepared to stand firm.
It’s easy to see why so many sides have struggled against Livingston this season. It’s not just the deep and dogged defending either.
Livi get the ball down the channels to the likes of Menga, get up the pitch and get themselves plenty of set-pieces.
That’s just where the problems start for rivals. Lithgow’s long throws might not be the most sophisticated means of attack but they don’t half give defences grief.
And that was what former Livi player-boss Kenny Miller faced when he headed across the pitch for a stint on media duty.
The ex-Ger copped it from Hoops fans but their side had their work cut out keeping Holt’s flying squad at bay.
The Lions got off to a roaring start, soaked up pressure for a while then nearly surged ahead when they turned the heat on before half-time.
Gallagher twice saw headers tipped over by Scott Bain – in for the injured Craig Gordon – in quick succession. A superb save was then required to paw out his third nod towards goal, although it wouldn’t have counted as the corner had gone out of play before looping back in.
It was still a superb stop, just like the block from Mikael Lustig earlier on when the Swede took a Halkett drive in the delicates.
Celtic had their moments during the first half as well. Kelly made a brilliant block to deny Ryan Christie after a neat move started by James Forrest and Scott Pittman bravely hurled himself in the path of Tom Rogic’s dig on the rebound.
Kelly also snuffed out Scott Sinclair at his near post before the attacker headed narrowly wide.
Forrest clipped the bar just as half-time approached following a slick move with Christie then Rogic saw his curler spinning inches over but Livi were giving as good as they got.
They continued to frustrate and threaten in equal measure after the break. It was panic stations at the back for Celtic when Keaghan Jacobs