Celtic 0-0 Livingston: Hosts miss penalty and chance to go top

Livingston are four games unbeaten after frustrating Celtic

Giorgios Giakoumakis missed an injury-time penalty as Celtic failed to climb top of the Scottish Premiership after a frustrating draw with Livingston.

Despite 85% possession, it was just the hosts' second attempt on target as resolute Livingston dug in for a point.

Celtic stay second, now a point behind Rangers, who face Motherwell on Sunday.

Livingston - who had a late penalty shout turned rejected when Joe Hart and Obileye collided - drop a place to 10th despite going four unbeaten and making it four points from two meetings with Celtic this season.

• Reaction & as it happened

The penalty was Stryjek's first save as Livingston expertly nullified the hosts. David Martindale's men were the last side to inflict a league defeat on Celtic, winning 1-0 in West Lothian in September, and came to Glasgow with two victories in a three-game unbeaten run.

Their belief and organisation shone through despite manager Martindale having to get "inventive" with his team set-up after a couple of injuries on Friday scuppered his plans.

The hastily arranged three-man backline of Tom Parkes, Jack Fitzwater and Obileye stood strong and repelled everything Celtic could throw at them.

Even when Obileye's late moment of madness presented Celtic with the chance of a fifth straight league win, Stryjek came to his defender's rescue with a save low to his right.

Missing the midfield artistry of Tom Rogic, Celtic concentrated their attacks down the flanks, with a succession of deliveries from Jota and Anthony Ralston dealt with by the visitors.

Josip Juranovic and Liel Abada flashed efforts over the bar and Carl Starfelt headed narrowly too high, but Celtic had not created a chance of note until the stroke of half-time when Ralston's curling shot towards the far post was nodded off the line by Fitzwater.

The pattern continued and by the hour mark, home manager Ange Postecoglou had seen enough. Centre-back Carl Starleft could not continue after picking up an injury, and striker Kyogo Furuhashi was sent on while Mikey Johnston replaced Abada in a double change.

Still Celtic lacked a cutting edge and their efforts were summed up when David Turnbull picked out Jota unmarked, only for the Portuguese winger to take a fresh-air swipe.

Livingston posed no threat at the other end, bar a shot from substitute Alan Forrest that deflected over, but were incensed when Hart went unpunished for colliding with Obileye as the goalkeeper came out to clear a free-kick.

There was further drama to come with Giakoumakis penalty miss. The Celtic forward could have made amends in the dying embers of six added minutes, but scuffed wide with the goal gaping.

Man of the match - Jack Fitzwater

Cleared one off the line and an integral part of Livingston's defensive masterclass

What did we learn?

Celtic have been in commanding domestic form but looked bereft of ideas on how to break down the well-drilled visitors.

Rogic's loss was keenly felt as Celtic continually went wide and their deliveries hit a brick wall of Livingston's towering three-man defence.

And after scoring on his first start in Celtic's previous home outing, this was a nightmare afternoon for Giakoumakis who offered little threat throughout before his botched injury-time finsihing.

As for Livingston, Martindale got his tactical plan spot on. They came for a point, got it relatively comfortably, and could even have stolen all three had Hart been penalised for clattering Obileye.

What's next?

Celtic are on Europa League duty against Ferencvaros in Budapest on Thursday (20:00 GMT) before facing Dundee in the Premiership next Sunday at midday. Livingston host Hibernian the previous day (15:00).