BRENDAN Rodgers last night insisted his Celtic team would ever look to fatigue as an excuse for under-par performances.

The champions will have played nine games in 28 days by the time the derby against Rangers is over on December 30.

And while the players have not been at their very best in recent weeks, Rodgers wasn't looking for sympathy.

Read more: Celtic 3, Hamilton Academical 1: Brendan Rodgers's team stretch their unbeaten run to 69 games

Asked about tiredness, Rodgers said: "Listen you have to expect something, but one of their chances came from us. It was loose play by Jozo Simunovic being short on the passback and the boy should maybe do better.

“But listen, it’s not an excuse for us. We know we’re in a run of games and it’s a really tight schedule - but that’s been the way since June.

“Since our first pre-season game started we’ve been training, playing, training, playing right the way through to now. It’s not an excuse for us.

“We have to be ready to work hard and press the game and when we have the ball look after it - and I thought in the main that the team did that really well.

“Of course Hamilton could put some risk into the game towards the end but we saw it through and got the result."

Read more: Martin Canning proud of his Hamilton players after their brave display at Celtic Park

Olivier Ntcham scored his fifth goal of the season and Rodgers has been pleased with how the Frenchman has come on.

The Celtic manager said: "I think he’s developing very, very well, as I would expect.

He’s a highly gifted player, the first goal is wonderful technique, it’s a brilliant finish.

“He’s got really good technique, good pace, good awareness and it’s just about him getting used to the number of games.

"Now he’s getting that consistency and adapting to everything since he’s moved to here and you see his quality tonight was very good. He’s developing very well."