Celtic’s recent purple patch came to a halt at Livingston yesterday but any lingering disappointment was offset by the fact that the Parkhead side can reflect on the staidness of the draw from their vantage point at the top of the table. For the first time this term Brendan Rodgers’ side are back on top – they are level on point with Hearts but boast a considerably superior goal difference than the Tynecastle side – and as such both sides left yesterday’s encounter at the Tony Macaroni Arena declaring themselves relatively satisfied. Celtic will feel that they cold well have won the game given the saves that Livingston goalkeeper Liam Kelly pulled off.

Any surprises?

Back-up Celtic keeper Scott Bain started the game with Craig Gordon out because of a hip injury. The problem will rule him out of Scotland’s double header against Albania and Israel but other than that both sides were as expected. Livingston defended resolutely throughout while Celtic looked leggy in the aftermath of Thursday’s Europa League win over Leipzig. A minute’s silence was impeccably observed before the game but in terms of what went on once the whistle blew, it was fairly in keeping with the season that both sides have had up until this point. However, given that Celtic have been scoring with some abandon of late – in their previous five domestic games before yesterday Rodgers’ side had netted 23 goals with just two in reply – the fact the game remained goalless would have raised an eyebrow particularly as the visitors scrambled for a frantic late winner.

Does Gary Holt have a point about Liam Kelly?

The Livingston manager was quick to talk up the chances of the 22-year-old receiving international recognition on the back of a performance in which he repelled Celtic with a number of stops. At one stage in the second period as Celtic looked to turn the screw, Tom Rogic, as he has done so often in a turgid game, shuffled his feet and let fly only to see Kelly twist his body and acrobatically push the ball over the bar. It seemed then that the die was cast for the Parkhead side. But with Gordon set to step out of Alex McLeish’s side Holt believes that Kelly is deserving of his chance to make it into the international fold.” I think he should be getting the recognition he deserves,” said the Livingston manager. “He deserves the praise he’s getting and the credit. You just hope other people are taking note of him because I believe he should be on the fringes or in the squads for people to have a look at him and see what he’s about, expose him to international football. I think he’s up there with the youngest and best goalkeepers in the league.”

Can Celtic blame the surface for the draw?

There is no question that the surface definitely had a role to play in the game. Celtic struggled too at Rugby Park earlier in the season and there was a feeling yesterday that underfoot conditions had a contributory part in what was a relatively staid encounter. Brendan Rodgers, though, was unwilling to cite the surface as a reason for the result. “We did the basics very, very well,” he said. “Livingston test you with how they play with throw-ins, deep free-kicks and I thought we stood up that really well.

“Then the game opens up a little bit and we had chances and their goalkeeper was man of the match. He made three fantastic saves and I have no complaints. My team has given everything over the last seven weeks and we have to give credit to Livingston. They are a tough team to break down and they have been up at the top. ‘he season started slowly for us. But I’ve been so pleased with the last seven weeks or so – the performance level.

“We were never going top reach the level today in terms of goals and creativity as the surface is really difficult for that. You add to that a team which defends really well and it was always going to be difficult for us. It’s a good point here on the back of all the games we’ve had.”

Are Livingston safe?

The tip for many before the season began to go straight back down, the East Lothian side already look assured of their top flight status. Organised, resilient and with a strong team spirit throughout, Holt has steadied Livingston and created a team who are very difficult to beat, especially on their own turf. Celtic huffed and puffed but could not find a way to blow them over. Craig Halkett impressed at the back as did Kelly and Holt believes that his captain typifies the will-to-win within his team. “He had a wee tweak in his hamstring, he felt a wee niggle, but he said it settled it down,” said the Livingston manager. “That typifies what we are about. They’ve set a bar now that they can’t fall below. They can’t have a performance like that just because it’s Celtic on TV. But that’s us every week, every day, we have to be at it. Today we were at it and that typifies Livingston Football Club and where they have come from and what they have achieved to get to this level.”

Are Celtic capable of claiming another Treble?

Holt claimed after the game that the point taken was so satisfying because he expects that Celtic will go on and win a third successive domestic Treble. Certainly, having got themselves back on top of the league having weathered an early season storm few would expect Brendan Rodgers’ side to offer any encouragement not to the chasing pack. In recent weeks there have been a verve and a swashbuckling aspect to Celtic and their free-scoring exploits but another Treble is a different thing entirely as one off day could see it slip from grasp. Certainly, though, they remain the team to beat.