CELTIC’S players may be repeating the mantra that they have adopted tunnel vision in their pursuit of the league title, and it may very well be true that they care little for what Rangers are doing as they focus on their own matches.
It is impossible though for them not to be aware of every single instance when their rivals lose a goal; they just have to look at the stands, after all.
So it was that Nir Bitton gazed around the Tony Macaroni Arena in befuddlement on Wednesday night as the Celtic supporters started going potty, even when their own side was trailing by two goals to one.
The penny soon dropped that Hamilton must have scored at Ibrox, but for Bitton, that would have meant nothing had they not redeemed their own situation, rescuing a point at Livingston late on to widen the gap at the top of the league further, even while spilling points of their own.
“I don't know about the other guys, but I heard our fans roaring during the game when we were 2-1 [down],” Bitton said. “So, I was like, 'what's going on?
“Then I realised Rangers were playing at the same time, so I thought something happened there.
“But you know, during the game you don't think about it, you concentrate on yourself you concentrate on your game.
“We need to make sure that we stick to our game plan, stick to the things that the manager wants us to do.
"We were 12 [points ahead] before, so one more point, it's okay. It's a long way to go, still nine games. Twenty-seven points is enough points to try and close the gap, we need to make sure it's not going to happen.
“We need to make sure we remain focused, remain concentrated. And we need to win as many games as we can.”
They didn’t manage to win at Livingston in the end, but the point they did secure could be a big one from a psychological point of view given events elsewhere.
The style of game that Livingston force the opposition to play when they come calling doesn’t necessarily suit Celtic, but Bitton says it is their ability to adapt to such situations that gives them the belief they can handle any set of circumstances.
"It is not the best place to come and play,” he said. “We knew before the game it's going to be a dirty game. It's going to be a lot of fighting a lot of the dirty side of the game. We needed to match it.
“I think we played some good football throughout the game. We created enough chances to win. We gave away two goals and we got punished so me to make sure it's not going to happen again.
"We always believe in ourselves. After we scored the first goal, I felt quite comfortable.
“I felt that we're going to have a good night but then we get away two goals, so we had to chase the game.
“But you have guys on the bench that can change the game for you. And they did that.
"I think when you play for a club like Celtic you have to believe all the time. You play for a massive club, you're always fighting for trophies, you have to have this winning mentality. You have to [have it], every game, even if we are down, even if we are up.
“We play the same style of play and we will always be on the front foot and try to win the game. It's a special dressing room to be in.”
Bitton, meanwhile, is looking forward to the prospect of facing up to some of his Celtic teammates for his country later this month, with the massive Euro 2020 playoff fixture between Israel and Scotland at Hampden looming on the horizon.
Israel will go into the match without their talismanic forward Moanes Dabbur, with the Hoffenheim striker suffering a knee injury, but Bitton is hopeful his side can shock his adopted homeland if they play to their potential.
"It's going to be a tough match, a difficult match,” he said.
“We need to be our best to beat Scotland, they have good players around the pitch, and we need to match it."
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