JUST when it appeared as if Celtic had finally put their erratic early-season form firmly behind them and were set to launch a sustained push for the cinch Premiership trophy, all of their old failings resurfaced.

Ange Postecoglou’s side, on an impressive four game winning run since the international break, had no shortage of incentive to triumph in their league meeting with Livingston at a packed and expectant Parkhead yesterday.

A victory over opponents who had defeated them 1-0 at the Tony Macaroni Arena last month would have avenged that painful loss and propelled them, even just briefly, to the head of the top flight table.

It would have been a significant milestone and a clear indication they were on the right track under their Greek-Australian head coach and are capable of reclaiming the Scottish title this term.

But Celtic proved incapable of breaking down rivals who made their intentions clear from kick-off – to defend in numbers, frustrate their hosts’ efforts in the final third and grind out a draw – and dropped two more points.

Their thoroughly wretched afternoon was capped when Max Stryjek saved a poorly-struck Georgios Giakoumakis penalty in the third minute of injury time.

The fans had come to laud their on-form heroes, applaud their stylish brand of attacking football  and celebrate them leapfrogging Rangers. Instead, a deafening chorus of boos greeted the final whistle.

If referee Bobby Madden had awarded a spot kick to Livingston when Ayo Obileye went to ground following a challenge by Joe Hart late on, then they could very easily have suffered a second straight reverse to the West Lothian outfit. 

Regular observers of Celtic this season will have experienced a sense of déjà vu as they watched the action unfold. Stunning wins over Dundee, Hearts and St Mirren back in August were quickly followed by defeats to Rangers and Livingston and a draw against Dundee United. Have they really turned a corner? It didn’t look like it.

Not having Tom Rogic, the Australian playmaker who has been sidelined for a fortnight by a hamstring injury, and Kyogo Furuhashi, the Japanese striker who has scored 10 goals since arriving in this country and was rested, in the starting line-up yesterday resulted in a noticeable dip in performance level. 

Nir Bitton and Giakoumakis came in and Callum McGregor and his team mates dominated possession and applied sustained pressure to their adversaries. But Stryjek was never seriously tested. The goalkeeper had little difficulty collecting the unthreatening high balls that were floated into his six yard box. 

David Turnbull filled the void left by Rogic and created Celtic’s two best chances of the first-half shortly before half-time. He picked out Carl Starfelt with a dipping free-kick only for the centre half to head over the crossbar. He then teed up Anthony Ralston for a shot with a back heel. Jack Fitzwater, though, headed clear to safety.

Livingston, whose form has picked up in recent weeks with wins over St Johnstone and Ross County away and a home draw with Dundee United, offered next to nothing in attack. But they contained, thanks to their five, sometimes six, man rearguard, their free-scoring hosts well.

Celtic were lacking spark, urgency and invention in their play. Postecoglou left it until the 58th minute to make changes. But when he saw Cameron Carter-Vickers fail to find Ralston with a simple crossfield pass and put the ball out for a throw-in he clearly felt something needed to be done.

He replaced Starfelt, who suffered a minor injury, with Furuhashi and Liel Abada, who had made little impact on proceedings out wide, with Mikey Johnston. The home support heralded the substitutes’ arrival on the park with a huge roar. But they could find no way through their rivals backline. They were careless in possession and took the wrong decision far too often. 

Even Jota, the Benfica loanee who has quickly endeared himself to the Celtic support with his pace and trickery, was having an off day. He was presented with a gilt-edged opportunity to break the deadlock when Turnbull found him with a chip. The winger completely miscued his attempt.

The biggest cheer of the afternoon came at the start of the match when the Green Brigade showed the Celtic board what they thought about the prospect of Police Scotland assistant chief constable Bernard Higgins, who once enforced the much-hated Offensive Behaviour at Football Act, being appointed to a senior security role.

A giant banner was unfurled that read: “His Evil Eyes Have No Place in Paradise”. Chants of “Higgins! Higgins! Get to f***!” and “If You Hate Bernard Higgins Clap Your Hands” followed. But the ultra group would have been more concerned with what they were witnessing on the park than what was supposedly happening off it as the game wore on.

James Forrest made his return from injury with eight minutes remaining when he took over from Jota. But the vastly-experienced wide man, playing in his first game in six weeks, was unable to find a way through.

It took a moment of madness from Obileye, who needlessly lashed out at Furuhashi off the ball, for Postecoglou’s men to get a chance edge in front. Madden, who had spent the majority of the afternoon being subjected to the most vitriolic abuse, point straight at the spot and showed the centre half a straight red card.

Giakoumakis, not Josip Juranovic, stepped forward and hit a weak attempt which Stryjek saved ease. Why did the Celtic left back, who had netted from 12 yards out against Real Betis and St Johnstone, not take it? It was that kind of day for the Parkhead club.

Rangers lead the Premiership by a point and play Motherwell at Fir Park at noon today; they will only be caught if their city rivals find some much-needed consistency.