Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic missed an opportunity to cement their place on the Scottish Premiership, frustrated by a stubborn Livingston side to a goalless draw while Rangers extended their lead at the top to four points after thrashing Motherwell 6-1 yesterday.

If the statistics determined a result, then Postecoglou’s side would have wont it at a canter: Celtic had 86 percent possession of the ball, completed 881 passes with a pass accuracy of 90 per cent, while just 51 per cent of Livington’s 154 passes were accurate. Celtic took 16 fruitless shots on goal compared to Livingston’s two.

What made it worse was the opportunity squandered after Livingston’s Ayo Obileye was sent off for hitting Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi on the back of the head two minutes into injury time at the end of the game.

READ MORE: Postecoglou’s Celtic whittle Rangers’ lead to two points with Hibs victory

In the ensuing penalty, new signing Giorgos Giakoumanis’ mild, low-shot on goal was well read and saved by the diving Livingston keeper, Max Styjek.

“Frustrating is the main emotion, disappointment at the outcome obviously, but it was frustrating,” Postecoglou told celticfc.com

“Our players gave everything, but it was one of those days when we just needed a goal to open them up and we couldn’t manage it.”

Referring to the Giakoumanis penalty shot, the former Soccerroos coach said: “That’s part of football, if you don’t take your opportunities when they come along, and we didn’t today, and that’s the frustrating bit.

“Everyone’s disappointed at the outcome and frustrated, but that’s the challenges football throws at you.

“Sometimes you get these games where you’ve got to try to create something and open up the opposition to get your result and, unfortunately, we weren’t able to do that today.”

Postecoglou’s next assignment is in Hungary for the UEFA Europe League when Celtic face Ferencváros on Friday, 5 November. The Hungarians will be looking to revenge the 2-0 Group G loss suffered in Glasgow on 20 October.

Celtic then travel to Dundee on Sunday.