Premiership (Scotland)

Celtic have signed five players since Rodgers returned – Norwegian midfielder Odin Thiago Holm, Australian winger Marco Tilio, South Korean pair Yang Hyun-jun and Kwon Hyeok-kyu, and Poland Under-21 defender Maik Nawrocki.

The new arrivals have an average age of 21 and Celtic look set to continue their model of signing younger players with potential to improve.

Rodgers told Sky Sports News: “I think everyone looks and thinks that we might be bringing in a £15-20million player. The reality is that won’t be the case. It’s not what the club is based on.

“But that doesn’t mean there’s not talented players out there that we want.

“There is still quite a way to go in the window so we will look to improve the squad again.

“We have done a lot of early business which has been great, it allows the players to come in and settle, and of course we want to do some more. But I am quite calm on that.”

Celtic have continued their focus on the Asian transfer market after achieving success on that front during Ange Postecoglou’s reign, and Rodgers is happy to trust the recruitment staff.

“I will work with the club on that. Mark Lawwell, who has headed up the recruitment team here, has done a fantastic job,” said Rodgers, whose team begin their cinch Premiership title defence at home to Ross County on Saturday.

“It’s a market he knows really, really well from his previous job so he understands the players.

“But he has also got a very good team of people behind him. So I trust in their work.

“Of course they will always be put forward to me and I will have a look at it.

“Some of those players were identified before I came in so it was about giving the blessing, and some of them have been identified whilst we have been in. So it’s a continuation of working together, which is important.

“Part of coming back, I know where the club is at, I know the model that’s in place, and we hope we can maximise that and develop the players on the field.”

Ahead of Celtic’s final pre-season game against Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday, Rodgers stated that he would “always” offer suggestions of his own when discussing targets.

But he added: “It has to fit into the model of the club. And as a manager in the modern game it’s very difficult to do what you maybe did years ago and be out watching players every night of the week. The game has changed.

“So you are really relying on your recruitment team.

“You won’t get absolutely every one right and that’s purely on the basis of players maybe not adapting to a country.

“But there is a lot of great work done here, a really comprehensive structure that is in place to try and mitigate as many of those circumstances as we can and allow players to come in and really flourish in an environment which is made for development.”

O’Riley netted late in Celtic’s 3-1 win at Aberdeen on Sunday to make it two goals in his opening two cinch Premiership matches.

Rodgers had noted that O’Riley’s tally of four goals in 52 appearances last season was not befitting of his talent.

The Celtic boss said: “I like him a lot. I think he is a really intelligent footballer.

“He is a top professional. He prepares his body well and he prepares his life well.  He wants to do well. He sets his standards high every day to be better.

“When I looked at his numbers and everything else I think I said to him you need to score more goals as he didn’t do it enough.

“He was a bit like Jamesie Forrest when I first came into the club. He didn’t score enough for the talent they had and I was looking at Matt from last season and his first goal was in February. You can’t have that talent and be waiting that long.

“It is all about arriving in the areas and finding composure to finish.

“I really like him, his build-up play is good, he takes the ball, and he needs to work on his pressing and intensity but he is a wonderful footballer and he is a good guy as well.”

O’Riley himself believes a change of mental approach has been key to his flying start in front of goal.

The Denmark Under-21 international told Celtic TV: “I think I’m just trying less hard, genuinely. There’s not as much tension in my game right now.

“I was probably trying a little bit too hard last season just because I care so much and I want to help the team.

“Now I’m just trying to relax a little bit more and just get in the right positions and it seems to be clicking a little bit.

““This season I’m probably coming on to the play a little bit more in terms of the role I’ve got right now, so I can probably see the play building up a little bit better and I can pick my moment when to arrive in the box.”

O’Riley admitted in the summer of 2022, several months after moving to Glasgow, that he was aware of interest from Rodgers’ Leicester and the links persisted for the following year.

Rodgers said: “I didn’t see a great deal of him (before he moved to Celtic). He was obviously at MK Dons and I know he was linked with moves down south as most Celtic or Rangers players are.

“I have watched every Celtic game that has been on telly and I have seen his ability.

“He is a wonderful footballer and he is ambitious and he wants to be better and improve and I am really pleased for him and that was a good run into the box and finish from him.”

A brilliant double from Dom Thomas saw Queen’s come from two goals down late on but Graham struck in the seventh minute of time added to earn Kris Doolan’s side a 4-3 victory in the first leg of the cinch Premiership play-off quarter-finals at Firhill.

Thomas initially hit back in the first half after strikes from Kyle Turner and Jack McMillan.

Aidan Fitzpatrick capitalised on a defensive blunder to restore Thistle’s two-goal advantage but Malachi Boateng pulled one back in controversial circumstances before Thomas levelled in the 87th minute.

But Queen’s were soon stung four days after their 5-3 defeat by Dundee in the Championship decider as they fell to a sixth defeat in eight matches.

The visitors had two good early chances but Grant Savoury curled just wide from 20 yards following indecision in the home defence and David Mitchell denied Charlie Fox from close range.

The Jags settled and Turner drove into the box and fired just over before giving his side the lead in the 15th minute. The midfielder turned inside Jack Thomson and fired a shot which took a major deflection off Fox and fooled goalkeeper Callum Ferrie.

Graham soon had a goal ruled offside but Thistle had their second in the 28th minute. Turner’s pass sent Scott Tiffoney in behind after Jake Davidson’s failed attempt to play offside and the attacker cut the ball back for right-back McMillan to fire high into the net.

The Spiders responded five minutes later. With Jags midfielder Stuart Bannigan down injured, Thomas ran unchallenged from inside his own half to the edge of the Thistle box. He then faced a wall of red and yellow jerseys but twisted and turned and drove home from 20 yards.

Bannigan was replaced by Fitzpatrick while Savoury soon went off injured for Queen’s.

Tiffoney stabbed a good chance just wide soon after the restart before substitute Patrick Jarrett sliced over at the other end.

Louis Longridge came close for Queen’s but the visitors gifted Thistle a goal in the 69th minute. Left-back Tommy Robson was short with a pass back to his goalkeeper and Tiffoney nipped in and squared for Fitzpatrick to find the empty net.

Queen’s got a lifeline in the 83rd minute when Boateng’s 25-yard strike took a huge deflection off the head of Lee Hodson and flew into the corner of the net. The home side had a strong claim for a foul on Turner by Marcel Oakley just before the ball broke to Boateng but referee Kevin Clancy was unmoved.

Thomas soon seized the initiative, collecting the ball on the halfway line, drifting past two opponents and firing a shot from nearly 30 yards which swerved past Mitchell.

Treatment for Thomson delayed a Thistle free-kick in what looked certain to be the last chance for either team but Graham eventually latched on to a flick-on to fire into the corner.

The Lions struggled to penetrate in a hard-fought encounter and Anderson failed to capitalise from 12 yards in the 82nd minute after Stuart Findlay was penalised for handball.

The only consolation for Livingston was that the draw at least stopped the run of seven-straight Premiership defeats.

Kilmarnock looked dangerous for spells in both halves but struggled to create any clearcut openings.

Livingston boss Davie Martindale was desperate to see a reaction from his team and it nearly came after 30 seconds.

Joel Nouble – back in the team following an injury – skinned Findlay at the corner flag and crossed for James Penrice at the back post.

Penrice was not able to make any contact but the ball broke for Ayo Obileye and the defender’s low drive was well saved by Will Dennis.

But Killie, helped by a strong tailwind, soon got to grips with the game.

Captain Kyle Vassell got on the end of a Liam Polworth free-kick but his diving header bounced past the post.

The striker then made space inside the box up against Obileye but his fierce drive was beaten away by Shamal George.

The visitors kept up the territorial pressure and defender Robbie Deas was next to test George but his tame header from a Dan Armstrong cross was comfortably held.

Kilmarnock started the second half strongly and had Livingston under pressure.

In a congested box, George spilled a Polworth corner and the ball fell to Vassell.

The striker struggled to find room for a shot and his effort rolled straight to George.

Armstrong was seeing much more of the ball on the right flank and was causing problems for the home team.

His cross was met by David Watson but the youngster glanced a header well over. Mikey Devlin and James Penrice were charged with trying to stop Armstrong but the playmaker continued to put menacing balls into the box.

Livingston survived and were then given a chance to break the deadlock from the penalty spot with eight minutes remaining.

Referee Willie Collum pointed to the spot after Findlay blocked Kurtis Guthrie’s attempt at an overhead kick by his hands.

VAR confirmed that decision but Anderson hit the outside of Dennis’ post.

Livingston continued to put the pressure on at the end but failed to find the elusive goal.

Simon Murray continued his prolific form in front of goal to put the Staggies in front in the 60th minute, only for Anderson to level for the visitors 12 minutes later.

The drama started long before a ball had even been kicked in Dingwall, as the kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes after Livingston’s team bus broke down just south of Inverness.

However, the hold-up did not seem to affect the visitors too much, and they put their hosts under pressure early on with a succession of set-pieces without troubling Ross Laidlaw.

Clear sights of goal, for both teams, were few and far between in the first 45 minutes, but Luiyi de Lucas was needed to head a deflected Josh Reid effort, which was spiralling towards the Livi goal, off the line.

Michael Devlin then nearly headed past Shamal George and into his own net, but the score remained goalless going into the interval.

A scrappy start to the second half did eventually see the deadlock broken on the hour mark.

Murray was involved in both creating the opportunity and the finish, as he headed Jack Baldwin’s throw-in into the path of Jordan White on the right flank.

The target man tried to turn provider by finding Reid on the opposite corner of the box, but the wing-back’s shot was turned in at close range by Murray, who claimed his ninth goal of the season.

Immediately from the restart Ross County fans were asking for a red card for Ayo Obileye, who had sent the goalscorer to the ground, but a check from VAR backed up referee Euan Anderson’s decision to show the defender a yellow instead.

VAR had another decision to confirm in the 71st minute, this time checking that Livingston’s equaliser should be allowed to stand.

Kurtis Guthrie used his strength to take Will Nightingale out of the game, before playing Anderson through on goal in the left channel.

The striker was onside, as confirmed by the technology, and he finished the job by shooting through Laidlaw’s legs to level the scores.

Bernardo poked home the 52nd-minute opener at Dens Park to net his first goal for Celtic and substitute Johnston struck his first two goals for the Hoops since December 2019 to earn a comfortable 3-0 win at Dens Park.

But the sight of influential centre-back Carter-Vickers going off shortly after the opening goal dampened the Celtic fans’ Boxing Day celebrations.

Carter-Vickers immediately had words with manager Brendan Rodgers after the goal and the visiting supporters’ celebrations were almost silenced moments later when they saw the United States international walking off along with the physio.

Carter-Vickers missed two-and-a-half games with a hamstring issue earlier this month and Celtic fans will hope the move was purely precautionary.

It was Celtic’s seventh consecutive away game in the fixture immediately after Christmas Day and it produced a seventh win to ensure Celtic will go into the derby top of the cinch Premiership.

The champions lead by five points but Rangers have two games in hand including Wednesday’s Ibrox clash with Ross County.

Rodgers named the same team that started in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Livingston, while Dundee had Cammy Kerr in for the absent Ricki Lamie and Zak Rudden returned as one of two strikers.

Celtic quickly took control without carving Dundee open. Kyogo Furuhashi headed safely into Trevor Carson’s hands and Luis Palma fired over from a decent chance but Dundee also had their moments going forward.

Lyall Cameron fired a ball across the face of goal after great footwork and Rudden’s looping header was saved by Joe Hart.

Celtic began to create better chances after the first quarter. Liam Scales headed just wide from Palma’s corner and Matt O’Riley created a chance for himself but shot straight at Carson.

For all Celtic’s possession, it was a loose ball from a Dundee throw-in that led to the visitors’ best chance of the half. O’Riley played the ball forward and Furuhashi was clean through. The Japan striker dinked the ball over Carson with his right foot but the ball drifted just wide.

O’Riley and Bernardo were then off target from half-chances and Callum McGregor saw a shot blocked before setting up Palma for a free header that the Honduran sent wide.

The domination continued after the break as Furuhashi sent a weak shot wide and Bernardo headed over before making the breakthrough.

Dundee were on the back foot after Rudden was flagged offside and Palma threaded the ball through for Bernardo’s run. The on-loan Benfica midfielder stretched to get a toe on the ball and it bobbled through Carson’s legs.

Stephen Welsh replaced Carter-Vickers but it was Johnston who grabbed the headlines.

The winger cut in from the left in the 83rd minute and fired a 22-yard strike which Carson could only help into the net.

Carson saved from Oh and Benardo before Johnston played a one-two with O’Riley and drilled into the bottom corner from 16 yards in stoppage-time.

The Republic of Ireland international was not far away from his hat-trick when he curled wide in the closing seconds.

The backdrop to the Hoops’ 3-1 Scottish Cup final win over Championship side Inverness at Hampden Park on Saturday was the link between the former Australia manager and Tottenham.

Goals from Kyogo Furuhashi, Liel Abada and Jota rendered Dan MacKay’s header a consolation as the Parkhead club completed their eighth domestic treble – a world record.

Fans hero Postecoglou arrived at Parkhead in June 2021 and brought in the Sweden centre-back from Rubin Kazan the following month and Starfelt – who insisted that he had no knowledge of what his boss intended to do – has enjoyed his development as a player in that period.

He said: “Obviously, he brought me here. I was one of the first signings he made and he has given me a lot of trust.

“He has been really good for me and my development, also the way he wants centre-backs to play is really developing.

“I feel that I have been taking very big steps and also he demands the very best from every player which makes us better.

“So, obviously he has been really good for me and a lot of the players.”

Starfelt acknowledged the widespread influence of Postecoglou at Celtic, where he arrived after the league title had decanted to Rangers, wresting it back to the east end of Glasgow at the first attempt.

He said: “It is really important for the club – everyone can see that.

“He came in when it was a really tough period and has done this rebuild. He is just a really good manager and everyone knows he is really important for the club but we will have to wait and see what happens, I don’t know.

“After the game he said that he was really proud of everyone.

“He knows how hard we have been working all season, not only in the games, coming into training every day with 100 per cent focus, which is what is needed to achieve this kind of thing as it is not easy. It took a lot to get us to this place.

“We have been working really hard all season. I am really happy, delighted, happy and proud of the boys and the staff.

“We worked so hard and the treble is not an easy thing to achieve so I’m really happy.”

A gripping game at Celtic Park saw the hosts pour more cold water on their rivals' diminishing title chances, as Michael Beale's side failed to cut the gap.

Kyogo Furuhashi gave Celtic the lead in the 26th minute, before a sumptuous James Tavernier free-kick pulled Rangers level just before the break.

Another for Kyogo restored the hosts' lead before Jota extended it, though Celtic were made to sweat after Tavernier headed in another with just over 10 minutes remaining, his 100th Rangers goal.

Kyogo had the ball in the net after just five minutes but was denied by an offside flag, with a typically frenetic start to the game leading to numerous misplaced passes from both teams.

There was controversy in the 19th minute when Alfredo Morelos turned the ball in at the far post from a Rangers corner, only for referee Kevin Clancy to disallow it for a foul on Alistair Johnston that looked a harsh call, though the VAR turned down the chance to call for a review.

Salt was rubbed into the visitors' wounds seven minutes later when neat work from Matt O'Riley on the left saw him cut the ball back to Kyogo, who took a touch before turning and finishing well to Allan McGregor's left.

Rangers were level just before half-time though after Tavernier curled an inch-perfect strike from 25 yards to Joe Hart's right that went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Kyogo restored Celtic's lead just after the hour mark when Ben Davies made a mess of a clearance, giving the Japan international a simple finish when presented with the loose ball.

Another Rangers defensive error in the 73rd minute saw John Souttar mishit a backpass attempt, allowing Jota to run in and round McGregor before rolling the ball into the net.

Tavernier met a Borna Barisic cross to head in at the far post to reduce the deficit to one again, but Celtic held on to all but end this season's title race.

Reo Hatate opened the scoring after just 17 minutes, making no mistake from the edge of the area to lift the spirits of an expectant Celtic Park crowd.

Further jubilation followed as Liam Scales doubled the lead five minutes before the break, heading Matt O'Riley's corner past the helpless Robby McCrorie, who had twice denied Nicolas Kuhn moments earlier.

Scales almost added to his own account, and extended Celtic's lead, in the second half, only for Oliver Bainbridge to clear off the line after McCrorie was again beaten from a corner.

Yet Bainbridge was left wanting soon after as his deflection helped Kuhn find the back of the net following a weaving run inside from the touchline just before the hour.

Substitute Anthony Ralston then added a late fourth in the third minute of stoppage-time as Brendan Rodgers' side started their search for a 13th top-flight title in 14 seasons with ease.

Data Debrief: Business as usual for Hoops

Reigning Scottish champions have now won their first match in each of the last 13 seasons, with Rangers the last such team to fail when drawing 1-1 with Hearts back in the 2011-12 campaign.

Celtic have also won their league opener in 16 of the last 17 seasons, losing the other 2-1 away to Hearts in the 2021-22 season.

This victory came as no surprise, though, as when at home for their domestic curtain-raiser, the Hoops are unbeaten in 35 such games (W31 D4) since a 4-3 defeat to Morton in 1950-51.

Sunday also continued an impressive head-to-head record, with Celtic only losing one of the 12 previous occasions that they have faced Kilmarnock on the first matchday of a league season (W9 D2).

The 20-year-old – who made his international debut last year – arrived in Glasgow to seal a deal until the end of the season, with the Ibrox club having an option to buy at the end of the campaign.

Gers boss Philippe Clement has already added Ivorian midfielder Mohamed Diomande on loan from Nordsjaelland and Portuguese attacker Fabio Silva on loan from Wolves this window as he bids to reel in Celtic at the top of the table.

However, the Ibrox club – five points behind with a game in hand – look to have been thwarted in their bid to land Brazilian left-back Jefte from Fluminense.

The Gers hoped to recruit the 20-year-old immediately, but he is currently on loan with APOEL Nicosia and the Cypriot club are reportedly intent on keeping him until the end of the campaign, so his proposed move to Scotland will have to wait until the summer.

Across the city, Celtic are closing in on the loan signing of Norwich striker Adam Idah, with the 22-year-old Republic of Ireland international reportedly arriving in Glasgow on Wednesday to seal his move to the Hoops until the end of the season. Idah has scored 17 goals since graduating from the Canaries academy, with seven of them coming this season.

The forward has won three senior international caps and is set to add to Brendan Rodgers’ options in the attacking department following the arrival of German winger Nicolas Kuhn from Rapid Vienna earlier in the window.

The Celtic boss is also keen to add a left-back as Greg Taylor is facing a spell on the sidelines, with 31-year-old Paris St Germain player Layvin Kurzawa mooted as a possibility.

Midfielder David Turnbull, who is out of contract at the end of the season, could be on his way out of Celtic Park amid strong interest from Cardiff, but Gustaf Lagerbielke is likely to be denied his move to Italian side Lecce as the Hoops are reluctant to sell the Swedish defender at a time when they have injury concerns over his fellow centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Hearts forward Lawrence Shankland has been the subject of intense speculation in recent months, but the Jambos go into the final day of the window without any notable approaches having been made for their top scorer.

The Edinburgh club have already bolstered their squad with the loan additions of Dexter Lembikisa and Scott Fraser, but it looks unlikely that they will secure Yan Dhanda before the deadline after the Ross County playmaker agreed a pre-contract to move to Tynecastle in the summer.

Staggies boss Derek Adams said on Tuesday he expects the 25-year-old to remain in Dingwall for the rest of the season, while he hopes to add at least one and possibly two new players.

Motherwell replenished their attack by signing 22-year-old Welsh forward Jack Vale on loan from Blackburn on Wednesday, while relegation rivals St Johnstone are hoping to land 25-year-old striker Adama Sidibeh from English non-league side Warrington Rylands.

It remains to be seen how the sacking of manager Barry Robson on Wednesday impacts Aberdeen’s deadline-day plans, although they may feel compelled to add a centre-back after Slobodan Rubezic suffered a knee injury.

Livingston boss David Martindale hopes to sign a new centre-back as well as Inverness midfielder David Carson, while Hibernian are another club in the market for a central defender.

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes said on Wednesday “we may still look to add one if we can”, while his St Mirren counterpart Stephen Robinson is happy with the make-up of his squad and was not planning for much deadline-day business.

The Hoops captain did not like what he witnessed from last season’s treble winners at Rugby Park, where Marley Watkins’ second-half goal sparked an unlikely post-mortem into Celtic’s last-16 demise.

Boss Ange Postecoglou left for Tottenham at the end of the season after completing the clean sweep and winger Jota and defender Carl Starfelt have also gone, while returning manager Brendan Rodgers was without Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Reo Hatate and Oh Hyeon-gyu for the trip to Ayrshire.

Rodgers gave a debut to Swedish defender Gustaf Lagerbielke alongside fellow new signing Maik Nawrocki, with a first start for summer recruit Odin Thiago Holm, while another new face, Yang Hyun-jun, came off the bench.

The exit from a cup competition Celtic have won six times in the last seven years stung McGregor, and the Scotland midfielder recalled a 1-0 cinch Premiership defeat at Livingston in September 2021 – a fourth loss in five games under Postecoglou which left them trailing leaders Rangers by four points, before they recovered to win the title and League Cup.

McGregor said: “We didn’t have enough quality. I think that was evident to see. We started hitting long passes, which is not us. I don’t mean good passes in terms of trying to play in behind, it was just sort of launching the ball and hoping for the best.

“That’s disappointing, that we don’t stick to the principles that we know work for us.

“It’s a massive reminder that in cup football if you don’t turn up on the day you have absolutely no right to think that you can just come and win games of football.

“Probably because our cup record has been so good that is what everyone thinks, that you just roll up and it happens. It never happens like that.

“Firstly we have to look internally, us as players. Did we do enough? The answer is no. We have to learn from it and make sure it doesn’t snowball into two results, three results, four results.

“We have to find the answers quickly and find a way to settle this new group of players. I think that is maybe what you get with a new group which is just at its infancy.

“I probably remember back to two years ago at this point, or slightly later, into September, when we lost at Livingston and it was much the same.

“Now we are at a crossroads in this group as well. We have lost a lot of key players, a lot of big players for us, so we have to find a new team.

“We have to find a settled team and then go back to the principles that make us a good team.

“You will get bad results and it’s how you handle that, how you stand up and be counted in the coming days and weeks.

“Again, it’s just reinforcing the work we are doing on the training ground. Trying to settle everybody as quickly as we can, settle into the pattern and the rhythm that we want to play.

“It’s just repetition in training and trying to find that balance really, really quickly.

“With this result we all have to realise that we have to go pretty quickly. It was similar at this point two years ago when we put ourselves under pressure.

“Now you have to react, you have to find something within yourself and within the team and within the group that sparks us into life. Because that’s what we need to do now.”

Dimitar Mitov celebrated his first call-up to the Bulgaria squad by making a hat-trick of saves from Matt O’Riley, who should probably have done better with at least two of the chances.

But Celtic otherwise struggled to test the Saints goalkeeper in a flat goalless display and only mustered five shots on target in total.

The visitors handed out three debuts after losing their previous four matches, but they looked compact before both Dara Costelloe and substitute Stevie May were denied by Hart.

The draw keeps Celtic a point ahead of Rangers in the cinch Premiership, but a second below-par performance in a row following their Viaplay Cup defeat at Kilmarnock did little for their confidence ahead of their of their trip to Ibrox next Sunday.

Celtic had a new-look central defence amid injuries to all other options. Gustaf Lagerbielke was handed his home debut while Liam Scales made his first Celtic appearance in 18 months after spending last season on loan at Aberdeen.

Alistair Johnston made his first appearance of the season after an ankle injury, while David Turnbull and Yang Hyun-jun came in.

St Johnstone manager Steven MacLean handed debuts to loan signings Luke Robinson, Jay Turner-Cooke and Costelloe.

MacLean had bluntly told his players their previous performance at Ross County was unacceptable and he dropped captain Liam Gordon and May to the bench, while there was no place for Ryan McGowan.

Johnston set up the first chance, which Kyogo Furuhashi swept just wide first time.

Turnbull’s deft corner was met on the volley by O’Riley, only for Mitov to push the ball over the crossbar and the Denmark Under-21 international had another effort stopped before setting up Yang to blaze over.

St Johnstone’s only half-chance in the first 45 minutes fell for Luke Jephcott, who sliced wide from Graham Carey’s free-kick.

O’Riley had his best chance early in the second half when Johnston’s cutback found him unmarked, but the midfielder again could not beat Mitov from close range.

It was clear Celtic needed a spark come the hour mark and Brendan Rodgers put on Anthony Ralston, Sead Haksabanovic and Liel Abada.

Haksabanovic, playing in a number 10 role, soon set up O’Riley, but the midfielder was stretching with his right foot and missed the target.

Gordon replaced the injured Considine in the Saints central defence before Mitov turned Haksabanovic’s 25-yard strike past the post.

Saints almost stunned the home fans with their first attack of the half. Costelloe flicked the ball over Scales on the byline and volleyed an effort which was heading for the top corner, only for Hart to flick out his hand and divert it behind for a corner.

Furuhashi hit a half-chance wide before Saints had another great chance when Carey sent May clear. Hart narrowed the angle and blocked the shot before Carey sent the rebound over.

Substitute James Forrest headed Ralston’s cross over, but there was no late onslaught and Mitov saved comfortably from Abada during eight minutes of stoppage-time before the final whistle was met by boos among the home fans.

Rodgers claimed the Celtic Park surface was more like a field than a pitch after his side laboured at times towards a 1-0 win which restored their five-point lead over Rangers in the cinch Premiership.

Alistair Johnston’s deflected first-minute strike looked likely to open the floodgates but Luis Palma twice saw penalty attempts saved by George Wickens.

The Honduras winger put his second effort in the exact same spot after a retake was ordered following the encroachment of three County players into the area.

County hit the crossbar through Will Nightingale and threatened in the closing stages when Joe Hart held Jordan White’s effort at the second attempt.

Rodgers felt his side’s attempts were hindered by the pitch cutting up.

“We made a good start, then missing penalties creates bit of anxiety in the stadium,” he said.

“Then we’ve probably just not been decisive, in the first half. Second half the structure was better.

“It’s very difficult to play on the pitch and the challenge for us. People were miscuing the ball.

“Joe didn’t have much to do then – after the little breakaway at the end – he makes a good save and the guys get the job done.”

Rodgers claimed both his team and the opposition are surprised by the state of the pitch.

He added: “You look at (Liam) Scales’ pass, it comes off the toe and popped off, (Matt) O’Riley’s popped up and the fans get anxious but that’s the pitch. Then Cal (McGregor) gets ready to take a shot and it pops up and nearly goes up towards the top tier.

“I know speaking to the staff it has been the situation over the last few years.

“It’s something as a club we need to address, as a flagship club in Scotland and especially with how we want to play.

“It’s not overloaded with games – it’s more a field than a pitch. That’s the reality but however it sits, we have to get the job done and thankfully we did that.”

Palma also missed a penalty against Motherwell while Reo Hatate, Kyogo Furuhashi and David Turnbull have failed from 12 yards over the past 12 months.

“It’s something that’s worked on in training but you’ve got to be able to do that in the game so we’ll have to look at another taker,” Rodgers said.

The final whistle was met with some jeers from the home support but Rodgers was accustomed to the dissent.

“I’ve had that since I’ve been here,” he said. “If it’s not the result, it’s me. If not me, the board.

“So, all we can do as a team is win games and try to improve and develop – and win. That’s what the team has done.

“The team and ourselves as staff work hard every day together and that’s how we will continue to be. If it falls below the expectation, then we’ll do everything we can to be better.”

County manager Derek Adams was far happier with his side then seven days earlier after appearing to hint at regrets over returning to Dingwall following his side’s 3-0 Scottish Gas Scottish Cup defeat by Partick Thistle.

Adams said: “I thought to go down so early, the character was very good.

“We had four debutants and the way we played in and out of possession was very good. We hit the bar and got Joe Hart to make a good save towards the end.

“It’s not easy going down so early but the manner of the performance was excellent.”

The Hoops have been on the hunt for a new boss since the Australian sealed his move to Tottenham last Tuesday.

After being linked with Manchester City assistant Enzo Maresca, Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen and West Ham manager David Moyes, among others, the Celtic board have now homed in on Rodgers, with whom they met in Majorca last weekend to initiate discussions.

The Northern Irishman left Celtic to take over at Leicester almost four and a half years ago, but he now appears set for a return to the club at which he won all seven domestic trophies available to him while laying the foundations for a remarkable quadruple-treble that was completed by his successor Neil Lennon.

Rodgers – who has also been linked with the Leeds vacancy – was barely backable with bookmakers to become the next Celtic manager on Wednesday, available at just 1/14 with Sky Bet at 6pm, amid suggestions that talks are firmly at the “advanced” stage.

The 50-year-old has reportedly been offered a salary that eclipses what he earned in his previous stint at Celtic as the Scottish champions – fresh from sealing their latest domestic treble – attempt to build on the impressive work carried out by Postecoglou over the past two years.

Rodgers, who first took the reins at Celtic in the summer of 2016, left in February 2019 amid talk that he was dissatisfied with certain aspects of the running of the club.

It is claimed he has sought assurances during talks in recent days that he will be backed in terms of recruitment to ensure the team is adequately equipped for their upcoming tilt at the Champions League group stages.

The Hoops managed a meagre two points from their six games in the competition under Postecoglou last term, while they collected only three points in each of the two campaigns in which Rodgers oversaw group-stage qualification, in 2016 and 2017.

If, as looks increasingly likely, Celtic get a deal over the line in the coming days, Rodgers will begin the task of trying to maintain Celtic’s domestic dominance – with renewed competition anticipated from a Rangers side showing signs of improvement under Michael Beale – while also preparing his squad for the Champions League, which gets under way in just over three months.

In addition, the former Swansea and Liverpool boss will have to win over a section of the Celtic fanbase who remain irked at the manner and timing of his departure, when the Hoops were just a few months shy of completing the treble-treble.

Rodgers left Leicester in April following just over four predominantly fruitful years at the King Power Stadium, and – as was the case when he moved north seven years ago in the wake of his sacking from Liverpool – he seems ready to head to Celtic once more in a bid to get himself back on an upward curve.

The Hoops signed Honduras winger Luis Palma and on-loan Liverpool defender Nat Phillips earlier this week and the arrival of Bernardo could be their final piece of business.

When asked if there could be some late deals, manager Brendan Rodgers said earlier: “I’m not so sure. I don’t think there will be many more coming in.”

Ismaila Soro earlier left Celtic for Beitar Jerusalem – 19 months after his final appearance for the club – and another out-of-favour player, Albian Ajeti, was set to seal a move to Turkish football.

Rodgers also expected Sead Haksabanovic to depart after the midfielder appeared to express frustration over a lack of game time on social media.

The Celtic boss said: “Haksa is one of those that will look for game time and want to be a starter. So I would expect him to be moved on.”

Rangers manager Michael Beale was not expecting a busy evening after signing nine players earlier in the window, although reports later claimed the club had rejected Stoke’s bid for centre-back Ben Davies.

“We don’t have any injuries so the squad is looking healthy, the squad size has come down in size and average age so we are good to go,” Beale said.

“Naturally every manager is going to sit here and say they would like one more but if we don’t then I am happy with the squad we have got moving forward.”

On the potential for outgoings, he said: “We front-loaded early in terms of our recruitment, it might be a loan maybe for one of the younger members of the squad,” he said.

“But unless I receive a phone call in the short period then it won’t be one which is drawn out late into the evening.”

Dundee confirmed the first incoming signing of the cinch Premiership on deadline day by bringing in Burnley winger Marcel Lewis on loan until January. The 21-year-old was previously on Chelsea’s books and has played for Union St Gilloise and Accrington.

St Johnstone signed two players – 28-year-old Austrian midfielder Sven Sprangler following a trial period and 25-year-old Charlton winger Diallang Jaiyesimi on a season-long loan.

Motherwell signed 19-year-old left-back Georgie Gent from Blackburn on loan until the end of the season in a deal which is expected to be their final piece of summer business.

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes was still looking for a striker going into the final hours of the window.

“Nobody will be going out,” McInnes said. “We are still trying to bring someone in. Everyone is working flat out to do that.

“We have one in particular and two or three other plates spinning but we are trying to lean on everything possible to get this done. I’m optimistic and you have to be without being overly-confident.”

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson warned that none of his players would be sold on the cheap after Aberdeen made an approach for Australia midfielder Keanu Baccus.

“There hasn’t been a formal bid, there have been conversations between the two clubs,” Robinson said. “No club has met our valuation on any player, including Keanu at this stage and I don’t expect them to.

“We are not in a position where we were last year when we had to take offers for players that were below market value. We have steadied the ship and got our finances right.”

Robinson added: “I don’t intend doing any business in. We have put our squad together, we have got the players in we wanted and we are happy with that.

“We have strengthened the squad from last year and if the window closed now, I would be very happy.”

Ross County were looking to add one more while they awaited news on Sunderland forward Ross Stewart’s prospective move to Southampton, which would land them a seven-figure sell-on fee.

Livingston were not anticipating any late arrivals but loaned defender Morgan Boyes to Inverness for the season.

Celtic’s win over Inverness denied Caley Thistle a place in Europe and ensured Hibernian qualified through their fifth-placed finish in the cinch Premiership.

The result guaranteed group-stage football for Aberdeen and also gave Hearts a later start.

Here the PA new agency looks at Scotland’s five European qualifiers.

Entry: Champions League group stage
Draw date: August 31
First game: September 19-20

Possible opponents: Celtic will be in pot four, meaning they cannot draw Newcastle for example. Although the seeds have not been finalised, a worst-case draw could see the Hoops facing Manchester City, Real Madrid and Milan. A kinder draw could see them come up against Benfica, RB Leipzig and Red Star Belgrade.

Prospects: Celtic will need to finish in the top three of their group to extend their European run beyond Christmas. A top-two finish would see them enter the Champions League knockout stages while third secures entry to the Europa League.

Entry: Champions League third-qualifying round
Draw date: July 24
First game: August 8-9

Possible first opponents: Michael Beale’s side have four possible opponents in the non-champions path, including Sturm Graz and Serbians TSC Backa Topola. Other potential opponents could be Servette, Panathinaikos or Belgian or Ukrainian sides.

Prospects: Rangers will be looking to make the Champions League group stages again and will need to win two ties to do so. Defeat at either stage would see them drop into the Europa League. They are guaranteed group-stage football whatever happens with two qualifying defeats sending them into the Europa Conference League.

Entry: Europa League play-offs
Draw date: August 7
First game: August 24

Possible first opponents: There are a host of variables before the Dons enter the fray but Swiss side Lugano will definitely be among their six possible opponents, while Slavia Prague and Olympiacos might also be on the list.

Prospects: The Dons will reach the Europa League group stage if they win their play-off and drop into the Conference groups if not.

Entry: Europa Conference League third-qualifying round
Draw date: July 24
First game: August 10

Prospects: Hearts will need to win two ties to secure a second consecutive season in the Conference League group stages.

Possible first opponents: Hearts will be unseeded and earlier rounds will determine the list of seeds but AZ Alkmaar, Dinamo Kyiv, Partizan Belgrade and Rapid Vienna will be among them.

Entry: Europa Conference League second-qualifying round
Draw date: June 20-21
First game: July 27

Prospects: Hibs need to win three ties to make the group stages.

Possible first opponents: Hibs will be seeded and a list of 45 unseeded clubs will be split into groups nearer the draw date. UEFA normally uses a regional basis when formulating the groups so potential opponents could be Swedish sides Hammarby or Kalmar plus, depending on earlier results, Crusaders or Connah’s Quay.

Postecoglou was named manager of the year by his peers on Sunday evening after guiding the Hoops to back-to-back titles, while Furuhashi won the Premiership player of the year title after scoring 30 goals in all competitions, 24 of them in the league to sit at the top of the charts.

Postecoglou saw off competition from fellow Premiership boss Stephen Robinson of St Mirren, Dunfermline’s James McPake and Stirling Albion’s Darren Young.

The former Australia head coach told Sky Sports News: “On the evidence of our season we have been a better side.

“We have been more dominating than we were last year in all competitions and the players have improved in all areas.

“That’s always the challenge. Sometimes when you have success, complacency can sort of creep in, but I have never seen that with this group.”

Furuhashi backed up that assessment after beating team-mates Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate plus Motherwell striker Kevin van Veen to the main prize of the night.

The Japan international said: “I’m really grateful to get this award. It’s thanks to all the support from the people around me

“There were a lot of great nominees and great players out there, so I am really pleased to get this award, but I would still like to be a better player so I will work hard.”

Celtic winger Jota claimed the goal of the season prize – voted for by the public – for his sublime chip in the 4-0 home victory over Rangers in September.

The Hoops also provided the women’s player of the year in Caitlin Hayes, but there was double success for Rangers in the young player categories, with on-loan Bayern Munich midfielder Malik Tillman getting the men’s award ahead of Celtic duo Liel Abada and Matt O’Riley plus Albion Rovers winger Charlie Reilly. Rangers’ Emma Watson was named women’s young player of the year.

A special merit award went to former St Mirren, Aberdeen, Scotland and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

The former Scotland boss has signed a contract with the cinch Premiership’s bottom side until May 2026.

Levein has left his role as club adviser at Highland League outfit Brechin City and brought with him Glebe Park manager Andy Kirk as his assistant.

The 59-year-old was at one point director of football and manager at Hearts before he left those roles in 2019 and he succeeds Steven MacLean, who left the Perth club last week.

Speaking at McDiarmid Park, Levein revealed he missed the “the cut and thrust” of football management but will take a new approach to the job which will involve more delegation.

He said: “What I realised at my latter spell at Hearts is trying to do two jobs is extremely difficult, that’s one thing I have learned.

“The reason I brought Andy with me is he can take some of the load, mainly the day-to-day coaching and give me the chance to spend what energy I have in areas that are the most important.

“I keep talking about having the energy to cope with the demands of the job and I did think that coming into a role in the Premiership and trying to do everything again would just be a horrendous mistake.

“So I have Alec (Clelland, first-team coach) here who knows the club and players and Hinshie (head of goalkeeping, Craig Hinchliffe) here as well, who is similar, and then with Andy and myself, I feel that we can split whatever duties there are so that everyone is doing what they are good at. That is the intention.”

Levein, whose previous clubs also include Dundee United and Leicester, stressed 44-year-old former Northern Ireland international Kirk’s responsibilities will be significant.

Ahead of a “tough” Premiership game against Motherwell on Tuesday night, he said: “His understanding of tactics is extremely good and the way he had Brechin playing, if we can replicate that, which is our aim – and we do have the players here to do that – then improving players and improving the overall team is eminently possible.

“I have been working with Andy for the last two or three years. He has his own ideas of how the team plays and the reason I am bringing him with me is we are going to play the same style.

“I have a huge amount of respect for him, a young coach making his way in the game and my job will be to manage everything, manage him doing the coaching and I want to give him that responsibility.

“He has got to the position where he has a clear idea of how he wants to play the game.

“We will try to play football. A lot of time it depends on your opponents and we will be flexible and try, if we can, to entertain.”

The Lions’ wage bill is set to be slashed from £1.4million to £1.2m after they missed out on the top six in the cinch Premiership this term.

Martindale admits he is even struggling to recruit from the Championship, but he remains confident he will be able to find enough quality players who will see the value of taking a financial hit to expose themselves to Scottish top-flight football.

“Financially it’s going to be a difficult challenge,” he said on Wednesday. “I need to cut the budget by around £200,000. We already have the lowest budget in the league and we’re losing another £200,000 so that is going to make it extremely challenging.

“I’m finding it challenging this year but recruitment is a part of the job I really enjoy. I think we’ve been fairly successful at it over the years and hopefully we can do that again.

“I spent three or four hours face to face with a couple of players yesterday and I’ve got a Zoom call with a player today so I am having conversations with a view to getting players in but it’s been a little more difficult than it’s been in the past.

“We’ve missed out on probably two or three players from the Championship that we’d earmarked.

“Let’s be honest, players are not coming to Livingston for the finances but I’m hoping that by showing them round the stadium, showing them what we’re trying to do as a club and showing them the consistency we’ve had in the Premiership for the last five years that it ticks a box and helps bring them into the building.

“You’re pulling on their heartstrings a little.”

Martindale, meanwhile, is hoping that Livingston will benefit from playing at home against Dundee United this weekend. The Lions have lost 12 of their 18 league games on the road this term, including each of their last seven, while they have won their last two at home.

“Away from home, we’ve not been good enough,” said the manager. “Our away record is better than some but it’s nowhere near what it should be in terms of the goals we’ve been shipping.

“We’re different at home. It’s up to me to find that balance and correct it going into the new season. Our away record’s been terrible but we’re at home on Saturday and Wednesday so hopefully we can rectify things that have been causing us problems in games recently.”

Livi fought back from Eamonn Brophy’s first-half double in Dingwall as a brace from Bruce Anderson got his side level with four minutes left.

But Josh Sims netted in stoppage time for the hosts to earn a 3-2 win which leaves Livi six points adrift at the foot of the cinch Premiership table.

Martindale said: “I thought our game management for that third goal was ridiculous – terrible.

“In the first half, it was a wee bit toothless, gutless – we couldn’t get close enough. Our distances were all wrong.

“The first goal was a blatant error, under no pressure at all. A lack of focus leads to the first goal. It gives Ross County momentum and takes a wee bit of belief away from us.

“The second goal we don’t go in tight enough. We were too narrow and give Brophy too much room.

“We go in at half-time 2-0 down and make changes. It wasn’t down to the two who came off. We could probably have looked at the defensive unit as being the ones at fault.

“But you have to change something so we changed to 4-4-2 and put Bruce on and get the next goal.

“We threw caution to the wind in the last 10 minutes with big Kurtis Guthrie on and get the second goal back.

“At that point, maybe I should have changed it back to a back four or five and taken the point. I never, I thought the momentum was with us.

“Unfortunately we get done with a sucker punch. Again, defensively, we’ve got to do a lot better as a unit.”

County interim manager Don Cowie hailed his side’s character after keeping their composure following Livingston’s equaliser.

“We were very good in the first half and were worthy at 2-0 up,” said Cowie.

“I was really disappointed to lose a goal so early in the second half. It gave Livingston a massive boost and it became a difficult half of football.

“But we hung in there and came up with a bit of magic to win the game. I’m delighted for the group.

“The fact they kept going like that was pleasing. Most people would have assumed it would be Livingston who would go on and get the winning goal at that stage, but we came again.

“It’s the character that I know is in that dressing room.”