“It’s tough.

“We worked hard and at times we probably didn’t do what we had to, especially later on in the game. We were a bit slack when we were trying to get back into the game, which made it a bit hard. For large spells we did a lot of things right and there are a lot of positives to take, it’s just disappointing how the game ended and not pick up any points.

“As a team we’ve created a lot more chances and it’s something we have been working on. That’s a bonus and it’s just disappointing that today the three goals weren’t enough to get something out the game.

“We’ve had a lot of games so it was always going to get tougher and tougher, but in the changing room we’re still disappointed.

“The Livingston match is going to be tough.

“It’s a hard place to go, especially with the AstroTurf pitch, but we’ve got to put our full focus on that now for the rest of the week and get ready. We’ve had a successful December so picking up some today points would have made it even better, but it wasn’t to be so we’ve got to focus on the Livingston game now.

“It’s a little bit of a break after the match so we’ll have time to get the legs back and it would be nice to finish off the run we’ve had with a win on Saturday.

“The mental side of it is good and I think all the boys will agree it’s good to have the games, but sometimes the fatigue can kick in a bit sooner – different than if it went week to week. It’s more punishing on the legs, but I think we’ve dealt with it really well and if anything, we’ve been looking stronger at the end of the games. It’s a real credit to the fitness of the players.

“Celtic are champions and if there’s close games they usually find a way to win. It’s something we need to work towards and the games have been closer what they maybe were a couple of seasons ago. We’re making progress in the right way and considering where we were a month ago, we’ve done really well to get back up at that table and be in amongst it. Today it would have been great to get something, but it wasn’t to be and we’ve just got to move on.

“We’ve got a settled eleven at the minute. There’s a couple of boys coming back and the squad has been a bit thin. That’s a credit to the team and the manager for the way we’ve played because I really think we’ve kicked on December.

“It’s suited both of us (Cosgrove goals) as he’s been on fire. It’s credit to him coming back in and kicking on and the amount of games we have played together has helped us. The training we’ve done has been pretty minimal as it’s just been game, then recovery, then another game. When you’re in a partnership that’s successful it does get easier. It’s a real bonus.

“Livingston are a real tough side and you’re going to have to work hard for the points, which we did when we beat them at Pittodrie recently.

“We’ll probably look again at how that previous game was and do our research on what’s changed and what’s not and prepare as best we can.”

Merry Christmas Red Army!