Ange makes rare concession for critical clash

Ange Postecoglou will put his players through a testing session on plastic today. 

The Celtic boss has become famous for treating every match exactly the same but a clash with Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Stadium requires something different. 

In five trips to the new town since Livi gained promotion in 2018 three different Celtic managers have failed to come away with a win. 

Breaking that sequence will give Celtic’s title hopes a massive lift, at least maintaining a three point advantage with eight matches left to play- all of them on grass. 

Explaining his change of approach, this morning’s training plan, Postecoglou told The Scotsman: 

We are Wednesday-Sunday this week, so we have an extra day between games. This just gives the players a little bit more of a feeling for it. Sometimes I do it, sometimes I don’t. It’s not essential but it is a real thing – the pitch plays differently. There is no point trying to ignore it.

I can tell the players to ignore it and play their normal game, but you do have to adjust. It becomes a little bit of a different game on that surface and the players need to be prepared for that but that doesn’t mean it stops you from being successful.

You just have to adjust your game and your approach, so that it removes any negative impact the pitch has on our football 

There has been various circumstances involved in Celtic’s failings at the Toni Macaroni Stadium but tomorrow’s visit is too vital for any excuses. 

Back in September Albian Ajeti, Boli Bolingoli and James McCarthy were in the starting XI, only Bolingoli has left the club but there will be a new look and approach to tomorrow’s 12 noon kick-off.