Four words- Joe Hart’s Livi lesson

Almost forlorn at the other end of the plastic carpet, Joe Hart knew the value and significance of James Forrest’s first SPFL goal of the season. 

All week the media focus had been on Celtic’s past failures at the Toni Macaroni Arena with the last three managers unable to muster more than a draw along the M8. 

Ange Postecoglou wasn’t given a fresh canvas with two goal-less performances against David Martindale’s side making a significant impact on Celtic’s points total. 

Hart’s first experience of the Celtic away support was at Livingston in September as 7,000 dejected fans trooped home contemplating a third successive defeat in the SPFL under the club’s new management. 

The transformation to today has been vast.  

Postecoglou has quickly moulded Celtic into a highly effective unit that can sustain three or four changes game by game and still deliver results- including a win at Livingston, without Kyogo. 

Hart has been a big part of the shift, from Livingston’s first attack today he pulled off a great instinctive save with that sort of incident spreading confidence throughout his team-mates. 

Losing a goal is never acceptable for a goalkeeper but with a 3-1 victory in the bank Hart is a significant step closer to joining the small band of players to win titles on both sides of the border with Virgil van Dijk the most recent addition. Good company to keep.