CELTIC boss Ange Postecoglou is well aware now that derby day is not for losers.

The Aussie watched on as his side failed to sparkle in the first Glasow derby of the season and succumbed to Filip Helander's 66th-minute headed goal at Ibrox.

It was the only goal of a tight contest in which Odsonne Edouard missed a sitter and Japanese striker Kyogo Furuhashi passed up a couple of opportunities that would have given Celtic a share of the spoils.

The 56-year-old did not shirk any responsibilities for his team's failure to perform in Govan and he insists that his decision to play Kyogo out wide on the left instead of through the centre proved costly and may have been the wrong call.

Speaking to Radio Clyde, Ange said: "It was disappointing, it was a tight game, a derby game with not a lot of chances and not a lot of open spaces.

"The first goal was always going to be important and we never took our opportunity when we had it.

"We paid the price for that.

"The first goal makes the difference and if we had scored that then it would have changed the complexion of the game and it would have put them under a bit more pressure and they are the big moments.

"It didn't work out for us today.

"It's disappointing that in a tight game we didn't take a foothold in it and I thought the game would open up and I thought Tommy would give us a bit of a spark.

"I thought Kyogo would be much more of a threat through the middle and to be honest I probably should have started him there.

"With Forrest out we are a little bit short in the wide areas at the moment but I started with him out on the left and I knew with his speed and getting Kyogo in the middle was going to cause them problems and that was the main reason and that was prior to them scoring the goal as that changed things."

Here, Ange is honest enough to hold up his hands and admit that he made a mistake in team selection.

The Aussie never ducks any contentious issue and his honesty is refreshing.

The clincher is the sentence "I thought Kyogo would be much more of a threat through the middle and to be honest I probably should have started him there."

While it will offer no crumb of comfort to the Celtic supporters at this moment in time, it is Ange's way of an apology to the Celtic faithful by admitting that he could have been better in his role as the manager.

Ange also realises that derby defeats, and the reaction to them, come with the territory but bear in mind this is a manager who stated from day one that if his side loses then 'it is all on me'.

Any manager who can be as critical of themself and introspective as that moments after a Glasgow derby defeat deserves fulsome praise.

Ange did not attempt to make any excuses and the old adage of goals change matches was never so evident today.

READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou and Celtic served a derby day wake-up call - Tony Haggerty

Meanwhile, Ange also refused to point the finger at any of his players to throw them under the bus for the defeat.

With Edouard and Kyogo both missing gilt-edged chances and the Celtic defence giving away a bread and butter goal for what proved to be the winner, Ange refused to apportion any blame at the feet of any individual for the loss.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Ange was asked if there was a frustration to how his side conceded the winning goal and he said: "It was a disappointment.

"When you know the game is going to be tight and it is a derby game there is not a lot of space or opportunity out there and getting that first goal was always going to be important but we didn't and unfortunately we paid the price.

"No, not really and any time you concede a goal it is always disappointing and you go and analyse it at the end.

"It was a tight game and we just needed to get a foothold in it and capitalise on our chances.

"It is hard for me to say anything about progress after a month as it has been difficult as we have thrown guys in at different times

and as soon as the window shuts we will settle our squad down and start building for the next batch of games.

"We need to hit some form and start winning games, particularly in the league."

The key phrases here are: "No, not really and any time you concede a goal it is always disappointing and you go and analyse it at the end.

"It was a tight game and we just needed to get a foothold in it and capitalise on our chances."

Ange addresses two main failures here in the Celtic team and that was their inability to score at one end of the pitch coupled with the lack of concentration and organisation that led to Helander's winning goal for Rangers.

At no stage though does Ange name and shame players and he has made a habit of not calling them out in public.

That shows the Celtic supporters that even in adversity and disappointment there is still unity, a spirit and togetherness as they will win and lose as a team.

Privately Ange may have a few choice words to say to his men in the dressing room and he will have learned the harshest lesson of all that it is on such fine margins that derby games are won and lost.

Speaking to the Celtic View, Ange also refused to use the fact that Celtic had no fans to cheer them on as anything that had a bearing on the final result.

He also hinted at a hectic few days of activity in the last few days of the August transfer window.

Ange said: "Irrespective of that, (having no fans at Ibrox) it was still a game that we could have grabbed hold of and we have to make sure that in these big games when the moment arrives take it.

"We're keen to get to the end of the window and settle the squad down and do work with the players.

"On the other side of the window, we will know what kind of squad and what players are in the picture for us moving forward."

Once again this is another clever power play by Ange and whilst he is disappointed at the derby result he certainly does not offer excuses for it.

Instead, he subtly and masterfully leaves this sentence hanging "On the other side of the window we will know what kind of squad and what players are in the picture for us moving forward."

This is a stark reminder to the board that he does not feel that his August transfer business has been concluded yet

In terms of incoming players and that the derby defeat highlights the fact more than anything that the club are still light in personnel if they are to mount a serious title challenge to Rangers this season.