IN TERMS of sliding doors moments, only time will tell just how significant Saturday’s missed penalty was.

The decision to allow Giorgos Giakoumakis the responsibility rather than stick with Josip Juranovic, who sank his last two penalties with some aplomb, remains baffling despite what the Greek striker did in Holland last term.

The opportunity to maximise pressure on Rangers by going top of the league may not have had any influence in how events played out at Fir Park on Sunday but any observers would have to acknowledge that if the Light Blues have felt Celtic breathing down their necks in recent weeks, they offered compelling evidence that won’t be knocked off lightly.

Celtic have now dropped five points out of six in the two meetings they have had against Livingston. Stuffy and difficult to play against they may be, but Celtic’s quality and resources ought to have the skillset to get a result.

And the stark reality is that three defeats and two draws 12 games into a campaign is not the form of champions.

Like the burst earlier in the season, Celtic do find a run of form but struggle to sustain it. If they are to harbour any ambition of knocking Rangers off their perch the consistency simply must be found somewhere.

Indeed, it is only a reflection of the Ibrox side’s own form that the gap at the top is not wider as to invite further scrutiny of this campaign.

READ MORE: Detailed Celtic player ratings as Giorgos Giakoumakis misses penalty and Hoops pass up chance to go top

Had Steven Gerrard’s men been as rampant as they were this time last season, Celtic’s slip-ups would have been punished more severely.

As it is, they remain firmly in the hunt but the draw against Livingston takes them back to the position where they simply cannot afford to lose further ground. It adds another layer of pressure onto the campaign and to weekly performances.

And while in numerical terms Celtic appear to have depth in the squad, there are question marks about how they cope when key players do not feature.

Tom Rogic’s hamstring issue and Kyogo Furuhashi dropping to the bench meant Celtic were devoid of any real creative outlet as they struggled to break Livingston down. For all their possession, they fashioned just two real opportunities.

It cannot have been any real surprise to anyone inside the ground at how the visitors would set out their stall.

By contrast, David Martindale could scarcely contain his glee in a pre-match radio interview when he rejoiced at the news Furuhashi wasn't starting.

Celtic are not anywhere near being able to play with anything other than their strongest hand and, like the decision to offer Giakoumakis the ball in the 92nd minute of a must-win game, it remains to be seen just how wounding it may turn out to be.