Ange Postecoglou was not one to give his Celtic side breathing room after suffering their first Premiership loss in a year in a shock 2-0 loss to St Mirren.
The Hoops boss had made six changes to the side who drew 1-1 with Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Wednesday night, but amid a scrappy performance at Paisley they fell two minutes behind. break on a header from Saints skipper Mark O’Hara.
Friends striker Jonah Ayunga took a second in the 53rd minute for St Mirren’s first league win at home to Celtic since 2010 and it ended the Hoops’ unbeaten league record which stretched back to a 1- defeat 0 in Livingston on September 19, 2021.
Celtic enter the international break two points clear of league-top Old Firm rivals Rangers.
Postecoglou said, “No, you don’t attribute it to one of those days, it’s a disappointing day.
“We pride ourselves on having certain standards and we didn’t reach them today, and football will always teach you that lesson.
“What has gotten us to this point over the last 15 or 16 months is having a certain work ethic and certain levels of performance and belief.
“Today we didn’t hit any of those, and that was disappointing.
“You can’t take all the praise as it comes and then expect people to brush it off.
“We have to take the hits when they come and we just have to get up and go.
“We have already done this as a team for the last 15 or 16 months. It’s painful today.
Postecoglou will analyze all aspects of the loss to a hard-working Saints side.
He said: “You watch everything – the team selection, the way you play. Everything is under scrutiny.
“It was a bit of everything.
“You know you come to these places and it’s tough and you have to assert your authority over the game and dominate and we’ve never done that.
“We just seemed a bit flat at the start of the game. Trying to start during a match is nearly impossible.
“You have to set the tempo early and we didn’t do that today. From our point of view, it’s a disappointing day from all points of view.
Postecoglou explained the absence of American defender Cameron Carter-Vickers.
He said: “He pulled away badly, so we’ll see how he goes.
“I think he’s out of the American side, so hopefully after the international break he won’t be too far away.”
Stephen Robinson picked up his first win as manager against Celtic but focused the praise on his players and staff.
The Northern Irishman said: “I had points and draws but no wins.
“You need things to go your way, a bit of luck and decisions to go your way. You need the boys to be on top form – and they were today.
“It’s a fantastic result, but I don’t want to talk about me as a manager. I want to talk about them. The boys deserve the credit.
“I give them a platform, the coaching staff, Diarmuid O’Carroll (assistant) as well.
“I told them before the game, it’s as prepared as I think we’ve ever been.
“Even with set plays, when the ball comes back into the field. All.
“I have to give a lot of credit to my assistant coach Diarmuid.
“And so much credit to the players for following onboard instructions and ultimately doing it.”
