ACCUSING someone of having tunnel vision is usually intended as a bit of an insult but, in Celtic’s case, it is such singular determination that will surely see the Premiership title wrapped up sooner rather than later.

The discourse in the aftermath of a close but ultimately fruitless defeat to Rangers at Hampden was always going to be dominated by Ange Postecoglou and co.’s bouncebackability; how they responded to their first real domestic setback since September.

As he has done since arriving, the Greek-Australian was at pains to stress in the build-up to Sunday’s 2-0 win over Ross County that one defeat does not – or, rather, should not – knock a team that is comfortable with its own identity off its stride.

That is easier said than done when there are only a handful of matches left in the title race but, by the same token, this stage of the season is also when Postecoglou can see just how deeply his message has been ingrained.

“A loss shouldn't derail your efforts and commitment to a cause,” he said before the game in Dingwall. “If you let a loss derail you then you will let a win derail you also. Success and failure have equal demons within them.

Celtic Way: The Celtic players celebrate after Jota makes it 2-0The Celtic players celebrate after Jota makes it 2-0

“Sometimes success means you get complacent and you start thinking about yourself rather than the team and you start thinking you are more important than the sum of the whole parts.”

That team dynamic was back on display in Dingwall. The Celtic players presented not just a united front but a coherent one, seemingly eager to reaffirm their status as the eminent team in Scottish football by re-establishing a six-point gap at the top ahead of the final Glasgow Derby of the campaign on May 1.

There were, if you chose to look closely enough, hints that such a result was on the cards. Despite County’s impressive seven-game unbeaten streak at Victoria Park since that Anthony Ralston winner on December 15, they had conceded in all but one of those games and beaten only one top-six side in the run.

Those omens added to the patchwork team that Postecoglou was forced to field in December and how the other two matches against the Staggies had gone this season (3-0 and 4-0 respectively) gave plenty of reasons for Celtic fans to think positive.

READ MORE: Detailed Celtic player ratings as Kyogo and Jota make the crucial difference in Dingwall

And so it proved. Celtic started with purpose while goals from Kyogo Furuhashi and Jota combined to grant the Hoops an immediate pick-me-up after their Hampden defeat as well as a nice confidence boost that comes with a six-point buffer.

As Postecoglou had intimated, they blocked out the external noise and concentrated on trying to play their own football. While not the scintillating, unstoppable attacking machine of various points so far this season, it was nonetheless a comprehensive display with a couple of moments of genuine quality shining through despite the relatively modest margin of victory.

Jota’s cross and Kyogo’s movement for his wonderful headed finish naturally stick out but don’t sleep on the impressive link-up between Matt O’Riley and the front three either; it surely gave a tantalising glimpse into the team’s attacking future as much as its present.

Yes, it could and should have been more than a one-goal advantage at the break given the chances the Hoops manufactured – including an extremely tight offside call on a Kyogo opportunity – but eventually the second did come and any lingering nerves were settled.

That it was two of his substitutes who combined to give Jota the opening from which he scored will once again add credence to Postecoglou’s insistence that the whole squad benefits from sticking to their fundamentals, from trusting that success will come off the back of doing so.

“We have been very good for a very long time and that is why we sit where we sit,” Postecoglou said of the task at hand.

“We are in a strong position in terms of the table and a strong position in terms of our performance and that is all we need to focus on. I don't think anything else needs to become important from a player's perspective.”

That all still applies, but with one game fewer now to navigate. In that sense, at least, Celtic’s tunnel vision has begun paying off when it matters.

Champions again, Ole Ole a section of the away fans sang at Victoria Park in the aftermath of Kyogo’s opener. Not quite… but that tunnel to glory is getting smaller and smaller with each passing week.