CELTIC’S LEAD AT the top of the Scottish Premiership was cut to four points on Wednesday after the Glasgow giants were held to a disappointing goalless draw by a weakened Dundee side at Parkhead.
With one eye on Saturday’s Scottish Cup tie against Rangers, Dundee manager Paul Hartley rested several first-team stars as top-scorer Kane Hemmings, with 16 goals in his past 17 games, started on the bench.
However, the Hoops struggled to break down a side they had demolished 6-0 on their last visit to Celtic Park in September and the full-time whistle was greeted with jeers as the home supporters vented their frustration at under-pressure manager Ronny Deila.
Aberdeen closed in on the Scottish champions as Simon Church’s first-half goal sealed a 1-0 win over Dundee United to help them take advantage of Celtic’s second successive draw.
Celtic had started strongly with Patrick Roberts, making his first start, and Leigh Griffiths coming close in the opening exchanges.
Charlie Mulgrew forced Scott Bain into pushing his curling free-kick around his post while at the other end Nicky Low sent his set piece effort sailing over the bar.
Bain then produced a superb save low to his left to stop a fizzing shot on the turn from Australian international Tom Rogic as Celtic upped the pressure.
However, a minute later the keeper’s blunder nearly handed Celtic the lead.
Bain missed the ball completely as raced out of his box to clear Mikel Lustig’s through ball to allow Griffiths in on goal but Paul McGinn’s last gasp intervention cleared the danger.
Groans echoed around Celtic Park at the start of the second half when an effort from Roberts was charged down as frustration grew among the home support.
Celtic did come close to breaking the deadlock when a Roberts cut-back from the by-line found Mulgrew but Bain stretched superbly to tip his bouncing effort over the bar.
The Hoops were nearly made to pay dearly for that miss late on but, with the goal at his mercy, Dundee defender Kostadin Gadzhalov somehow sent his header wide from Greg Stewart’s corner.
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