Celtic dropped points for the second time this season and failed to pull 11 points away from second-placed Rangers in a relentless draw at Dundee United.
In his first game at Tannadice as Hoops boss, Brendan Rodgers saw his much-changed ownership dominant but has just 3 shots on target, his lowest this season, against a resolute home defence.
The first problems fell since a 2-2 draw with Aberdeen in October and meant that Celtic ended the nine front numbers of the rangers at the most sensible table.
Celtic remains undefeated this season and will still have a healthy merit in the most sensible one, since they prepare for the games of the house opposite to Motherwell and St Johnstone before the crash of the old company opposed to the Ibrox rangers on January 2 .
Rodgers announced the adjustments after the grueling win in the last of the first sports cup opposed to Light Blues last weekend and came up with Anthony Ralston, Stephen Welsh, Liam Scales, Luke McCowan and Hyun-Jun Yang.
Paulo Bernardo among the substitutes but there are no signs of Nicolas Kuhn, the injured Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers or Auston Trusty, the last two declared sick because of Rodgers before the game.
United showed three changes, with Will Ferry, Kai Fotheringham and Miller Thomson reinstated, while the league’s top-scorer Sam Dalby, with eight goals in nine games, led the line.
Wrexham Loreee and his teammates had to hunt down when Celtic inevitably got hold of the ball.
In the 10th minute, Hoops attacker Daizen Maeda set up midfielder Reo Hatate with a clever flick, but his low drive from 16 yards beat the far post.
McCowan, former star of Duende, tried his with a shot from 25 yards that passed over the left post of the United goalkeeper, Jack Walton.
More efforts from Hoops striker Kyogo Furuhashi, McCowan and Hatate followed before the break, and the Terrors looked little risk as they diligently denied the visitors.
United had a smart chance early in the moment when Thomson broke to the left, supported through Dalthrough, but his weak shot was collected through Celtic underemployed goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
The Parkhead side remained dominant but were finding it difficult to get through the packed and well-organised Tangerine defence.
Rodgers acted on time and Adam Idah and Luis Palma Yang and McCowan and moments later, Idah closed with a low impulse.
On a rare United attack, back-tracking Kyogo was caught on the ball by Glenn Middleton inside the box, but his shot on the stretch was easily saved by Schmeichel.
Celtic went back on the attack. Walton headed over the bar from Maeda’s header in the 78th minute, United, with Jort van der Sande in Thomson’s position, defended the corner before the United goalkeeper thwarted Kyogo moments later after a good throw-in from Idah.
The visitors piled on the pressure and Walton blocked a close-range shot from Celtic substitute Arne Engels before the Hoops survived a goal fight as United searched for a late winner, but neither team may fail to find the advance in six. discount minutes.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers told Sky Sports:
“We got to all the spaces we were looking for and we were there a lot, but we didn’t paint the goalkeeper enough.
“We had a lot of chances while we were there and we never achieved the goal.
“We had a good time and hooked the play, and the goalkeeper made a great savings at the end
“Difficult situations with the wind and everything, but it seemed like we couldn’t score. “
Dundee United Boss Jim Goodwin Sky Sports:
“We talked before the game about the importance of the pitch and concentration and worked out the game plan for possession.
“We would have liked to have been able to offer a bit more in terms of our forward play but sometimes you’ve got to respect the opposition. Celtic are a team with real quality.
“I deserve a lot of credit for what they have invested in this match. Celtic have won the last 8 league games away. “