Celtic dropped points for the second time this season and missed a chance to overtake second-placed Rangers by 11 points in a goalless draw against Dundee United.
In his first match at Tannadice as Hoops boss, Brendan Rodgers watched his much-changed side dominate possession but only have three shots on target – their lowest this season – up against a resolute home defence.
It was the first time that they fell from the 2-2 draw with Aberdeen in October and meant that Celtic ended the nine points above the Rangers at the top of the table.
Celtic remain unbeaten at home this season and still have healthy merit in the brain, as it is for the home games opposite Motherwell and St Johnstone before the old company opposite Rangers upset at Ibrox on January 2.
Rodgers rang the changes following the exhausting Premier Sports Cup final win over the Light Blues last weekend and in came Anthony Ralston, Stephen Welsh, Liam Scales, Luke McCowan and Hyun-Jun Yang.
Paulo Bernardo was among the substitutes but there was no sign of Nicolas Kuhn, injured Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers or Auston Trusty, the latter two declared ill by Rodgers before the game.
United made three changes, with Will Ferry, Kai Fotheringham and Miller Thomson restored, while the league’s top scorer Sam Dalby, with eight goals in nine games, led the line.
The Wrexham loanee and his team-mates had to do the chasing as Celtic inevitably took control of the ball.
In the tenth minute, Hoops ahead, Daizen Maeda, installed midfielder Reo Hatate with a wise film, but his low 16-yard drive beat the post.
Former Dundee star McCowan was next to try his luck with a 25-yard drive which whistled past United goalkeeper Jack Walton’s left-hand post.
Other efforts through the hoops Kyogo Furuhashi, McCowan and Hatate followed before the break, the Terrors not looking very threatening as they concentrated diligently to prevent the visitors from breaking in.
United had a smart chance early in the moment when Thomson broke the left, supported through Dalthrough, however, his weak shot found Celtic’s underemployed goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
Parkhead’s team continued to dominate, but had trouble getting a well -organized and crowded mandarin defense.
Rodgers acted in time and Adam Idah and Luis Palma replaced Yang and McCowan and moments later Idah arrived with a low shot.
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 tipped a header from Maeda over the bar in the 78th minute but United, with Jort van der Sande on for Thomson, defended the corner before the United keeper thwarted Kyogo moments later after a great touch by Idah.
The visitors put the tension and Walton blocked an opportunity in the narrow diversity of some other Celtic replace The two groups simply cannot get the advance within six minutes.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers told Sky Sports:
“We were given all the spaces we were looking for and we were there frequently, but we didn’t work enough with the goalkeeper.
“We had so many opportunities while we were there and we never reached the goal.
“We had a good time and got into the game, and the goalkeeper made a very good save at the end.
“Difficult situations with the wind and everything, however, seemed that we could not score. “
Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin told Sky Sports:
“We talked before the game about the importance of the field and concentration and the players perfectly executed the game plan, possession.
“We would have liked to offer a little more in terms of our complex game, but you have to respect the opposition. The Celts are a team of genuine quality.
“I deserve a lot of credit for what they have invested in this game. Celtic have won their last 8 league games away. “