Dundee United 0-0 Celtic: Scottsh Premiership leaders held at Tannadice

Celtic dropped Scottish Premiership points for just the second time this season as defensively solid Dundee United earned a creditable draw against the champions in challenging, windy conditions.

The result means Jim Goodwin’s side have lost just one of their past seven league matches, highlighting their impressive return to the top flight.

Despite the stalemate, Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic hold a nine-point lead over Rangers as the campaign approaches the halfway stage over the festive period.

Rodgers was forced to make significant changes to his line-up with Alistair Johnston and Nicolas Kuhn out injured and the centre-half pairing of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty missing through illness.

That meant rare starts for Anthony Ralston, Stephen Welsh and Hyun-jun Yang, with Luke McCowan also in the XI.

The home side looked to rely on defensive solidity, something that deserted them in their previous outing – the 4-3 defeat at Motherwell – but has been a feature this term. They got that as Celtic were frustrated despite having most of the ball.

Celtic manager Rodgers said: “You are always disappointed when you draw a game that you should win.

“We didn’t work the keeper enough but the players gave everything. In these types of games, if you don’t get the early goal it gives the opposition something to hold on to.”