Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2-2 Celtic
- Published
Celtic dropped points in the Scottish Premiership for the first time this season as Inverness Caledonian Thistle netted a late leveller.
The visitors moved ahead when Tom Rogic volleyed in Kieran Tierney's cross.
Inverness equalised when Billy King cut inside from the left to send an impressive shot into the far corner.
Scott Sinclair punished Gary Warren's mistake with Celtic's second and though they dominated thereafter, Alex Fisher headed Inverness back on terms.
Brendan Rodgers' side, who have a game in hand, extend their lead over Hearts and St Johnstone to three points, while Caley Thistle move a point above Partick Thistle, who slip to bottom again.
The result completed a mixed week for Celtic, who beat Rangers 5-1 last week before losing 7-0 to Champions League opponents Barcelona on Tuesday.
Immovable object v Irresistible force
Celtic are simply irresistible at times on the front foot.
For the opener, Tierney broke clear down the left, measured a lovely ball with the outside off his boot and Rogic converted. Simple, ruthless, effective.
Celtic's second was executed beautifully. Sinclair seized on a defensive error, roared into open space and produced a magnificent curling finish.
Sinclair - with a goal in each of Celtic's five league games - could not have dreamed of a better start following his move from Aston Villa.
The visitors should certainly have added to their tally but goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams was inspirational in deflecting shot after shot away from his net.
He produced strong saves to deny Tierney, Moussa Dembele and Callum McGregor, whose effort was tipped on to the bar and over.
Sinclair saw another tremendous curling effort tipped away, Erik Sviatchenko nodded against the post and McGregor's chip was blocked by Fon Williams.
Tierney whacked another off the bar and Stuart Armstrong fired wide. It was punishing at times at the back for the home side.
On this form, Celtic will take some stopping but Inverness somehow managed to recover.
Belief and controversy
It would have been easy for the home side to wilt but they got back into the game in the first half thanks to a tremendous King shot.
Celtic keeper Dorus de Vries might have done better than touch the ball into the corner, though King deserves all the plaudits.
A crucial moment in the match arrived soon after. Ross Draper nicked possession off McGregor and raced clear. On the edge of the box he went to ground under Sviatchenko's challenge.
It seemed inevitable referee Don Robertson would blow his whistle for a foul but play continued.
It was a pivotal moment which went in Celtic's favour but they could not fully take advantage.
Inverness held on and equalised when substitute Fisher headed in Greg Tansey's delivery to make it three games unbeaten for Richie Foran's side.
Case for the defence
Inverness will be content with how their back-line coped with Celtic's onslaught.
Rodgers may be less so with his own sides' defensive performance as for the fifth straight Premiership match they failed to earn a clean sheet.
Kolo Toure was rested. Sviatchenko looked less than sharp. Jozo Simunovic appeared as a second-half substitute for a long-awaited run-out following long-term injury.
On another day their front men would have had the match won but it's an area that arguably cost Celtic two points in the Highlands.
- Published18 September 2016