Celtic 0-0 Dundee

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Highlights: Celtic 0-0 Dundee

Struggling Dundee held Scottish champions Celtic to a goalless Premiership draw in Glasgow.

Dedryck Boyata almost scored a 45th-minute own goal when he tackled Roarie Deacon, the ball striking the post.

Dundee's Simon Murray and home winger James Forrest also came close.

Odsonne Edouard and ex-Dees man Jack Hendry threatened after the break, but Celtic could not find a goal, the point extending their lead at the top-flight summit to 10 points.

The draw boosts Dundee's hopes of beating the drop, moving them level on points with ninth-placed Hamilton Academical, and five clear of Ross County in the relegation play-off spot.

It was a dogged, organised performance from Neil McCann's visitors but they merited their share of the spoils.

Steven Caulker, the subject of unsuccessful club-record bids from Rosenborg which McCann expects to be topped in the summer, was part of a defence taking heavy fire from the off.

The Dark Blues toiled to get anywhere near Craig Gordon, making his first appearance in the Celtic goal since suffering a knee injury in January, barring Murray's explosive effort the Scotland stopper touched over the bar.

Image source, SNS
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Fit-again Craig Gordon made his first appearance since January, having overcome a knee injury

The champions were monopolising possession, and goals surely had to come. Or so you would have thought.

Forrest might have netted after confusion in the Dundee defence, his effort blocked by goalkeeper Elliot Parish. Scott Sinclair couldn't adjust his footing to angle a cross goalwards with his head. Then Forrest again unleashed a curling shot over the bar.

It took until nearly half-time for Dundee to emerge as an attacking threat, but they could have snatched an unlikely lead as their long balls through the middle caused Boyata and Hendry problems.

Deacon latched on to one such delivery, and only a stunning Boyata tackle denied him finding the net. The big Belgian was left looking on in horror, though, as the ball skidded beyond Gordon, only to strike the post and bounce to safety.

You could sense the frustration growing in home ranks, and the angst was almost palpable in the sparsely-populated home stands too, but it took until the 65th minute for boss Brendan Rodgers to ring the changes.

Image source, SNS
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Scott Sinclair could not find a way through the Dundee defence

The treble-chasing champions made a trio of substitutions. Off went ineffective striker Moussa Dembele, as did Tom Rogic and Sinclair. Edouard, Leigh Griffiths and Olivier Ntcham were introduced.

Still, however, Celtic huffed and puffed without being able to blow Dundee over. Edouard's effort was deflected wide, then Hendry nearly headed a late winner against the team he left in January.

That was as close as the home side got. A huge point then for relegation-threatened Dundee. And one they thoroughly deserved.

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