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."

McCowan, twice, Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi all had chances but mostly from outside the area as the home side stayed compact and emerged when they could.

Miller Thompson had an opportunity on the break but lacked the power to truly test Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who had little to do.

Luis Palma and Adam Idah were thrown on as the visitors chased a goal and the Republic of Ireland striker came close but shot just wide. Interestingly, Kyogo stayed on in a slightly withdrawn role.

Further personnel changes sparked a surge in intensity as the clock ticked on.

Daizen Maeda came close with a looping header after a great run in behind, then Kyogo seemed certain to score after he got in but Jack Walton was equal to it.

In injury time, substitute Arne Engels thought he had won it from a couple of yards, but again Walton responded to divert the ball behind as Celtic left frustrated despite relentlessly surging forward as the game went on.

Jim Goodwin pointed to the need for defensive solidity and his side restricted Celtic throughout. It was fraught at times but all credit to them for seeing it out.

The fact Walton wasn't directly tested until late on says it all.

United gave up a lot of the ball, perhaps not intentionally, but stayed so well drilled.

Glenn Middleton offered some threat down the left on occasions, but there wasn't much for Schmeichel to consider over the 90 minutes.

However, the Tannadice side will be delighted with the outcome and the resilience shown. Another excellent result for Goodwin's men.

Celtic were missing key men. They have depth in the squad but that left questions that weren't fully answered although the visitors came close to another victory.

The absence of Johnston and Kuhn in particular down the right resulted in far less threat in that area, with Ralston and Yang simply not offering the same link-up and quality going forward.

A lack of game-time no doubt contributed to that as did the increasingly windy conditions.

But Rodgers does enjoy a squad full of quality and it looked likely to eventually prove decisive. The failure to find a breakthrough was not for a lack of trying.

The result is far from a significant blow given the lead Celtic enjoy at the top, but offers a glimmer of hope to those hoping to mount a challenge.

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "It's a really well-earned point from our perspective.

"If you'd offered me a clean sheet before kick-off, I'd have snapped your hand off. Defensively, we were excellent. Great discipline and concentration. There was a real resilience and determination from the group."

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "We are greedy to win every game but nine points clear, with a trophy in the cabinet, and doing well in the Champions League, it's been a good period for us."