Celtic held to 2-2 draw by Dundee United despite second-half fightback
Martin O'Neill's side twice came from behind at Celtic Park but could not find a winner, leaving them four points clear after Rangers and Hearts also shared the points.
Celtic failed to extend their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership after being held 2-2 by Dundee United at Celtic Park, a result that denied the champions the chance to move six points clear, according to Sky Sports Football.
Camilo Duran and Liam Scales scored for the home side as Celtic twice had to come from behind against a United team that looked dangerous on the counter-attack throughout, Yahoo Sports reported.
Celtic conceded twice in the space of three minutes during the match, continuing a troubling pattern at the back that has brought them only one clean sheet in their last eight games.
Martin O'Neill acknowledged his side had handed Dundee United soft openings, saying that while Celtic dominated the ball and territory, "we conceded some poor goals" before fighting back in the second half.
The Celtic manager felt his team had done enough to win it late on, but admitted the visitors remained a constant threat whenever they broke forward, and that Celtic could just as easily have lost the game.
O'Neill pointed to the volume of possession his side enjoyed, with wide player Hassan causing persistent problems for the United defence, though he suggested Celtic might have attacked more incisively from the service he supplied.
The draw came with its silver lining. Results elsewhere saw Rangers and Hearts play out an identical 2-2 scoreline at Tynecastle, meaning Celtic's lead at the summit stayed intact at four points despite dropping two of their own.
O'Neill was asked directly whether the night represented a missed opportunity given that both title rivals had also stumbled, and accepted there was truth in that, while stressing Celtic could not control results elsewhere. He said the frustration stemmed specifically from failing to win at home.
His second-half changes drew praise from the manager himself. Callum Osmand was introduced and O'Neill said he had been pleased with the young striker, who he believes is suited to playing alongside a more physical presence up front.
Kasper Hogh also worked hard after coming on and set up one of Celtic's goals, giving the forward what O'Neill called a boost of confidence following limited service earlier in the game. O'Neill agreed Hogh might feel aggrieved not to have received similar balls into the box in the first half.
There was also a key defensive intervention from Mika Baur, who recovered after Celtic lost possession from a short corner routine to make what O'Neill described as a crucial effort to prevent United snatching a winner themselves.
On Jota, O'Neill indicated the forward remains some way from a first start, saying his return to form will take time given how long he has been out of the game, though he noted good reports of the player from before his own arrival at the club.
Celtic remain top of the Scottish Premiership on the back of their four-point cushion, with the draw leaving O'Neill to address defensive frailties that have now surfaced in eight of the team's last nine fixtures.