Celtic manager Ronny Deila declared himself unhappy at his side’s performance despite their thrilling goalless draw with St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.
With the Scottish Premiership already wrapped up the Glasgow giants made six changes but still fielded a strong looking line-up to face the only side to have defeated them in the league in 2015 after St Johnstone’s 1-0 triumph at Celtic Park back in March.
And Tommy Wright’s side, who are still in the hunt for a Europa League spot, looked determined to make it two wins in a row against the Hoops with only a man-of-the-match performance from stand-in keeper Lukasz Zaluska saving his side on numerous occasions.
And Deila, who has led Celtic to the championship and the League Cup in his first season in charge of the Glasgow giants, was disappointed at the chances his side afforded St Johnstone.
“I’m not so happy. I think we were far too open today. It was a game where both teams had a lot of chances,” the Celtic manager said.
“I don’t think coaches like it when there are games like this and there are chances both ways all the time. It’s much better to have control over the games.
“But today we were open and offensive and there were big gaps everywhere which meant there were chances for our opponents.
“We also had two good goalkeepers and some finishing that could have been better so I think a draw was okay.”
Despite his disappointment, Deila could still pick out some positives from the match, with the performance of Zaluska and James Forrest in particular earning praise.
And the Hoops manager, whose side has conceded just 17 goals in the league, has set his side the target of another clean sheet in their final game when they host Inverness Caledonian Thistle next week in order to eclipse the league record low of 18 set by the Hoops back in 2001-02.
“We had some good performances. Lukasz Zaluska was unbelievable today. It was very good for him and for us. I’m happy for him. He’s been patient for a long, long time and now he got his chance and he performed very well,” the Norwegian said.
“I think James Forrest was good on the right side producing things. Offensively he is getting better and better but defensively he has more to improve, of course.
“We didn’t lose and we didn’t concede any goals and that’s a positive as well.
“I think we have the possibility to make a record for the number of conceded goals. I think 17 is the lowest that has ever been so it’s going to be an important game next Sunday to keep a clean sheet and hopefully break that record.”
The point means Celtic hold a 15-point lead at the top of the table while St Johnstone move up into fourth spot above Dundee United as they chase a Europa League spot.
St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright was delighted with his side.
“We created 23 attempts against the best side in the country and tonight I think we showed a side of us that often gets overlooked,” Wright said.
“Overall I couldn’t ask more from the players and I think every point at this stage of the season is vital.
“It puts us into fourth and keeps us in the hunt.”