Celtic 0-0 Kilmarnock: Hoops unable to break Killie's resistance

Celtic endured a frustrating afternoon as they were forced to settle for a point following a 0-0 draw against an obdurate Kilmarnock side at Parkhead.

As so often this season, Leigh Griffiths carried the home side's main threat but Jamie MacDonald's resolve in the Kilmarnock goal was matched by his tireless defenders as the Hoops' attacks grew increasingly frantic.

Despite dropping points against Kilmarnock for the second time this season, the champions remain six points clear at the top as second-placed Hearts were held 1-1 at home by Dundee.  

Celtic were quickly on the offensive but found the Kilmarnock defence in no mood to cough up early openings.

Space did eventually appear for Griffiths as he deftly controlled Mikael Lustig's pinpoint pass but his finish lacked the power to trouble MacDonald.

Some clever build-up from Tom Rogic resulted in another opportunity for Griffiths but again the striker shot straight at MacDonald.

Nir Bitton was showing plenty of enterprise for the home side and almost played in Rogic before Josh Magennis picked up a yellow card for a tackle on Scott Brown.

Jozo Simunovic, making only his third league start for Celtic after injury problems, saw his glancing header from a corner flick off Kevin McHattie and into MacDonald's arms.

A similar pattern of play was established after the break, Griffiths bringing a decent save out of MacDonald and then blazing over the bar as the scampering James Forrest continued to provide the ammunition from the flank.

Griffiths and Stuart Armstrong had shots deflected behind but Craig Gordon, hitherto largely untroubled in the home goal, had to be alert to snaffle the loose ball as Kilmarnock threatened just before the hour.

Rogic made way for Nadir Ciftci but MacDonald continued to defy all the Celtic forwards could throw at him, gathering substitute Gary Mackay-Steven's shot at his near post.

In a frenetic finale, Greg Kiltie forced a decent stop out of Gordon as Killie sniffed a chance of glory and Tope Obadeyi also tested the Celtic goalkeeper's mettle. 

Brown and Griffiths both threatened as the clock wound down and Dedryck Boyata hit the bar with a header, but a late goal would have been harsh on Gary Locke's side who deservedly avoided a third consecutive defeat.