Celtic boss Ronny Deila did not make excuses after the 1-1 draw with Hamilton

Celtic manager Ronny Deila was not prepared to make excuses for his team dropping two points in their 1-1 draw at Hamilton.

In an incident-packed encounter at New Douglas Park Celtic defender Dedryck Boyata was dismissed by Craig Thomson, who could have issued a second red card to Darian MacKinnon of Hamilton for two reckless challenges in the second half.

The Hoops were leading through a Leigh Griffiths penalty when Boyata was dismissed just before the break for a last-man tackle on Carlton Morris just outside the box, and although the defender appeared to take the ball first, Thomson swiftly produced a red card.

"I think it was an okay decision," Deila said of Thomson's judgement. "Rule No 1, as a defender, is stay on your feet and run with people and it is something we have to learn from.

"I have seen it again one more time and I don't think he touched the ball and we have to learn from these situations.

"When you have one versus one, you have to run with people. We have to run with them instead of taking chances."

Deila was equally frustrated Celtic failed to take good chances before Eamonn Brophy levelled the match on 73 minutes.

Griffiths had a second penalty saved by Michael McGovern and the striker, along with Gary Mackay-Steven squandered chances with just the goalkeeper to beat.

"I was disappointed that we lost two points because we controlled the game quite well at 1-0, and then in the second half we produced three chances, should have scored two but we couldn't do it," Deila said.

"When you get two alone with the goalkeeper and a penalty and miss it, then it is going to be hard to win football games.

"At the end, the opponents will get a chance or two and it was a good finish from the set-play."

Griffiths took his tally for the season to 33 but was left to regret the penalty miss, and is now looking ahead to the midweek clash with his former club Dundee.

He said: "I take responsibility. I've scored the first one so I should be stepping up confident of scoring the second one. But I've got to give credit to Michael, it was a great save and they've kicked on from that to get a point.

"But that's twice he's saved a penalty from me so hopefully I don't have to face him again. It's annoying that we haven't stretched our lead but we've got to accept that and take it forward.

"We just concentrate on what we do so our mind is only on Dundee on Wednesday now."

Hamilton player/manager Martin Canning felt pride had been restored after the recent 8-1 thrashing at Celtic Park, and even expressed some disappointment that his side could not force the win.

Canning said: "Everyone was hurting after the last game but we showed we can get over that and put on a performance.

"We knew it was a bad night for us. Every game has to be taken individually and that proved it. It feels like a win in a way as we would have taken a point before the game.

"But I said in the dressing room in a quiet moment it was disappointing we didn't win given the way the game went. It was a big opportunity to get the three points, which would have been the most important thing.

"But I was proud of the players and the effort they put in."