Celtic held as Rangers fight back to go top

Celtic were left to rue a host of missed chances as they lost their lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League after being held to a goalless draw by a well-organised Motherwell side at Parkhead.

The Hoops failed to find a way past Motherwell, who defended in numbers and used the pace of their young players to hit Celtic on the break.

Both sides had chances to win the game but it will be Celtic who will be left wondering how they didn’t win it with Australian Scott McDonald guilty of missing a golden chance in injury-time when he headed over the bar from a couple of yards out.

Rivals Rangers are now one point clear at the top of the table after they came from behind to win 2-1 away to St Johnstone.

Tony Mowbray made several changes to the side that were defeated by Rangers in the Old Firm derby with Shaun Maloney and China captain Zheng Zhi dropping to the bench and Landry N’Guemo out altogether.

In a goalless first-half Motherwell made life difficult for Celtic by flooding their own half with players and hitting the Hoops on the counter-attack.

Their first attack saw Well win a corner but Steven Saunders headed well over from Ross Forbes’s kick.

Georgios Samaras had a chance to put Celtic ahead in the sixth minute when Niall McGinn’s cutback from the by-line fell to him in the box but he sliced his effort wide.

Aiden McGeady was next to come close when, after skipping past Yassin Moutaouakil on the left, he fired a shot across the face of goal which was inches from flying in.

However it was Celtic who suffered a real scare in the 21st minute when Chris Humphrey’s shot from outside the box took a touch off Lucas Jutkiewicz and Artur Boruc was at full stretch to parry away the danger.

The home side continued to struggle to break down a stubborn Motherwell defence but McGinn should have done better on the stroke of half-time when Samaras picked him out at the back post, the Irishman heading well wide under no pressure.

McDonald nearly gave Celtic the lead in the 68th minute when he twisted and turned in the box before sending a low shot past Ruddy which trickled inches wide of the post.

The home fans were becoming increasingly frustrated by Celtic’s lack of class in front of goal and Zheng and Paddy McCourt came on to try and change Celtic’s fortunes.

However it was Socceroos striker McDonald who was guilty of missing a sitter in injury-time, the Australian heading over from Maloney’s flick-on.

Rangers left it late as they came from behind to defeat St Johnstone 2-1 at McDiarmid Park in the early kick-off.

The home side started strongly, with Collin Samuel setting up Martin Hardie to head against the post before Samuel himself put Saints in front in the 17th minute when he dispatched Murray Davidson’s through-ball.

The champions were stung into life and levelled five minutes before half-time through Kris Boyd, who slotted home after Kevin Thomson’s long-range effort ricocheted into his path.

St Johnstone continued to press but it was Walter Smith’s side who took the spoils thanks to a superb effort from Sasa Papac with seven minutes remaining.

Steven Naismith headed a deep cross into the Bosnian defender’s path and he adjusted his feet before bending a left-footed shot around Alan Main.

Elsewhere, Dundee United were held to a 1-1 draw with Hamilton, Hibernian stayed third with a 1-0 win over Kilmarnock, Aberdeen and Hearts drew 1-1 while St Mirren won 3-1 away to Falkirk.