Celtic’s winning league run was brought to a halt at Easter Road as Hibs ended their losing run against the leaders this season with a goalless draw.
The below pars Hoops spilled two points in Leith as they failed to bounce back from their midweek European exit.
Ange Postecoglou’s men had won 10 domestic gams on the spin but Shaun Maloney’s side were well worth their point in a dire game.
With their European adventure over, Ange Postecoglou made seven changes from the side that went down to Bodo/Glimt in midweek.
And there was no place for last week’s hat-trick hero Giorgos Giakoumakis who was missing from the squad entirely due to illness.
It was an open start with two teams looking to get the ball down and play but it was the visitors who carved out the first real chance.
Jota played a brilliant diagonal pass for Liel Abada and the Israeli beat Matt Macey to the ball but his lob over the Hibs keeper went into the side netting.
The home side suffered an injury blow midway through the first half when Kevin Nisbet was forced off after Carl Starfelt’s challenge from behind which earned the Swede a booking from Kevin Clancy.
Christian Doidge was introduced in place of the crocked striker but the Hoops pressed for the opener late in the first half.
Abada slipped the ball through to Daizen Maeda but Macey was quick off his line to save at the striker’s feet and Josip Juranovic had a free kick saved on the break - the only shot on target from either side the opening 45 minutes.
Sylvester Jasper, on loan from Fulham, was lively and his shot early in the second half was set to test Joe Hart but it smacked off Doidge who got in the way.
Abada then had a shot blocked from Greg Taylor’s cross but Maeda was flagged offside as the visitors scrambled to get the rebound.
Macey played on despite an injury which was so bad he needed Ryan Porteous - included despite his off-field issues - to take his kickouts.
Going into the final 10 minutes, the chance was there for a hero and Josh Doig was so close to being that man with the full back embarking on a great run only to shoot wide.
Here's three talking points from Easter Road:
Flat Hoops
The exit from Europe was supposed to help Celtic in their title bid but the first sign since going out of the Europa Conference League wasn’t a good one.
But some of the performances have hinted at this, with a warning as recently as last week when they only edged Dundee at home.
Going out of continental competition will only be acceptable if it leads to Postecoglou’s men being crowned champions in May.
But this is a season that really could go either way as they chase a treble and they will need to get that intensity back that has made them such a joy to watch at times this season.
Title race jitters
It’s been a while since the title race was as closely contested as it is right now and you can feel the tension.
Rangers dropped two points at Tannadice last week before Celtic took full advantage with a nervy, late win against Dundee.
And it looks like that’s the way it’s going to be for the remaining games of the season with little to separate the top two.
It’s probably not the best for fans whose nerves are shredded for 90 minutes most weeks and there could be a few twists and turns.
Nisbet nightmare
When Kevin Nisbet went down under Carl Starfelt’s challenge midway through the first half it was clear right away that it wasn’t good.
The striker signalled immediately for change, suggesting that he knew himself it was a serious injury.
Nisbet might not have been at his best in recent weeks but he remains Hibs biggest goal threat with nine to his name this season.
It will be a problem for Shaun Maloney if he faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines but worse for the 24-year-old.
