Rangers frustrated Celtic and ensured a delay to their Scottish title party as they battled back to earn a draw at Parkhead.
Jota’s first half effort had given the home side the lead but a second half equaliser from Fashion Sakala ensured a share of the spoils – with Rangers made to regret late missed chances to take all three points.
The game was played out in front of former Chelsea and England captain John Terry, who watched the game draped in a Celtic scarf due to his fandom of the club.
The home side started the brighter and deservedly went in front in the 21st minute, as Daizen Maeda did well to beat James Tavernier before firing a low cross across Allan McGregor’s goal that was fired in by Jota.
The Portuguese forward was more alert than Borna Barisic at the back post and was rewarded with the opening goal.
Yet despite taking the lead, the home side failed to push on from their bright opening start and it was Rangers who grew increasingly assured in proceedings with long spells of possession and taking the sting out of the home side’s fast attacks.
Despite more possession and territory from the visitors, Celtic were wasteful in front of goal with both Jota and Maeda spurning glorious opportunities – the latter failing to direct a header on target from point-blank range after a perfect delivery into the box, with the onrushing McGregor ensuring the Japanese forward was not fully committed to his effort.
There was a notable sea-change after the break with Rangers entirely nullifying the threat from the hosts, who did not test McGregor while there was sustained spells of pressure from the visitors – even without creating any major opportunities of their own.
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That changed midway through the half as Ryan Kent slipped in Sakala and the winger zipped a sweet shot beyond Joe Hart at the keeper's near post – with which the former England international would undoubtedly have been disappointed with.
It was just the second goal in the second half that Celtic had conceded at home in their last 22 matches at Parkhead. Three minutes later, the Zambian almost had another as he outmuscled Cameron Carter-Vickers to force Hart into a tip over the bar.
All the big chances late in the game came for the visiting side; firstly Scott Arfield’s point-blank effort in the 84th minute was well-saved by Hart with substitute Ryan Jack unable to turn the ball home at the far post.
Two minutes later was the best opportunity of the game as Sakala ran beyond the Celtic defence and faced with a one-on-one chance against Hart, his effort rebounded back off the post and away to safety for the hosts.
It ended all-square to ensure that Celtic remain six points clear at the top of the standings with just three rounds of action remaining.
While Rangers look set to lose a grip of their league title, they do have a Scottish Cup final against Hearts to look ahead to and the second leg of their Europa League semi-final against RB Leipzig, in which they trail 1-0 following last week’s first leg in Germany.
