Ronny Deila blamed St Johnstone’s potatoe field surface for James Forrest’s open goal miss.
The hoops boss has been critical of the surfaces at Tannadice, Hampden and St Mirren Park this year and was less than thrilled with the pitch at McDairmid Park.
With six minutes left to play Forrest looked set to deliver Celtic full points but after taking the ball wide of Alan Mannus the ball took a bobble with the winger sending his shot high into the stand with the goal gaping.
“You can grow potatoes out there,” the Celtic boss sighed as he looked back on the chance. “Strange things will happen and that was a strange thing. “James was disappointed but you can see it bounce up so what can you do?
“It was a crazy game. Way too open for my taste. Maybe it was fun to watch from the stand with the chances but we were everywhere defensively.
“Offensively we created some chances so that was okay but it was a miracle it was 0-0.”
Both side’s had numerous chances to score with St Johnstone twice hitting the woodwork in the last ten minutes.
Deila singled out Lucasz Zaluska for praise in a rare outing deputising for Craig Gordon. Kieran Tierney made his first start while Charlie Mulgrew was introduced at half time for Jason Denayer to make his first top team appearance in six months.
The point takes Celtic 15 points clear of Aberdeen with just next Sunday’s trophy day match against Inverness Caley Thistle to come.
