Brendan Rodgers lamented Celtic’s inability to breakdown the Ayrshire Fire Service following the 0-0 draw with Kilmarnock.
The hoops laboured through 90 minutes without a genuine striker barely able to force a save out of Jamie McDonald in the Kilmarnock goal.
Celtic must have had at least 70% possession but with Killie funnelling back to string five across the back and four in midfield chances were few and far between.
Jack Hendry had the best chance of the night but with the goal at his mercy he headed past the post from eight yards out from a corner midway through the second half.
Following the high of a 5-0 hammering of Sevco it was a night of frustration in the stands with that feeling echoed in the dug out.
“Kilmarnock have been a tough opponent for us this season but, it wouldn’t matter if you put 11 firemen that deep on a pitch,” Rodgers told The Sun.
“It is always going to be very difficult and even more so when you have good players who are organised.
“We didn’t have any natural strikers but we take a point and credit to Kilmarnock for defending well even if it was not a great game to watch.
“Stevie gets them very compact and tight. Over the last few games, they have maybe opened up a bit and conceded. So coming to here, he wasn’t going to do that.
“If you make an early breakthrough, it gives a better opportunity, but we couldn’t quite do that.
“It is always difficult when you play against that system which is very deep and very low, especially at this stage of the season
“You do need that bit of brightness and cleverness in there and it didn’t come off for us tonight.”
Leigh Griffiths is expected to be fit and available for the final SPFL match of the campaign at home to Aberdeen on Sunday.