Dundee resumed their Development League campaign after the winter break with a tough tie against strong-going Celtic at a very chilly Gayfield Park.
The Dark Blues bolstered their young side with experience in the shape of Kyle Letheren in goal, Kevin McBride in central defence and Simon Ferry in midfield.
They also welcomed the return from loan spells of Dylan Carreiro and Jamie Reid.
As expected, with the wind at their backs, Celtic started strongly and should have taken the lead in the 14th minute when Alex Tonev scampered down the right and squared for the inrushing Joe Thomson.
However, with the goal at his mercy, the midfielder somehow managed to put the ball wide.
Despite their dominance Celtic could only muster a few weak efforts at the Dundee goal until the half hour mark when Calvin Miller tested Letheren with a fine turn and shot from the edge of the box.
Dundee found it tough going against a high pressing Celtic side and only earned their first corner eight minutes from the break. Josh Skelly’s corner kick was cleared by Fiacre Kelleher only as far as Carreiro who set up Simon Ferry for a shot that was blocked for another corner.
That encouraged Dundee and Reid then set up Skelly for another shot that was tipped over the bar by Hoops keeper Leo Fasan and, from that corner, Lee Cameron had a header cleared off the line.
HT: Dundee 0 Celtic 0
The young Dark Blues started the second half on the attack and Skelly had a close-in shot blocked.
The game was a much more even contest now with the Dee having a fair share of the possession but they almost came unstuck when a slip by McBride allowed Thomson through on goal. The midfielder rounded Letheren but Matty Allan was on hand to scramble the ball away for a corner.
At the other end Craig Wighton picked up a loose ball and tried a curling shot which went narrowly over the bar. Wighton also saw a header fly over the bar from a Skelly free kick.
With six minutes left Reid took a knock and was replaced by Calum McHardy.
The visitors almost found the winner in the dying minutes when Thomson found himself through on goal, but Letheren pulled off a great double save from him and then Jamie Lindsay before Andy Black cleared the danger with a fine tackle on Regan Hendry.
FT: Dundee 0 Celtic 0
Dundee: Letheren, A Black, L Gibb, Allan, McBride, Ferry, Cameron, Carreiro, Skelly, Wighton, Reid (McHardy 84). Subs not used: Brodie, Waddell, Gemmell, Sivewright.
Celtic: Fasan, Fisher, Waters, O’Connell, Kelleher, Twardzik, Thomson, Lindsay, Miller, Hill (McCart 86), Tonev (Hendry 75). Subs not used: McCabe, McIlduff, Breslin.
Report: Jim Davie.
