Celtic held in drab opening game

GLASGOW, Scotland -- Scottish champions Celtic made a disappointing start to the new season when they were held to a drab 0-0 draw by Kilmarnock at Parkhead on Sunday.

While Gordon Strachan's side dominated the majority of the match, and created numerous chances, Jim Jefferies' dogged Killie held on for a well earned share of the points.

Celtic, who raised their league title-winning flag before kick-off, quickly put Kilmarnock on the back foot as they began their quest for a third successive title.

It took them until the 10th minute to create their first real opening.

Aiden McGeady's quickly taken free-kick found Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink completely unmarked six yards from goal but the big Dutch striker fluffed the chance as his shot sliced harmlessly across the face of goal.

Celtic's Italian midfielder Massimo Donati came close to an opener in the 15th minute with a first time shot from 25 yards which flew narrowly wide.

At the other end Steven Naismith, a transfer target for Celtic, was causing problems for the home side's defence and his long-range effort just missed the in the 22nd minute.

However, with Donati and Scott Brown pulling the strings in midfield for the Parkhead side, Kilmarnock were being forced into some desperate defending on their own 18-yard line.

Brown almost opened his goal account for Celtic in the 27th minute, firing wide from 16 yards after Paul Hartley nodded John Kennedy's cross into his path.

And two minutes later Polish striker Maciej Zurawski should have taking advantage of Donati's clever pass through instead of striking a weak shot with the outside of his foot which goalkeeper Alan Combe saved low to his right.

Just before half-time Celtic center-half Kennedy leapt to win Hartley's cross and then smashed the ball over from only eight yards.

In the 48th minute, Hartley forced the visitors' goalkeeper Combe to tip over his crossbar at full-stretch after getting on the end of Brown's cross to send a looping header goalwards from 10 yards.

Zurawski missed another glorious chance to put Celtic ahead in the 55th minute.

Naylor's low cross found him in the six-yard box but his first time effort was brilliantly blocked by Combe from point blank range and before the Polish international side-footed the rebound wide.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan made a double substitution in the 63rd minute - bringing New Zealand striker Chris Killen and Japanese international Shunsuke Nakamura on for Zurawski and Donati - as he looked for a winning start to the season.

Nakamura had an early opportunity to make an impact in the 67th minute when McGeady won a free-kick 20 yards from goal, but the little playmaker's effort curled just over Combe's bar.

Kilmarnock's Naismith and Colin Nish were worrying the Celtic defence but were unable to test goalkeeper Mark Brown - standing in for the injured Polish keeper Artur Boruc.

While Celtic were continuing to enjoy the lion's share of possession they were now struggling to create many scoring opportunities.

Brown had one last chance at the death but his lob from eight-yards was brilliantly tipped over by Combe and Killie held on for a point. E-mail to a friend