CELTIC manager Ange Postecoglou said his side failed to take their chances as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Rangers at Celtic Park.
Celtic took the lead through Jota after 21 minutes, the Portguese finishing Daizen Maeda's cross at the back post.
Maeda passed up a golden opportunity to double the lead just before the break, heading wide from a few yards out at the back post after good work from Jota.
šļø"JOTA IS THERE TO SCORE!"@CelticFC take the lead as Jota fires home Maeda's cross against Rangers! Watch it live on Sky Sports šŗ pic.twitter.com/XMhJlDjeiz
ā Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) May 1, 2022
Rangers started the second half strongly with Fashion Sakala and Connor Goldson going close, although Maeda again spurned an excellent opportunity to make it 2-0, firing over from 12 yards.
They were made to rue those missed chances as Sakala drew the visitors level with a powerful low drive from inside the box on 67 minutes.
Rangers had looked as though they were beginning to tire but the goal fired them up and they threatened to take the three points themselves.
Jota celebrates his opener in the first half (Image: Alan Harvey/SNS Group via Getty Images)Joe Hart had to be alert to tip over another Sakala chance before an impressive double save, first from Scott Wright and then Ryan Jack's follow-up.
Sakala hit the post late on before John Beaton blew for full time as the Hoops preserved their six-point lead at the top of the table.
'We didn't take chances'
Postecoglou lamented his side's missed chances that would have all but sealed the title, however he praised Hart for his heroics in goal.
"It was a cracking game," he told Sky Sports.
"It was pretty tight and tense, both teams had chances to get more goals.
"Ultimately, I though it was a good contest between two good teams and I'm pleased we got a draw out of it.
"We didnāt take the chances to get that second and a third and they stay in it.
š£ļø"It is a game they needed to win. We showed great resilience and didn't get beaten which is important."
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou reflects on the draw against Rangersš pic.twitter.com/YQdfi7PlfM
ā Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) May 1, 2022
"They've got nothing to lose so they're going to throw men forward, they're going to put us under pressure, which we expected if we were going to be ahead.
"We dealt with it OK but it became difficult at times.
āJoe Hart hasn't made many saves this year but he was outstanding today and that's why we brought him to this football club
"Ultimately, when we had the ascendancy, we didnāt take our chances and that keeps the opposition in there.
"They had nothing to lose, itās a game they need to win so we knew they were going to throw everything at us.
"We showed again great resilience, we didnāt get beaten, which is the most important thing.
"There's three games to go and we're in a good spot so we move on to the next game, put on a strong performance and hopefully get us a little bit closer."
Title still in sight
The draw keeps Celtic in pole position to regain the Scottish Premiership after Rangers' success last year.
A win would have all but sealed the title given Celtic's superior goal difference, while defeat would have cut their lead to three points with three games left, giving Rangers a glimmer of hope.
The draw maintains Celticās six-point lead at the top, leaving them mathematically needing four points from the remaining nine on offer.
Fashion Sakala levelled midway through the second half (Image: Rob Casey/SNS Group via Getty Images)However, given their aforementioned goal difference, one win from the remaining three games should be enough to seal the title in Postecoglou's debut season.
The Hoops host Hearts next Saturday before travelling to Dundee United four days later.
They finish the campaign with a home game against Motherwell on Saturday, May 14.
