Celtic suffered a bad hangover from Sunday's Old Firm drubbing to Rangers - but still came away from second-placed Hibernian with a share of the points in a goalless draw.

Following the 5-1 humiliation at Ibrox, which brought Rangers back into the title race, all eyes were on how Martin O'Neill's side would react at a blustery Easter Road, but on this showing the need for reinforcements is crucial.

O'Neill brought his side to a blustery Edinburgh looking to put Sunday's mauling firmly in the past and his title dreams back on track.

The visitors were still 12 points clear of their arch rivals at the top of the Scottish Premier League going into the game and were also looking to increase their lead over Hibs.

But O'Neill was without midfielder Alan Thompson - sent off at Ibrox - and into his side came Jackie McNamara while Lubo Moravcik made way for highly-rated youngster Colin Healy.

French winger Didier Agathe was also in for a hot reception from the home crowd after leaving the Edinburgh outfit for Parkhead back in August.

Hibernian, however, have been this season's surprise package - and beat Rangers at Easter Road earlier in the campaign - and had the chance to close the gap on Celtic to just four points with a victory.

Manager Alex McLeish was lifted by the return of former French international Franck Sauzee, who replaced Ian Murray in the only change from the side which drew at St Mirren on Saturday.

The windy conditions were tricky for both sides, and in the ninth minute the Hibernian defence hesitated and gave Henrik Larsson the opportunity to shoot. But his effort flew just wide after taking a deflection off Sauzee.

From Healy's corner Johan Mjallby fired the ball home from close range after a goalmouth scramble. But the referee ruled that goalkeeper Nick Colgan had been fouled and the goal would not count.

In the 17th minute Agathe could have rubbed salt in Hibs' wounds when he crossed from the right to Chris Sutton, who headed on to Larsson - but the Swede was unable to get his effort on target.

The home side forced their first attempt on target in the 28th minute when Paul Fenwick fed the ball through to Mixu Paatelainen in the box, but the Finn drilled a shot straight into the hands of Robert Douglas.

Celtic were temporarily reduced to 10 men on the half-hour when Bobby Petta went off to have stitches in a leg wound after a crunching challenge from Sauzee.

Hibernian created a good chance in the 33rd minute when Mjallby let a long ball from Gary Smith run across his body in the area and Paatelainen hit a shot over the bar.

Petta failed to reappear and O'Neill was forced to throw Stephane Mahe into the fray in the 36th minute.

The game came to life in controversial circumstances after 40 minutes when Hibernian had shouts for a penalty rejected. Agathe had brought down John O'Neil in the box, but the linesman was flagging for offside on the near side.

O'Neill would have let his feelings known to the players in the dressing room at half time, but after the break Celtic continued to be out of sorts.

The Celtic manager continued to vent his anger at some of the referee's decisions and in the 52nd minute he and coach John Robertson were spoken to by Dougal.

McLeish was also spoken to by the busy official moments later for preventing Mjallby from taking a quick throw-in.

The game was becoming increasingly scrappy with more and more passes going astray and more fouls creeping into the game.

O'Neill continued to be the more animated of the two managers, but McLeish was forced to take off keeper Colgan in the 66th minute through injury and Mike Franks replaced him.

Frank was immediately called into action. Stilian Petrov fired in a fierce free-kick from the left and Sutton almost got a touch as the ball went through to the stand-in keeper.

McNamara was then booked for dissent after Agathe had been judged to have fouled Ulrik Laursen which brought another furious reaction from O'Neill on the touchline.

McLeish replaced David Zitelli with Dirk Lehmann in the 75th minute and O'Neill also tried to change things with Moravcik coming on for the ineffective Healy.

Agathe burst through moments later before playing the ball through to Larsson, who uncharachteristically blazed high over the bar.

Hibs had Laursen yellow-carded late in the game for a foul on Agathe, and after a poor game the referee's whistle could not come quickly enough.