Celtic manager Ronny Deila wary of threat from ‘much-improved’ Hearts side

Celtic closed the gap behind Aberdeen at the top of the Scottish Premiership to four points despite being held to a goalless draw at home to Hearts on Saturday.

Celtic manager Ronny Deila expressed his frustration at his strikers after the match. I’m irritated because our performance today was good, and you can’t create more than we did in the first half.

“But for me now, we are just happy to improve as a team all the time and see where that leads us”.

Deila has previously claimed he would deserve to be sacked if anyone other than the defending champions were to lift the title this season. “People know what to expect in the different roles, so we are stronger as a squad now”, Deila said. I will always say that’s our goal at a club like this.

“The only real disappointment is that we didn’t break as well as we could have with the pace we have”.

Griffiths then turned provider as he cushioned the ball into the path of James Forrest who sent a vicious volley crashing off the post.

Griffiths headed an Izaguirre cross past the post from 10 yards then missed a sitter, heading into the arms of Alexander after a wayward header from Tynecastle defender Blazej Augustyn.

Alexander was called into action once more before half time, and he kept out Nir Bitton’s long range effort.

“Yes, he got a red card but it shows the experience he has got”.

Inverness manager John Hughes – who is without Iain Vigurs (Achilles), Aaron Doran (knee), Jordan Roberts (groin), Gary Warren (broken leg) and Dean Brill (knee) and will assess the fitness of Tobi Sho-Silva – has admitted he will try to go easy on his players despite their stuttering start to the campaign.

However, the Dons were unable to find a leveller as they dropped points for the first time this season, just days after being knocked out of the League Cup by second-tier Hibernian.

Hamilton Academical pulled level on points with Hearts courtesy of a 2-1 win at Kilmarnock, and in the day’s remaining fixture, St Johnstone – a man down from the 22nd minute – triumphed 2-1 over Dundee United. “I think the boys have been outstanding and maybe I have to sit back and reflect on exactly what they’ve done for me”, he said.