Kjell Olofsson's dramatic late strike denied Celtic's bid to stretch their lead at the top of the Premier Division as fortune at last favoured Dundee United at Parkhead.

In five previous meetings this season, Celtic have been victors, with two last-gasp successes at Tannadice already secured since the turn of the year by Wim Jansen's men.

There was always the sense it was time for the luck to turn, but Simon Donnelly's excellent 27th minute finish suggested it would be the same again.

But Celtic built only nerves on their lead and so uneasy were they at sitting back they pushed forward - only to be caught by a swift United break after 75 minutes.

Craig Easton played Olofsson into space and he had time to place the ball past exposed keeper Jonathan Gould and ensure the title race remains wide open.

Had Celtic won they would have moved four points clear of Hearts and seven of Rangers. Now, with a draw, those figures read a less resounding two and five.

With Hearts only drawing at home to Kilmarnock and Motherwell defeating Rangers yesterday there is no immediate damage, but Celtic will still rue what might have been.

Jackie McNamara's ankle problem meant Donnelly continued on the right-hand side for Celtic, while for the visitors' Steven Pressley's foot injury ensured a return for Magnus Skoldmark.

Stephane Mahe was booked after just 15 seconds for a late challenge at the earliest opportunity on Lars Zetterlund and that set the tone for an ill-tempered opening.

Celtic should have moved ahead after just seven minutes when Morten Wieghorst's cross was presented to Henrik Larsson by Alan Stubbs' cushioned header.

The Swede was virtually in front of goal, but conspired to misdirect a free header the wrong side of the post.

Seven minutes later, Larsson again found himself unmarked in the United area, but this time was blameless as Stubbs' drilled cross was too powerful and merely deflected off him.

There was a natural anxiety about the Parkhead faithful now, embodied by a loud penalty appeal for Sieb Dykstra's challenge on Donnelly.

Celtic frustration increased after 24 minutes when Brattbakk's strike from distance narrowly cleared the crossbar after Gould's goalkick broke kindly.

Any thoughts events might just be turning United's way in what has proved a one-sided fixture this term seemed to be dispelled after 27 minutes.

Wieghorst's cross was touched on by Brattbakk and Donnelly had time to measure a stylish low volley with the outside of his foot beyond the reach of Dykstra.

It was a goal of superb technique and at once forced United to move men forward, the Tannadice team having adopted a previous attitude of everyone behind the ball.

Celtic were at once able to break, Brattbakk releasing Larsson whose near-post effort was struck against the legs of Dykstra when finding a colleague may have been the better option.

Five minutes before the interval, Celtic could have doubled their advantage, Larsson feeding Donnelly whose low cross was turned goalwards by Brattbakk only for Dykstra to claw the ball away.

Brattbakk had another chance just after the restart when found by Craig Burley, but his goal attempt lacked the power to trouble Dykstra.

After 50 minutes, Brattbakk again combined well with Larsson, but the latter failed to keep his effort below the crossbar as the decisive second remained elusive.

Celtic were offered a warning they failed to heed minutes later when substitute Andy McLaren's corner found Easton unmarked at the far post, but he was caught by surprise.

Burley won the ball well in midfield to supply Donnelly whose shot on the turn needed an alert stop by Dykstra.

The Dutchman managed an even better save in Celtic's next attack to keep out a well struck effort from Wieghorst which was heading for the top corner.

But United had something left and Olofsson, scorer of two in the Cup last week, was again the key figure for United unlocking the backline after a pass from Easton to fire past Gould.

Jansen's side made desperate attempts to regain their lead, but United held firm. The question now with eight games remaining is will Celtic?

Teams

Celtic: Gould, Boyd, Mahe, Donnelly, Rieper, Stubbs (Annoni 81), Larsson, Burley, Brattbakk (Jackson 75), Lambert, Wieghorst (O'Donnell 84).

Booked: Mahe.

Goals: Donnelly 27.

Dundee Utd: Dykstra, Bowman, Malpas, Skoldmark, Perry, Pedersen, Olofsson, Zetterlund (McLaren 46), Winters, Dolan, Easton.

Subs Not Used: Crawford, Duffy.

Booked: Skoldmark, Bowman, Pedersen.

Goals: Olofsson 75.

Att: 48,656

Ref: M McCurry (Glasgow).