Last updated on .From the section Scottish Premiership

Celtic's Scottish Premiership lead stands at nine points as Hibernian held them to a goalless draw at Easter Road.

With four games remaining, Neil Lennon's side require four points to wrap up the title.

Hibs opened menacingly, creating a flurry of chances inside 15 minutes.

Home goalkeeper Ofir Marciano made two stoppage-time saves to deny Odsonne Edouard and Jozo Simunovic while Scott Bain did well to block an Oli Shaw shot inside the six-yard box.

Celtic are unbeaten in 14 league games but this was the third stalemate of Lennon's nine-match tenure in all competitions.

The hosts are yet to taste defeat in nine Premiership outings under Paul Heckingbottom and are five points behind fourth-placed Kilmarnock.

Celtic slow to get going as Marciano shines

Daryl Horgan was the Hibs hero in the Edinburgh derby, scoring both goals at Tynecastle, and the Irish winger was brimming with confidence in the opening stages.

His early shot was spilled by Bain before a fizzing cross was just inches away from a lunging Stephane Omeonga in front of goal. Omeonga then powered in a shot from distance that Bain needed to tip round the post.

A fine start from Hibs continued with Marc McNulty nodding into the path of Paul Hanlon, who controlled on his chest before firing a rising shot just over.

Celtic struggled to find any passing fluency but gradually began to see more of the ball and it took a fabulous, leaping save from Marciano to keep out a curling shot from Olivier Ntcham.

A sluggish second half was brightened up by another good stop from Marciano, who was at full stretch to keep out a free-kick from Edouard.

Soon after, the Celtic striker could only knock the ball over the top from close range, perhaps surprised when Darren McGregor failed to cut out a low cross from James Forrest. Tom Rogic then drilled a shot narrowly wide from 20 yards.

Cutting in from the left, Hibs substitute Shaw was set up with a great shooting chance but inexplicably elected to cut inside before surrendering possession, symptomatic of a match full of poor decision-making in the final third.

It looked like Shaw would make amends on 87 minutes but his stabbed effort inside the six-yard box was kept out by the leg of an advancing Bain.

The visitors pressed in the five minutes added to regulation time, with the impressive Marciano throwing up a hand to divert a strike from Edouard, then ensuring the points would be shared by pushing away a Simunovic header.

Heavyweights fail to find killer punch - analysis

BBC Scotland's Brian McLauchlin at Easter Road

This game could have been portrayed as a boxing match with two heavyweights slugging it out with neither able to find a killer punch.

Hibernian and Celtic went into the game in fine form but on this occasion neither were able to find the route to goal.

Perhaps that was down to arguably the best two goalkeepers in the league in Ofir Marciano and Scott Bain.

The Hibs man in particular was outstanding and pulled off some wonder stops that otherwise would have give the advantage to the visitors.

Heckingbottom has made a huge impact on the players he inherited from Lennon before he left the club. This summer will be key though as we establish the new manager's credentials in player recruitment.

Brendan Rodgers and Lennon have the same philosophy in winning games but have different ideas on how to achieve success.

Winning the league sooner rather than later for Celtic and Lennon now becomes paramount before attention will undoubtedly turn to the cup final against Hearts where the treble treble will be on the line.