The build-up to the first Glasgow derby of the season felt more like the infirm than the Old Firm.
Russell Martin’s side approached this affair on the back of three draws in the Premiership and a humiliating 9-1 aggregate defeat to Club Brugge in the Champions League play-off.
Despite winning their three league games to date, Celtic also limped across the city having suffered a humiliating exit at the same stage to Kairat Almaty.
In the end, what both sides served up was entirely in keeping with the place they both find themselves at this moment.
An encounter which was high on perspiration but short on inspiration ended with honours even. A remarkably incident0free affair ensured Martin lives to tell the tale and Rodgers still has a six-point gap over Celtic’s main title rivals after just four games.
Here JOHN McGARRY runs the rule over how the players shaped up.
Russell Martin and Brendan Rodgers embrace before Sunday’s Old Firm clash
John Souttar heads home in the first half before the effort was ruled out for offside
Celtic midfielder Arne Engels is tackled by Rangers winger Mikey Moore
RANGERS (4-3-3)
Jack Butland 7
With the home side’s midfield screening the back four well, the keeper had precious little to do throughout the afternoon. One poor early pass threatened to put Djiga in trouble. Otherwise, he did the basics well.
James Tavernier 6.5
Restored to his right-back slot after being dropped for Brugge, he ensured Balikwisha had to turn back into trouble whenever he threatened down Celtic’s left. After a few bruising experiences in this fixture, this was one of his more solid displays.
Nasser Dijga 6.5
Despite the audible groans whenever he took possession, he tended to dance his way out of trouble. Sensibly game himself a couple of yards of a start to nullify the electric pace of Maeda. Booked.
John Souttar 6.5
Thought he’d found the opener with a thumping header in the first until VAR spotted he’d strayed offside. Pinged some sumptuous diagonals which stretched Celtic’s defence. Assured defensively.
Jayden Meghoma 6.5
Diligent and aggressive, he ensured Benjamin Nygren struggled to affect the game. His levels dropped after the turnaround but he still gave little away as the visitors threatened to pinch all three points.
Rangers midfielder Connor Barron fights for the ball with Arne Engels
Connor Barron 7
Making his first start of the season but moved the ball at pace and with purpose. Ate up the ground to win it back and force errors. Put in such an effort in he first half that his energy level inevitably dropped. Hobbled off with what looked like a tight muscle.
Mohamed Diomande 6
Back in the side and back to some kind of form. Charged around the midfield to see that Celtic were devoid of rhythm. When he tuned the ball over, he dusted himself down and atoned for his error. Booked.
Thelo Aasgaard 6.5
Norwegian was detailed to shadow McGregor. He did exactly that. Used his physicality to prevent Celtic countering and playing through the thirds. An unglamorous shift was carried out without fuss or complaint.
Mikey Moore 6
Tidy in possession and willing to do the dirty work out of possession. In keeping with his appearances for the club to date, he didn’t really get supporters up off their seats when he popped up in threatening positions. Booked.
Bojan Miovski wins a foul against Celtic defender Liam Scales
Bojan Miovski 6.5
Thrown in for his debut after joining from Girona, the Macedonian offered bountiful passing options through his movement and willingness to run the channels. Intelligence bought some valuable free-kicks.
Djeidi Gassama 6.5
By far Martin’s best summer signing, the winger gave Tierney plenty to think about. It said much about his threat that he often found himself facing down more than one opponent. Just didn’t provide the one moment of magic.
Manager: 6.5
Not the outcome which Russell Martin wanted. However, there was enough commitment from his players to ensure he’ll still be in the post after the international break.
Substitutes: Dessers (for Miovski 72). Antman (for Moore 72). Bajrami (for Aasgaard 75). Curtis (for Gassama 81). Rothwell (for Barron 82).
Not used: Kelly, Aarons, Fernandez, Danilo.
CELTIC (4-3-3)
Kasper Schmeichel 7
Despite Rangers’ pressure in the first period, the Dane didn’t have a meaningful save to make. Kicking was generally on point and his handling was assured. Didn’t have to work too hard for his clean sheet.
Anthony Ralston 6.5
Plenty of effort and application from the full-back as you would expect. Prevented Moore from having a field day down Rangers’ left side. Experience allowed Celtic to break the game up whenever Rangers were in the ascendancy.
Cameron Carter-Vickers 6.5
Must have lost count of the number of timers he dropped a shoulder, bounded into midfield and had to turn back due to a lack of options. Ice cool on the ball as his side tried to build from the back and rock solid in the key moments.
Liam Scales 6.5
Had an early heart in mouth moment when Miovski hit the turf in the box as he challenged but referee looked the other way. Won more than his fair share of headers as Rangers tried to turn the screw.
Kieran Tierney 6
Not the first defender to find Gassama and extremely tricky customer. Was done for pace by the winger on a couple of occasions. Not quite the attacking threat we’ve seen in this area so often in the past.
Callum McGregor 6
Struggled to step out of the shadow of Aasgaard. While he toiled to build the game from deep, he was tenacious in the tackle and invariably in the right place at the right time to prevent Rangers making hay.
Arne Engels 4
This was a chance for the £11m man to prove his worth. The first half completely passed him by. Offered a little more at the outset of the second period but still hooked.
Reo Hatate 5.5
Too often, his feet didn’t do what his brain was telling them. Some delightful moments of skill were pockmarked by unforced errors. Had fallen out of the game long before he was taken off.
Benjamin Nygren 5.5
Some neat footwork but caught on the ball far too often in the first half. Began to find his range of passing as Celtic improved after the break without ever executing the killer ball. A half-decent Old Firm debut.
Daizen Maeda 6
Played through the middle and starved of much by the way of gilt-edged chances. Proved his worth on the back foot by getting his head on a string of Rangers set-pieces.
Celtic debutant Michel-Ange Balikwisha battles with Mohamed Diomande
Michel-Ange Balikwisha 5.5
Belgian winger was immediately given the chance to shine following his £4..5m switch from Antwerp. Started brightly and exhibited some nice control but faded from view. Made way for Forrest.
Manager: 7
Brendan Rodgers would have settled for this outcome before a ball was kicked. But the blunt truth is that side were worthy of no more than a point.
Substitutes: Forrest (for Balikwisha 65). Yamada (for Engels 65). Saracchi (for Tierney 72) McCowan (for Hatate 88).
Not used: Sinisalo, Yang, Bernardo, Murray, Donovan.
Referee: Don Robertson 7.5
Attendance: 50,013.
