Inverness CT 0 Celtic 0:Terry Butcher marked his first game in charge of Inverness Caledonian Thistle with a goalless draw against league leaders Celtic at the Caledonian Stadium.

There was little in the way of goalmouth action, although Georgios Samaras should have done better when he headed wide from six yards in the first half.

Both sides looked for a late winner with Inverness substitute Adam Rooney seeing his header pushed over the bar by Artur Boruc while Stephen McManus volleyed over at the other end in the closing stages.

The result leaves Celtic two points clear of Rangers.

Butcher told BBC Scotland: "The players have given us everything and I thank them for that because it does give us hope.

"It's hard to put your finger on it, but there is something here that is a bit special. Hopefully we can take that forward.

"They came off the pitch as heroes and our boys can be heroes this season."

Bhoys counterpart Gordon Strachan said: "It was nothing different from what we have had here before. We got the same type of performance from Inverness.

"It could have been any one of the games we've had here before.

"We've tried different teams. I've tried an all-skilful team, the stronger ones, taller ones.

"But, at this moment in time, we are not getting performances."