Conroy, officiating in his first game between the Glasgow giants, chalked off a first-half goal from Marc-Antoine Fortune when it looked like he had won fairly an aerial challenge with Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor.

The official was also lenient towards Kyle Lafferty when he only showed the Rangers striker a yellow card for a late challenge on Andreas Hinkel.

The home side ignored those two controversial decisions to dominate almost the whole game and despite missing numerous chances, it looked like they would take all three points when substitute Scott McDonald headed them into the lead in the 79th minute from McGeady's cross.

However, two minutes later Light Blues midfielder Lee McCulloch powered a Steven Davis corner past Hoops goalkeeper Artur Boruc for a share of the points.

McGeady, though, insists Celtic can only blame themselves for being denied all three points.

"You can't really blame the referee for not winning the game, we had more than enough chances to win it," he said.

"We should have had the game wrapped up at half-time.

"We had the majority of chances and possession and on another day it could have been three or four.

"We would have gone in 1-0 up at half-time if the goal was given but I wouldn't say this guy or that guy should have been sent off.

"I haven't seen (the disallowed goal) again.

"At the time I thought that he gave it and he pulled it back for a foul.

"I don't know what he gave it for, maybe a barge on the keeper, I don't know but from where I was the referee did okay."

Despite the draw, the Republic of Ireland midfielder insists the title race is far from over.

"It felt like a defeat at full time," he said.

"Everyone was gutted when the (Rangers) goal went in, it was deflating for everyone, it was hard to take.

"But it's not the be-all and end-all because Rangers drew today.

"The league is not over and we don't have to go out and spend massively and get a full new team in.

"The players who played today did well.

"We switched off at the set-piece and that has happened to us a few times this season but we should have done our job at the other end."

Tony Mowbray insists his decision to start with Fortune instead of McDonald was correct, despite the Australia international's strike.

The Celtic boss said: "I wasn't surprised that he (McDonald) scored - he came off the bench at Falkirk and scored two.

"Scott should be worried that he is not going to be turned in to a guy who does that.

"He is not very happy to be sitting on the bench, of course, I understand that, but my job is to pick a team who can go and give Rangers problems and I don't think anyone could say that the front two didn't give Rangers problems.

"So I feel vindicated that the selection was fine.

"I know what Scott brings to the team, he came off the bench and did that."

Mowbray, who had "no argument with the referee at all" still believes his players can overcome the seven-point deficit.

"Very evidently, we can challenge for the title," he said.

"It was there in front of your eyes and we will be okay, I'm sure.

"I think we warranted enough to get three points but it's about putting the ball in to the net.

"We only managed it once and they managed it once.

"There was frustration and disappointment, words that I've used this season.

"The players will take great confidence from the game, as we did from the first game at Ibrox.

"The players will try and maximise the strengths of the team and we feel we have the quality to win games.

"We will see when the season is finished."