WHile their great rivals continue to pick over the bones of a disastrous start to the season, Celtic can approach the commencement of their own campaign with no little confidence.

Gordon Strachan elected not to send out his strongest line-up for their final warm-up match, but would have been content to see his second string prove to be the equal of Manchester City, a team expected to compete once more in the top half of the Barclays Premier League.

Granted, City were happy to play a lacklustre contest at half-pace and could probably have caused Celtic greater palpitations had they chosen to quicken the tempo, but Strachan will have been sufficiently satisfied by the manner of his team's performance, and Paul McGowan's late equaliser.

In fairness, it would be veering into the territory of guesswork to accurately measure Celtic's readiness for the start of the league season against St Mirren on Sunday based on this pedestrian workout and the personnel involved.

After a hectic pre-season programme that incorporated seven matches in England, Portugal and the Netherlands, Strachan either elected to rest several of those considered first-team regulars - some of whom are reportedly carrying minor knocks and strains - or, more likely, decided to utilise one final chance to shove several fringe performers into the shop window, one that just happened to be broadcast live on Setanta Sports.

It would be a major surprise if more than half of the team that started this encounter were similarly on show when the Clydesdale Bank Premier League flag is unfurled by Rosemary Burns, widow of Tommy, this weekend.

The curious tale of Thomas Gravesen and Derek Riordan's Celtic careers was given an unexpected, and possibly final, extra chapter. The pair had been completely omitted thus far from Celtic's pre- season preparations, but were handed a rare start in front of an underwhelmed Parkhead audience. Strachan had explained during Celtic's summer jaunt in the Algarve that the imminent departure of Gravesen was due to his incompatibility with the manager's preferred formation which is a bit like insisting Ronnie Corbett failed as a basketball player because he didn't understand the tactics.

Gravesen's physical appearance, his bald pate gleaming under the floodlights, makes him an impossible character to miss, but drawing attention to himself was perhaps a mistake given the poverty of his performance. The Dane drifted from a position wide on the right to a more central berth, but was equally ineffective in both. It was of little surprise when didn't appear for the start of the second half, replaced by Paul Caddis.

Riordan, another figure unlikely to require a doctor's line for exhaustion any time soon, can perhaps count himself more unfortunate not to have featured more often since his move from Hibernian.

For reasons that remain unclear, the forward has been restricted to a regular diet of reserve-team football, his first-team involvement rarely stretching beyond a series of substitute appearances.

Handed a rare start, he did little to suggest a reprieve and removal from the transfer list may be in the offing. A tame first-half shot that trickled well wide was his sole contribution although, in mitigation, he was given limited service.

He shuffled off after 62 minutes to be replaced by Pat McCourt, the Northern Irish winger making a belated Celtic debut after signing two months previously. The former Derry City player could have made an instant impression when a Caddis cross arrived at his feet but, perhaps overly anxious to get off to a good start, he sent his volley well wide of Kasper Schmeichel's goal.

It still elicited a roar from the home support, who hitherto had been presented with next to nothing of note to cheer. That and Riordan's chance aside, a McGowan shot that arrowed well wide of target was the closest Celtic came to troubling Joe Hart and then Schmeichel in the visitors' goal before McGowan's late intervention, although Caddis looked to have a decent claim for a penalty following a coming-together with Javier Garrido.

City were scarcely any more adventurous in front of goal but Darius Vassell, the former England striker, at the apex of their system was a consistent threat, heading one chance over the crossbar late in the first half and then bringing two smart saves out of Artur Boruc after the break.

By the time the Pole had denied Vassell a second time, City had forged into the lead. Daniel Sturridge sent Martin Petrov running in on goal and the Bulgarian international finished astutely past Boruc.

Celtic's response came through McGowan, the young striker netting from close range after connecting with a Caddis free-kick, before the same player sent a late effort scooting over via the crossbar.