Tony Mowbray doesn’t do win-or-bust games, explaining that such definitive thinking is ultimately counter-productive as it serves only to heap more pressure on managers and players.

Following this fire-cracker of a match on bonfire night in Hamburg, which saw Celtic deservedly draw 0-0 to take only their second point of the competition, he will, however, have to accept next month’s home tie against surprise Group C leaders Hapoel Tel-Aviv is precisely that.

After four rounds of matches – which have provided more unpredictably than a black-market box of rockets, it remains all to play for for all four clubs.

Celtic remain rank outsiders to progress. But, where there is a lifeline, there is hope.

Victories against Hapoel on December 2 then Rapid in Vienna on December 17 may still not be enough. That will not prevent Celtic giving it their very best shot.

The blue touch-paper of a revival mission was lit in Hamburg, the performance in holding the free-scoring Bundesliga side confirming that error-strewn early European adventures under Mowbray have provided invaluable experience, if very few points.

Had Lukasz Zaluska not tipped over a header from David Rozenhal 18 minutes from time, however, another hard luck story may have been written.

That would have been cruel on this doughty Celtic side. The maturity shown was matched by their organisation and tenacity. The benchmark has now been set, and Mowbray will consider it vindication for the belief he has retained in his heavily-criticised players.

No Surrender, read the giant banner unfurled from the infamous North End at the Nordbank Arena, home to the most vociferous SV Hamburg fans, as the teams came out, a provocative gesture not appreciated by the travelling fans.

The play which followed, however, guaranteed attention was concentrated on displays on the field. Hamburg and Celtic declared their intentions from the start, committing men forward at every opportunity in search of an early advantage.

With so much at stake, Mowbray had gone against his cautious nature in away European ties by starting with Scott McDonald and Georgios Samaras in attack, and the Australian twice forced good saves from Frank Rost inside the opening 32 minutes.

Showing uncharacteristic determination and strength on a run from the half-way line, Samaras put McDonald through for the first of those opportunities on 16 minutes, and his low show to the goalkeeper’s right was well executed. Rost was up to the challenge, however, and pushed the effort wide.

McDonald also had to yield to him when played in by a clever pass from Aiden McGeady, who was deployed in an advanced left-midfield role. Once more, his shot was on target – Uefa statisticians and Australian national coach Pim Verbeek take note – but the ball was kept out by the frame of the advancing goalkeeper.

With Barry Robson and Samaras also prepared to try their luck, the title of most shot-shy side in the competition was a poor fit on Celtic’s shoulders.

Not that Hamburg had been prepared to stand back and invite them to try their luck. The home side had taken the game to Celtic from the first whistle, forcing a succession of corners, last-ditch blocks and decent saves from European debutant Zaluska.

Artur Boruc’s deputy acquitted himself well, getting down with assurance and agility to push away rasping efforts from Marcus Berg and Marcell Jansen, and staying on station as Ze Roberto and Jansen again sent shots narrowly wide.

With both teams adopting an open approach – or failing to suppress one another – the supporters who had turned out on a foul evening were rewarded with an entertaining match, devoid of the tactics which can suffocate matches at this stage of the group programme.

Footing was a problem on the greasy surface, and caught out Andreas Hinkel as he slipped to allow Jansen through for the first of his chances. The conditions also proved difficult for Gary Caldwell, who mis-read a bounce of the ball and instinctively thrust out an elbow to divert it and the imminent danger. The yellow card he was shown ensured it would be a testing final 73 minutes for the stand-in captain.

Hamburg’s quick movement and slick passing was much more of a problem for Caldwell and his team-mates, and brought a clutch of free kicks in dangerous areas, Joris Mathijsen heading one onto the top of the crossbar three minutes into the second half.

But it was the boot of Caldwell which came to the rescue soon after, nicking the ball away from the toe of Jonathan Pitroipa as he was ready to pounce after Zalkuska had pushed an Eljero Elia shot into the path of the alert striker from Burkino Faso.

The home fans, increasingly fractious as Celtic’s resistance continued, were convinced their side had warranted a penalty when a Samaras head down in his own box struck the upper arm of Danny Fox. However, the fifth official patrolling that penalty area concurred with the referee that the contact had been accidental.

Mowbray elected to give Hamburg even more to think about, replacing McDonald and McGeady with Lee Naylor and Marc-Antoine Fortune on 58 minutes and retaining two up, with Fox moving into left midfield to facilitate the reshuffle.

Had Samaras produced a better shot when given a decent sight of goal courtesy of an excellent long pass from Landry N’Guemo, the gamble would have produced an instant return. As it was, the next incident of note was the double booking of Robson and Jarolim who had continued their physical battle after the whistle had gone.

With Niall McGinn replacing the tiring Robson for the final 15 minutes, Mowbray knew it was now or never. The manager must accept it will be the same scenario when Hapoel come to Glasgow on December 2.