Match Pictures | Matches: 2025 – 2026
Trivia
- KO: 12:30, Sunday, Sky Sports TV
- Hearts & Sevco won the day before, so Celtic now pushed back to third!
Hearts top 66pts, Sevco 63pts, Celtic 61pts, Motherwell 54pts. - Iheanacho started to everyone’s surprise for first time since late last year.
- Tannadice pitch was like sandpaper!
- Out of favour Michel-Ange Balikwisha visited former club Royal Antwerp as an on-pitch guest last weekend. Curious one and hardly a way to endear yourself to your management.
- Liverpool have won the race to sign highly-rated Celtic youngster Dara Jikiemi, so another great young player lost!
- Hyun-jun Yang says he is finding life at the club easier in his third season.
- “I could’ve potentially played my last football game.” Kasper Schmeichel revealed that he has dislocated his shoulder, and torn his bicep, rotator cuff and labrum. Requires two surgeries that will keep him out for 10-12 months.
- Tomas Cvancara’s agent hit back at the player’s international manager Miroslav Koubek after comments questioning his desire to play for Czechia.
- Celtic set to appoint Heineken’s Paul Mazoyer as their newly created head of business operations.The role will include improving retail operations, ticketing, hospitality sales and stadium services.
- Ref head Willie Collum wants to discuss red cards where a player has committed denial of a goalscoring opportunity with clubs, but hopes officials will “remain consistent” for the rest of the season.. Sevco want talks with other Scottish Premiership clubs over this season’s standard of refereeing in the top flight.
- Glasgow councillors have begun talks with the police regarding plans for the city centre should Celtic or Sevco win the league.
- Reports: Ferencvaros’ sporting directior says no club has yet shown an interest in manager Robbie Keane despite links with Celtic.
- Robbie Keane says he has completed his job at Ferencvaros.
- Portugal boss Roberto Martinez, has made it clear to potential suitors that he will not consider his next job until after the World Cup.
- Nicolas Kühn could be on move again just 7mths after leaving Celtic, with TuttoMercato reporting that Como willing to sell for €~12m.
- Dunfermline Athletic’s Neil Lennon reportedly among candidates being eyed by St Mirren for manager’s job
Summary
Fatboab of KDS:
From the ludicrous team selection to the laughable positional changes and bizarre substitutions, this game was always a step too far for this bunch of no marks and has beens.
Todays ‘performance’ from start to finish was calamitous, orchestrated by a player who is so far gone it’s actually sad to watch.Calum McGregor has never been a favourite of mine, but his rapid decline is a tough watch for any Celtic fan. He destroys any momentum this lot might gather, playing stupid wee short passes to nearby teammates, usually sideways or backwards , but always the wrong pass. That he was instrumental in Utd’s first goal is the perfect example of a player who is done. Finished at this level.
He wasn’t the only abject failure today, there were plenty, but the worst of all was MON, and sadly it’s becoming increasingly apparent that he’s a dinosaur in the modern game.
All of this lies fair and square at the door of the moustachioed golfing clown. Until he is gone, we won’t make the right kind of progress.
This season may be the one that changes the face of Scottish football for the foreseeable future, and we know who carries the can for that.
“Very disappointing, of course – the result, naturally, and the performance, second half, did not match anything at all. “We had a lot of possession in the first half. We seemed to be camped outside their penalty area. We couldn’t penetrate them, really. “They got the goal and deserved to win the game. The second half, we probably didn’t adapt, maybe to conditions. “Of course, it’s a concern. Of course, it’s a big blow to us. We’re beaten in the game and with games running down, we can’t really afford to do that, but we’re still in it. “It’s been difficult since I’ve set foot in the place both times [this season]. Today is a blow but we’re not finished yet. “We have to bounce back, simple as that. We’ll try and put things right again when we re-assemble.” On Callum McGregor’s withdrawal in the second half, O’Neil said: “This was very much precautionary. We don’t want to lose him in the run-in. “We thought that he would get as close to 60 minutes as possible. He was just feeling it, naturally, having missed the last couple of weeks.” And, on the scenes of Celtic supporters confronting board members at full-time: “That’s nothing new. You’re bringing up something here at the minute that we don’t have a good result. Of course, people resort to these particular things. “We disappointed an awful lot of people. We’ve disappointed the supporters who made their way here for a start and we disappointed the supporters who support us from a distance.”
MoN Post-match
“We’re delighted to win any game but to win in the manner we did this afternoon was really pleasing. “Coming into the game off the back of the disappointment against Dundee seven days ago, when we had arguably one of our best performances of the season, the players showed great character to bounce back – in part my defenders and my captain Ross Graham. “When you beat Celtic or Rangers, the talking points tend to be about them, but today, when people watch the game back, we were the better team. “The low block was effective, we tried to be really dangerous on the counter. We forced the Celtic goalkeeper into going long at times. It was a real team performance today. “We looked like the team that carried the most threat all afternoon.”
Jim Goodwin
“I knew before I came here there was going to be a lot of pressure and a high demand on the team as a whole,” he said. “But pressure makes diamonds and at that point you’ve just got to keep pushing for success. And obviously the boys have done really well over the last few weeks. “Since I’ve been here I’ve learned a lot. The boys are doing everything they can on the pitch. If we keep going the right way, keep doing the right things then we’ll be successful.”
Ben Arthur
Misc: Every week somebody screws up. Last week hearts, week before them… just for once I want an easy game. Bury them , pad the goal difference. Not another nightmare win or lose…
Tony Carroll @papa67tony.bsky.social · 4h The MON effect couldn’t last forever, we simply don’t have a striker worth the no 9 shirt , our squad is full of at best average players. Whoever gets the job has a massive rebuild to do and this board aren’t capable off doing it
RS of KDS: Totally effing abject. Manager and coaching staff had a nightmare. Team wrong (again), subs wrong (again) and tactics (what taxtics?) wrong again. Players all piss poor. Good that we agreed to let McGregor decide to give us 60mins of his time. He was murder. That pass at the first goal was criminal. We need to stop pandering to people because they are the captain and I include Scales in that. OK facing play (apart from passing), but turn him and he is howling. Moving Hatate to right back and keeping Nygren on is one of the most mental decisions I’ve ever seen. I’m still effing raging.
Teams
Celtic
Manager:
Martin O’Neill
Formation:
4 – 2 – 3 – 1
Starting lineup
12, V. Sinisalo
63, K. Tierney
05, L. Scales,33′, Yellow Card at 33 mins
43, B. Arthur
51, C. Donovan, subbed for L. McCowan at 62 mins
42, C. McGregor (c), Captain, subbed for A. Oxlade-Chamberlain at 57 mins
41, R. Hatate, subbed for J. Adamu at 75 mins
38, D. Maeda,80′, Yellow Card at 80 mins
08, B. Nygren, subbed for J. Forrest at 75 mins
13, Yang Hyun-Jun
17, K. Ịheanachọ, subbed for S. Tounekti at 57 mins
Subs:
09, J. Adamu
31, R. Doohan
49, J. Forrest
14, L. McCowan
21, A. Oxlade-Chamberlain
56, A. Ralston
36, M. Saracchi
23, S. Tounekti
06, A. Trusty
Goals:
Assists:
Dundee Utd
Manager: Jim Goodwin
Formation: 3 – 4 – 2 – 1
Starting lineup
01, A. Maynard-Brewer
23, K. Keresztes
06, R. Graham (c), Captain,87′, Yellow Card at 87 mins
04, I. Iovu
11, W. Ferry
12, E. Agyei
05, V. Ševelj, subbed for C. Sibbald at 88 mins
21, L. Stephenson,9′, Yellow Card at 9 mins
17, A. Fatah
20, N. Farrugia, subbed for Z. Sapsford at 72 mins
36, M. Watters, subbed for Panutche Camará at 89 mins
Subs:
home team,Dundee United
37, S. Cleall-Harding
19, I. Dolček
03, B. Esselink
22, D. Naamo
08, Panutche Camará
25, D. Richards
09, Z. Sapsford
14, C. Sibbald
02, R. Strain
Goals:
W. Ferry (51′)
E. Agyei (66′)
Assists:
L. Stephenson (51′)
Referee: Nick Walsh
Video Assistant Referee: David Dickinson
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel McFarlane
Assistant Referee 2: David McGeachie
Fourth Official: Lloyd Wilson
Assistant VAR Official: Andrew Dallas
Venue:CalForth Construction Arena at Tannadice Park
Attendance:13,228
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
Stats
Basic Stats
Overall possession
Dundee United 26.3%
Celtic 73.7%
Shots
Dundee United 19
Celtic 13
Shots on target
Dundee United 8
Celtic 3
Total touches inside the opposition box
Dundee United 24
Celtic 23
DNU
CEL
Goalkeeper saves
Dundee United 3
Celtic 6
Aerial duels won
Dundee United 19
Celtic 15
Fouls committed
Dundee United 7
Celtic 8
Corners
Dundee United 7
Celtic 6
In-depth match stats
Attack
Shots
Dundee United 19
Celtic 13
Shots on target
Dundee United 8
Celtic 3
Shots off target
Dundee United 8
Celtic 5
Attempts out of box
Dundee United 9
Celtic 4
Total offsides
Dundee United 0
Celtic 2
Distribution
Total passes
Dundee United 209
Celtic 592
Pass accuracy %
Dundee United 50.7
Celtic 81.6
Backward passes
Dundee United 17
Celtic 87
Forward passes
Dundee United 117
Celtic 194
Total long balls
Dundee United 62
Celtic 63
Successful final third passes
Dundee United 40
Celtic 142
Total crosses
Dundee United 12
Celtic 22
Defence
Total tackles
Dundee United 15
Celtic 15
Won tackle %
Dundee United 66.7
Celtic 73.3
Fouls committed
Dundee United 7
Celtic 8
Total yellow cards
Dundee United 2
Celtic 2
Total clearances
Dundee United 42
Celtic 35
pre Match Facts
After their 2-1 win in December, Dundee United could beat
Celtic twice in a row at home in the league for the first time since April 1991 (3 in a row).
Celtic have lost just one of their last 25 meetings with Dundee United in all competitions (W19 D5), keeping 18 clean sheets in this period.
Dundee United have earned 52.9% of their points in the Scottish Premiership this season at home (18/34), the lowest ratio of any side.
Since Martin O’Neill’s first away league game of the season in charge of
Celtic in November (1-0 win v St. Mirren), the Hoops have earned more away points (20) than any side in the Scottish Premiership (W6 D2 L2).
Dundee United have lost a league-high 22 points from winning positions in the Scottish Premiership this season. Meanwhile,
Celtic have recovered 13 points from losing positions in the division this term, the joint-most of any club (level with Dundee United).
Articles
Manager reflects on loss to Dundee United
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2026/march/22/manager-reflects-on-loss-to-dundee-united/
First Team
By Paul Cuddihy, Celtic View Editor
Share
22 Mar 2026, 3:17 pm
Celtic suffered a 2-0 defeat against Dundee United at Tannadice this afternoon (Sunday), a result which leaves the Hoops third in the Scottish Premiership table going into the international break.
Both of the goals were conceded in what Martin O’Neill described as a ‘really disappointing second-half’, and the Celtic manager will be looking for plenty of improvements when the Hoops return to action in two weeks’ time – an away game against Dundee on April 5.
Speaking to Celtic TV after the game, Martin O’Neill said: “In the first-half we seemed to have plenty of possession, we were camped outside their penalty area for little spells but not able to penetrate. I think that’s the major thing.
“But in the second-half the game just got away from us. Obviously the first goal in conditions like this was going to be vital, and we conceded it.
“And then it just fell away, and that’s the disappointing thing because the side has, in the past few months, battled and battled and battled, and come through adversity in many aspects. Today, in the second-half it was very disappointing.”
And with two weeks until the next game, the Celtic manager will take the time to reflect on what needs to be done when the team play at Dens Park.
“The international players go away, so hopefully they come back unscathed and ready to go,” he said. “The other players who are not internationals have got a few days now, so it’s a matter of just getting heads right and starting to think about it.
“I’ll obviously have a look at the game and see where we can improve – there are loads of areas we can improve – but particularly the second half.
“The disappointment was that I felt, and it’s something that you wouldn’t level at this team, is that I didn’t think we competed strongly enough.”
Disappointing defeat for Celtic at Tannadice
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2026/march/22/disappointing-defeat-for-celtic-at-tannadice/
First Team
By Daylin Docherty
Share
22 Mar 2026, 2:43 pm
Scottish Premiership
Sunday, March 22 2026
Tannadice Stadium, Dundee
DUNDEE UTD…2
(Ferry 51, Ageyi 66)
CELTIC…0
Celtic suffered a disappointing setback at Tannadice, as a difficult afternoon on a challenging pitch ended in a 2-0 defeat to Dundee United.
With results elsewhere over the weekend increasing the pressure on the Hoops to respond, Martin O’Neill’s side arrived in Dundee looking to close the gap at the top of the table, but found conditions and an organised home side difficult to overcome.
Dundee United made the brighter start and applied early pressure, with Ross Graham meeting a well-delivered corner from Will Ferry inside the opening stages, although his header failed to trouble Viljami Sinisalo.
Celtic looked to counter shortly after, with neat interplay between Benjamin Nygren, Kelechi Iheanacho and Yang, but Luca Stephenson halted the move with a late challenge on Yang which earned him a booking.
Celtic’s first clear opportunity came from a set-piece. Nygren recycled a corner into the box, where Benjamin Arthur cushioned the ball into the path of Kieran Tierney, but the defender’s powerful strike rose over the crossbar.
The hosts responded with a dangerous moment of their own following a defensive error, as Sam Dalby’s move ended with Ferry driving a fierce effort towards the top corner, only for Sinisalo to produce an excellent save to tip the ball away.
Conditions at Tannadice proved challenging throughout, with a heavily sanded surface disrupting any attempts to build rhythm or tempo, and both sides struggled to establish control in a stop-start first half. Liam Scales was booked after being caught out by a bobble in the pitch, bringing down Max Watters as the hosts threatened again.
Celtic came close to breaking the deadlock late in the half when Reo Hatate threaded a pass through for Iheanacho, but the striker’s effort was well saved by the goalkeeper, ensuring the sides went in level at the break after a quiet opening 45 minutes.
26%
Possession
74%
19
Shots
13
8
Shots On Target
3
7
Corners
6
7
Fouls
8
2
0
Cards
2
0
The deadlock was broken early in the second half as Dundee United took the lead. A move down the right saw the ball find its way to Will Ferry, who struck low beyond Vil Sinisalo to give the home side a 1-0 lead.
Celtic came close to pulling a goal back when Reo Hatate, operating from right-back, struck a first-time effort which clipped the inside of the post and rolled along the goal-line before being gathered by the goalkeeper.
Martin O’Neill’s side looked to respond with changes, introducing fresh legs in an attempt to regain momentum, but they were dealt a further setback just after the hour mark when the hosts doubled their lead.
Following a series of blocked efforts inside the area, Emmanuel Agyei reacted quickest to fire home through a crowded box to mkae it 2-0.
Further changes followed as the Hoops searched for a route back into the contest, and they continued to press in the closing stages.
Tierney fashioned an opening inside the box, delivering a low ball across goal which Daizen Maeda attempted to convert, but the opportunity passed by.
It proved to be a frustrating afternoon for Celtic, who were unable to find a foothold and were ultimately left with no reward, with attention now turning to regrouping after the international break.
Dundee Utd: Maynard-Brewer, Iovu, Graham, Keresztes, Stephenson, Sevelj (Sibbald 88′), Emmanuel Agyei, Ferry, Farrugia (Sapsford 72′), Fatah, Watters (Panutche Camará 89′)
Subs: Strain, Esselink, Panutche Camará, Sapsford, Sibbald, Dolcek, Naamo, Richards, Cleall-Harding
Celtic: Sinisalo, Donovan (McCowan 62′), Arthur, Scales, Tierney, Hatate (Adamu 75′), McGregor (Oxlade-Chamberlain 57′), Hyunjun Yang, Nygren (Forrest 75′), Maeda, Iheanacho (Tounekti 57′)
Subs: Trusty, Adamu, McCowan, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Tounekti, Doohan, Saracchi, Forrest, Ralston
BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c78j8xey2ppt?page=6#Report
At a glance
Celtic slip in title race to trail league leaders Hearts by five points
United pull off second shock against Celtic, having beaten Wilfried Nancy’s outfit in December
Will Ferry and Emmanuel Agyei are the goalscorers in an unlikely win that alleviates relegation fears
ByAndrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland
Celtic became the latest club to stumble in the race for the Scottish Premiership title as struggling Dundee United beat them at Tannadice for the second time this season.
It is the first time United have achieved such a feat in 35 years, and goes some way to alleviating fears they could get sucked into a relegation play-off battle.
United captain Will Ferry got the first goal, stabbing in from close range on a pitch that was heavily criticised for its sandy, bobbly surface.
Emmanuel Agyei, a January signing from FC Ashdod in Israel, scored the unlikely second, drilling in from outside the box to double the hosts’ advantage.
Celtic pushed for a way to get back into the game, but United proved more stable at the back than they did last week in their last collapse against neighbours Dundee.
It was a deserved victory for Jim Goodwin’s men, too.
Although Celtic dominated possession, United had 18 shots – the most the Glasgow club have faced in the league this season – as they peppered the opposition in a surprisingly offensive performance.
Martin O’Neill’s side now trail league Hearts by five points, and second-placed Rangers by two.
As well as claiming another famous scalp, United keep their slim hopes of a top-six finish alive. They are six points behind Falkirk, with two games to play before the split.
What does Celtic’s latest loss mean for Scottish Premiership title race?
Published
2 hours ago
Analysis: Sorry Celtic no match for United euphoria
Unlike the win against Celtic in December – when the visitors dominated the first half and collapsed in the second – this one was even throughout, with United creating more threatening chances.
The pitch played its part. Both sides clearly struggled to read the bounce of the ball.
But there was still a strange atmosphere at Tannadice, where the George Fox Stand looked surprisingly bare in places – similar to the pitch, really.
It was flat at times in the final 10 minutes, but the nerves could be explained. United have dropped 22 points from winning positions this season, most recently in last Sunday’s derby. No team has chucked away more.
Their late fragility was not on show in the dying stages here. The ball was up the other end of the pitch. Zac Sapsford and Ferry played it around in the corner.
Their game management was superb. Iurie Iovu was excellent at the back, as was Krisztian Keresztes. Amar Fatah was his usual unpredictable self and Ferry played with the intensity that Celtic totally lacked.
For Celtic, it was the kind of result that previous performances have forewarned.
Their best chance came from Ashley Maynard-Brewer, the United keeper who almost spilled one into his own net, only for the ball to bounce on the line and spin away.
Kelechi Iheanacho and Kieran Tierney both spurned chances in the first half, Daizen Maeda sliced one in the second, but that was it.
In certain games this season, they have been miles off it, but have been able to dig something out. There was more chance of digging up sandcastles than a win here.
That’s now eight defeats for the season. Hibs have only lost seven. United have lost 10 in total.
For fans, and most likely for Martin O’Neill, the alarming slide in standards has been hard to stomach. The last time they lost as many was in the 1999-2000 season.
Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: “We’re delighted to win any game but to win in the manner we did this afternoon was really pleasing.
“When you beat Celtic or Rangers, the talking points tend to be about them, but when people watch the game back, we were the better team.
“We looked like the team that carried the most threat all afternoon.”
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill: “We had a lot of possession in the first half. We seemed to be camped outside their penalty area. We couldn’t penetrate them.
“They got the goal and deserved to win the game. The second half, we probably didn’t adapt, maybe to conditions.
“Of course, it’s a concern. Of course, it’s a big blow to us. We’re beaten in the game and with games running down, we can’t really afford to do that, but we’re still in it.”
Celtic’s title bobbles towards Hearts and Rangers on Scottish football’s desert amid 35-year first
Mark Atkinson
By Mark Atkinson
Sports Editor
Comments
Published 22nd Mar 2026, 14:41 GMT
Updated 22nd Mar 2026, 15:25 GMT
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/latest-celtic-news/celtics-title-bobbles-towards-hearts-and-rangers-on-scottish-footballs-desert-amid-35-year-first-6105401
Title out of Celtic hands after 2-0 defeat on deplorable Tannadice pitch
On the dry, dusty, rutted plain of Tannadice, Celtic’s Premiership title bobbled away from them. This was a hugely damaging 2-0 defeat by Dundee United.
With seven games remaining, Celtic are now third, five points behind leaders Hearts and two behind second-placed Rangers. The defence of their championship is now out of their hands. Missteps are required from those above them.
This was a wretched lunchtime assignment for Celtic, who never looked comfortable on a deplorable playing surface. Flooded earlier in the year due to incessant rainfall, the Tannadice pitch now resembles something from the Gobi desert.
United coped with conditions better. After a forgettable first half, Will Ferry broke the deadlock on 51 minutes and never looked back. Emmanuel Agyei landed a second strike not long after.
This win arithmetically keeps United in the hunt for a top-six berth, although they would need to win their last two pre-split matches against Rangers and Livingston and hope Falkirk don’t pick up any more points. It’s unlikely. Of more importance is that this win moves them ten points clear of the relegation play-off place.
Jim Goodwin’s men showed more fortitude here than seven days ago when they blew a two-goal lead across the road at Dens Park against Dundee in stoppage time. Celtic were unable to mount any sustained periods of pressure to force jitters.
Captain Callum McGregor returned to the team after a calf niggle and the lesser-spotted Kelechi Iheanacho was handed his first start since December’s Premier Sports Cup final. Iheanacho showed some flashes of quality but looked ruefully short of fitness. Both men vacated the premises before an hour had passed.
Celtic never found their stride. Their passing deteriorated as the match wore on and once United moved in front, their play became error-strewn and panicked. A sizeable away support chuntered away at the nick of their team in between the usual chants for the board to be sacked. There was an air of resignation at full time. To win the league, Celtic probably have to win all of their remaining matches now. That’s a humungous ask for this team.
Chances were few and far between early on. The first meaningful opportunity came for Celtic on 13 minutes when a corner fell to Kieran Tierney in the penalty box, but he lashed at the ball and it flew over the bar.
United’s first big moment arrived on 17 minutes. Ferry unleashed a fierce effort that was destined for the far top corner of Viljami Sinisalo’s net, but the Finnish keeper showed excellent reflexes and tipped it away.
Celtic defender Liam Scales was correctly booked on 34 minutes for clumsily fouling Neil Farrugia in a promising position. Amar Fatah’s free-kick was woefully poor and struck the wall.
Celtic’s best chance of the first half came three minutes before the interval. Reo Hatate fizzed an accurate pass into Iheanacho’s feet and the Nigerian’s left-footed effort was beaten away by United keeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer.
United broke the deadlock six minutes after the break when Ferry met a low Luca Stephenson and while he hit the ball into the ground, it had enough purchase to beat Sinisalo via a slight touch off Colby Donovan.
Celtic nearly got the slice of fortune they required to level on 63 minutes when Maynard-Brewer fumbled a Hatate long-range strike on to his own post. Fortunately for keeper, the ball landed the right side of the line for him.
It was a big moment. Three minutes later, United doubled the advantage. Watters’ effort was blocked in the penalty box but the ball fell kindly for Agyei and his strike skiffed off Scales and beyond Sinisalo.
A vexed Martin O’Neill went to his bench in a desperate attempt to shake things up. Junior Adamu came on up front to join Daizen Maeda in attack. The latter had a half-chance from close range on 82 minutes but prodded the ball wide. The hosts had their chances too and looked just as likely to add to their lead. In total, they peppered 18 attempts at Sinisalo’s goal.
United were now in a time zone where they have too often conceded goals this season but they held firm. Celtic’s creativity levels had evaporated in the Tayside sunshine. Having floored Wilfried Nancy’s Celtic side in December, United did the home double over them for the first time since 1991.
This was Celtic’s eighth defeat of the Premiership campaign. No team has won the league in the three-point era with that number of losses. And three of them have come in Dundee, a city where Celtic have discovered their limitations.
Martin O’Neill calls for Celtic reinvention, makes title admission and gives Julian Araujo injury update
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/latest-celtic-news/martin-oneill-calls-for-celtic-reinvention-makes-title-admission-and-gives-julian-araujo-injury-update-6109054
Mark Atkinson
By Mark Atkinson
Sports Editor
Comments
Published 22nd Mar 2026, 15:56 GMT
Celtic boss reacts to defeat as Jim Goodwin hails Dundee United resolve
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill says his players will need to “reinvent their character” over the international break and be largely perfect for the final seven games of the Premiership if they are to retain their title.
O’Neill watched on as his Celtic team were defeated 2-0 by Dundee United at Tannadice on Sunday lunchtime. With leaders Hearts and Rangers both winning the day before, Celtic are now five points off top spot and two behind their Old Firm adversaries.
Celtic were downed by second half goals from Dundee United’s Will Ferry and Emmanuel Agyei and looked uncomfortable all afternoon. O’Neill was dispirited afterwards and while he refused to chuck in the towel in the title race, he knows his team will have to improve significantly and also re-write history. No team has won the Scottish top flight with eight defeats in the three-point era – the number of losses Celtic have now clocked up in the league.
“I didn’t know that stat,” said O’Neill. “Yeah, just disappointed, naturally. We got ourselves a bit of spirit and determination about the team, which I’ve been saying for the last few weeks. And I felt that, I think that was the disappointment. I think, you know, when we fell behind in the game, we didn’t show enough to warrant fighting back.
“That was just not good enough. Not good enough for us. When I say us, I mean Celtic Football Club. Not really good enough, and not good enough for the fans who’ve arrived here, and disappointing for the fans from a distance. So not great at all.
“I must admit, I don’t think there ever has been [any wriggle room]. But today is a setback. I don’t think it’s the end of it. I still think that we’re in it. But you’re probably right – I think we’d have to win the seven games.
“In all honesty, I think that, one, we have to try and create more. And two, when we do create, I think we have to try and take the chances. And that, I thought, in all honesty, both were missing today.
“We have to come back and try and get a bit of strength about ourselves and reinvent our character.”
Celtic were without right-back Julian Araujo, who O’Neill confirmed is back at his parent club Bournemouth receiving treatment for an unspecified injury. “He’s missing, he’s down and he’s getting treatment and being rehabbed at his football club at Bournemouth,” said O’Neill. “I’m not sure [if he’ll be back for the next match against Dundee], but the extra two weeks could help.”
O’Neill’s Dundee United counterpart Jim Goodwin hailed the resolve of his players for bouncing back from last weekend’s late collapse against Dundee to draw the derby 2-2.
“I’m really pleased for the players,” said Goodwin. “We’re not getting carried away. It’s just another three points, but I’ve been very critical of them. And the players and myself have received a lot of criticism for the way that we’ve managed games in the past. Today, the players deserve a huge amount of credit.
“I thought today we got what we deserved in terms of the end result. I thought we were the better team throughout. You know that Celtic are going to have plenty of possession, but they never really carved us open. I think they had one big chance in the first half and the goalkeeper’s made a big save. But other than that, I thought we were comfortable in our shape.”
United can still make the top six but need to win at Ibrox against Rangers and then defeat Livingston – and hope Falkirk do not pick up any further points against Motherwell and Rangers before the split.
“I think there is a real small glimmer of hope,” added Goodwin. “We know we have to win our two games. We know that Falkirk have to lose their next two. If we do it, it would be miraculous.
“If we don’t, then we’ll no doubt look back on this season with great regret because we have dropped so many points from leading positions and conceded so many late goals that had we been able to manage those situations better, we’d probably be comfortable sitting fifth or sixth on the table.”