Dundee United 2-0 Celtic: champions blow alternative to maneuver to inside two factors of league leaders

Dundee United inflicted a significant blow on Celtic’s Scottish Premiership title defence with a shock 2-0 victory at Tannadice to maintain their very own prime six ambitions alive.

The champions now path leaders Hearts by 5 factors, and rivals Rangers by two, as Martin O’Neill suffered simply his second home defeat since returning to the membership.

A primary aim in virtually two years for Will Ferry and a primary in Tangerine for January signing Emmanuel Agyei earned United a second successive house victory over Celtic for the primary time since 1991.

They’ve closed the hole on sixth-place Falkirk to 6 factors with two video games till the break up, however should additionally overturn a aim distinction of seven if they’re to safe probably the most unlikely of prime half finishes.

Celtic huffed and puffed on the weather-beaten floor however lacked high quality within the closing third and have been deservedly overwhelmed by Jim Goodwin’s ruthless outfit.

United went 2-0 up within the Dundee derby final week and crumbled, they did the other this time.

If something, it might’ve been extra.

The stress was on the champions after title rivals Hearts and Rangers gained their respective matches on Saturday, and it confirmed.

O’Neill’s facet have been presupposed to be boosted by the returns of influential captain Callum McGregor and striker Kelechi Iheanacho, however they every lasted simply 56 minutes.

Regardless of the reintroduction of their metronome, Celtic lacked rhythm and by no means actually seemed like scoring.

Max Watters and Ferry each got here near discovering an opener within the first half because the hosts seemed to play on the counter with little menace coming from their passive guests.

Kieran Tierney sliced one over and Ashley Maynard-Brewer pulled off save to disclaim Iheanacho, however that was it by way of their first half possibilities.

The pitch was dry, bobbly, sandy – not precisely conducive to good soccer, however that doesn’t excuse Celtic’s lack of depth.

Six minutes into the second interval, Ferry punished them.

A sweeping counter resulted within the two wing-backs combining as Luca Stephenson picked out his teammate who transformed on the again submit.

And so they did not cease there.

Agyei added a chic second quarter-hour later when he stepped onto a poor clearance and drilled a first-time effort into the underside nook from the sting of the world.

Vicko Sevelj, Amar Fatah and Ferry once more all endeavoured to make it three thereafter because the champions slumped to defeat.

Barring a speculative effort from Reo Hatate, which was practically dropped into his personal aim by Maynard-Brewer, and a sliding effort at a large angle from Daizen Maeda, O’Neill’s males didn’t create any actual alternatives.

They dominated possession, however that was the one metric through which they bettered their solely opponents.

With the worldwide break on the horizon, this sore defeat will stew within the minds of the Celtic supporters who know the title is, as soon as once more, not of their palms.

Seven video games to go. Eighth defeat of the season.

O’Neill: We aren’t completed but

Celtic supervisor Martin O’Neill on Sky Sports activities:

“We had a lot of possession in the first half, we were camped outside their penalty area but weren’t able to penetrate their team and in the second half we lost our way completely. The first goal was going to be vital in the game and we probably didn’t create enough and maybe we didn’t adjust in the second half to conditions but that’s taking nothing away from Dundee United – they deserved to win.

“The sport bought away from us, that is true. Targets win matches and we chased the sport just a little bit however, even so, we should always have been in a position to do higher. This was all the time going to be a tough recreation for us, away right here at Tannadice, I’ve by no means had a simple recreation right here.

“It is a setback at this particular time of the season and you can’t really afford to do that but we are not finished yet.

“Loads to replicate on [over the international break]. During the last couple of months, now we have proven a very nice spirit and willpower to combat again in matches to go and claw late targets. The combat and willpower was form of an indicator for us and that was lacking within the second half as we speak.”

Goodwin: We deserved the win

Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin on Sky Sports activities:

“It was a great result and a really good performance. I think it was no more than we deserved at the end of the game. We defended brilliantly, we spoke before the game about the disappointment of last week. We weren’t resilient enough at times, but I thought today that’s more like us.

“Particularly within the dying moments, displaying a little bit of calmness, sticking collectively and placing the our bodies on the road. My huge captain Ross Graham was excellent, alongside Iurie Iovu and Krisztian Keresztes as effectively. These three, I’ve been crucial of them, they know that, and so they’ve accepted a few of that criticism that is come their means. It is days like as we speak that we all know they’re able to, we simply must see it on a extra common foundation.

“I thought we had the more dangerous attacks, more shots, more attempts on target, more corners. When you look at the whole picture, I think we deserved the three points today.

“Hopefully we will win the subsequent two and Falkirk do not decide up any factors and we will pressure our means into that prime six however it’s most likely going to be a kind of seasons we glance again on with remorse as a result of we have thrown away so many factors from successful positions that may put us into that prime half.

“Now is not the time for being negative, credit to the players, along with myself, we’ve had a lot of criticism and deservedly so. We’re sitting seventh, we’re not down near the bottom of the table fighting a relegation battle. People can see what we’re trying to do here, we just have to build on it.”

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