Liam Fox has described Kyogo’s pivotal goal for Celtic as “unacceptable” after Dundee United’s gutsy performance at Parkhead was undone by familiar failings.
United were agonisingly close to claiming an unlikely point at the home of the Hoops, with a wonderful Dylan Levitt delivery evading everyone and nestling in the net to make it 2-2.
There was 87 minutes on the clock.
However, Celtic restored their lead as the clock hit 90, with a simple corner-kick flicked on at the near-post by Anthony Ralston, finding Kyogo completely unmarked at point-blank range to nod home.
It was yet another goal conceded from a cross-ball, which has become a maddeningly common theme in recent matches.
Liel Abada added gloss to the scoreline as United threw bodies forward – but the damage was already done.
“I’m frustrated for the players more than anything else,” said a dejected Fox.
“They put so much into the game. We all know how difficult it is to get anything from Celtic Park. So, to get ourselves into a position of being within minutes of doing that, and switch off at a set-piece is really frustrating.
“The fourth goal is irrelevant. It’s the third that kills us. The manner of the third goal is not good enough from us, especially so late in the game.
“We knew that there would be an onslaught in the final minutes and to switch off at a set-piece is unacceptable.”
He added: “It is something we worked on during the week and that probably makes it even more frustrating. I understand that when you make subs, there is an element of change to the set-ups. But we need people to take responsibility and step up at those moments.”
Dylan Levitt response
Levitt notched his second goal of the campaign – albeit his delivery was intended for the head of Tony Watt rather than the back of Joe Hart’s net – after climbing from the bench in the closing stages.
His excellent cameo was the perfect response after Fox, as enthusiastic an admirer of the Welshman’s talents as one will find, challenged Levitt to reach his inarguable potential.
“As I said during the week, nobody rates Dylan Levitt higher than me,” emphasised Fox.
“I got a brilliant response from him and I’m delighted for him. A real positive.”
United’s defeat was made doubly galling by Ross County’s dramatic 3-2 triumph against St Mirren in Dingwall.
The Tangerines are now three points adrift of the Highlanders and Kilmarnock the foot of the Premiership.
They host Killie at Tannadice on Wednesday night in what is a bona fide six-pointer; the penultimate league match before the World Cup hiatus.
“Every game from now to the end of the season is going to be huge,” continued Fox. “We need to dust ourselves off and shake the disappointment — we will do that — and tackle a tough task against Kilmarnock.”
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