Dundee United’s recent malaise continued with a 3-0 defeat against Celtic.
Goals by Callum McGregor, Jota and Adam Idah did the damage for a Hoops side that also rattled the post through Jeffrey Schlupp during a display of complete domination at Parkhead.
The sixth defeat in seven games for United saw them slip to fourth place in the Premiership, usurped by Aberdeen.
Courier Sport was in Glasgow to analyse the action.
The Tangerines facilitated Celtic’s brilliance
Celtic produced a masterclass of finishing at Parkhead. Each goal a peach.
However, United were not blameless.
There were no glaring errors for which the men in tangerine deserve to be lambasted. A slight laxness would have likely gone unpunished against 11 of the 12 teams in the Premiership. But the champions-elect were merciless.
The visitors were too soft for McGregor’s opener. Allan Campbell’s challenge was easily shrugged off and, as the Celtic captain neared the danger zone, Ross Graham didn’t engage and Vicko Sevelj was occupied with Luke McCowan.
Although Luca Stephenson chased back gamely, he failed to get a challenge in, and McGregor fired home. A stunning solo strike, but not a rearguard effort that will give United much pride when they analyse the footage.
Emmanuel Adegboyega was the focus of social media criticism following Jota’s goal – the Portuguese winger skipping inside the on-loan Norwich kid before curling a wonderful drive beyond Jack Walton from the edge of the box.
A more pertinent question might be: how did Jota manage to get a clear run to the penalty area simply by beating Adegboyega? Where was the support? The doubling up on Celtic’s most dangerous wide man?
Adegboyega had a tough, formative afternoon. Jota was irrepressible and, with inverted full-back Jeffrey Schlupp dragging Kai Fotheringham all over the shop, the Irishman was exposed too often.
But he is far from solely responsible for that goal.
Even the third strike – with the game dead as a contest – saw Kristijan Trapanovski knocked off the ball far too easily by Anthony Ralston moments prior to Idah producing a blockbuster finish.
And those defensive lapses are more costly when a side doesn’t look like scoring.
Which brings us to…
United must get back among the goals
The goals have dried up for Dundee United.
The Tangerines only failed to score in THREE of their opening 20 Premiership games this season – and one of those was an admirable means to an end, helping them to a gutsy 0-0 draw against Celtic at Tannadice.
However, in their last six league matches, United have drawn a blank four times.
It should be noted that two of those games were at Parkhead – not many visitors trouble the score-sheet – but displays against Hearts and Kilmarnock were uninspiring.
They have scored twice in their last seven matches in all competitions and haven’t registered an xG higher than 1.46 since beating Dundee 2-1 at Dens Park in the first game of 2025.
While the Tannadice outfit won’t thrown caution to the wind, rediscovering their groove in the final third amid a more inviting run of fixtures will be crucial if Jim Goodwin’s side are to maintain their top six place.
The good news…
Asked about the injuries that kept Kevin Holt and Will Ferry out of the side to face Celtic, Goodwin stated: “I would expect both to be available (to play Motherwell).”
Excellent news on both counts.
But particularly in the case of Ferry.
Ferry is the one player for whom United do not have natural cover – as much as Middleton has fulfilled the role in the past – and he is one of the Terrors’ most potent attacking threats, from open play and via his arrowed throws.
Stephenson deserves credit for manfully sticking to his task at left-back against Celtic. Far fewer moments of danger came from that side than the other, albeit that could be because – with the best will in the world – Hyunjun Yang is no Jota.
However, it wasn’t a natural fit in possession. His instinct was always to cut inside onto his right foot and, as such, the link-up with Middleton was stilted.
The balance of the side will be far superior when Ferry returns.
Season defining: 7 games in 7 weeks
From December 22 to Saturday’s defeat in Glasgow, United’s fixture list was daunting.
Celtic THREE times; Rangers; Hearts; two Dundee derbies; seven of the 11 games away from home – comfortably the toughest run of the Tangerines’ campaign.
While Goodwin’s charges produced a fine festive period – taking 10 points from their first four games in the sequence – a notable dip has followed.
United have tasted victory just once in their last seven games and exited the Scottish Cup to their fiercest foes.
However, the Terrors’ reward for a bruising few weeks is an eminently more inviting run of games until the split.
United do not face either side of the Old Firm in the next seven outings, with five of those games coming against teams currently in the bottom six of the table. Four are on home soil.
The visit of Motherwell marks the start of seven weeks that will define a season; will it be top six and a European push? Or bottom six obscurity and a gnawing sense of what might have been? Game on.
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