Celtic 1-1 Dundee United: poor start to hosts’ league continues

Celtic coach Ange Postecoglou said the Scottish Premiership title was not an “insurmountable challenge” after his side’s difficult start continued with a draw against Dundee United.

The hosts hit the woodwork three times and Albian Ajeti surprisingly missed an open goal from three yards, while United saw a strong penalty claim rejected when Nicky Clark was downed.

“It’s a weird league,” Postecoglou said. “You call it early here, don’t you? It’s pretty remarkable that seven in-person games are already calling the title.

“I don’t pull stumps after seven games just because other people seem to think there’s some kind of insurmountable challenge for us.

“I know people want to push me somewhere on some kind of ledge on the ledge. It just won’t happen.”

The young United of Thomas Courts showed impressive composure and weathered a late play-off in a breathless contest to score his first point at Celtic Park in eight years.

They are a point above Celtic in the fifth, while Postecoglou’s already long injury list claimed Josip Juranovic another victim.

While Celtic have had their worst league start in 23 years, they have been impeccable at home with three straight wins in stark contrast to three away losses.

United stopped that record and took advantage of Celtic’s neglect. Celtic hosts quickly picked up their momentum – Juranovic saw a shot knocked back by goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist and Ajeti headed too high – before their wingers combined for the breakthrough. Jota took off to the left and cut to swing over a cross that met a thumping header from Abada at the back post.

The backhand galvanized United and they were tied in two minutes. Finnish winger Ilmari Niskanen overtook Anthony Ralston on the left and his whipped delivery was brilliantly converted by Harkes with a diving header.

Both sides had reason to feel aggrieved not to have a lead at half-time. United, whose high press has disrupted Celtic’s defense throughout, were baffled by referee Kevin Clancy’s decision not to award a penalty when Cameron Carter-Vickers sent Clark to sprawl out.

At the other end, Ajeti inexplicably soared over an unguarded net and David Turnbull sent a 20-yard strike against the bar. Ajeti would be guilty of another blatant failure late in the second half, with a six-meter wide header.

Postecoglou’s men put on the pressure after the break, but lacked conviction in the final third.

Jota looked like their best hope to win and almost got it with a plunging bar kick in the dying minutes. Tom Rogic also rocked the frame of the goal with a header from Jota’s knockdown as Celtic’s late rally failed.

United, however, defended diligently and remained a danger on the counterattack. Niskanen was inches away from finding the far corner of the net with a curling strike, and the visitors could have scored a spectacular victory when substitute Louis Appere was saved by Joe Hart.

It then took a superb tackle from Carl Starfelt to stop Appere in a two-on-one breakaway as the end-to-end action continued until the final seconds.

Man of the Match – Ian Harkes

What have we learned?

Celtic are failing to get some of their key men back fast enough. Callum McGregor’s leadership and Kyogo Furuhashi’s final prowess were much lacking in a random display.

Ajeti has yet to convince up front. The attacker will never propose Kyogo’s move, but should have converted at least one of the glaring opportunities that lay before him.

United, for a man, was superb. With a young side with 16-year-old Kerr Smith at center-back, Thomas Courts’ men have caused all kinds of trouble for the hosts.

After beating Rangers and holding Celtic this season, and a derby victory over Dundee for good measure, Courts put Tannadice’s men easily in fifth.

What did they say?

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou: “Obviously disappointed with the result, but in terms of approach I think that’s exactly what our supporters want to see.

“We created a lot of chances, we just didn’t grab them. Sometimes football goes that way. Another day we score four or five.”

Dundee Utd Head Coach Thomas Courts: “This [the penalty claim] was very legitimate. We watched it at halftime and it was bitterly disappointing.

“It was a big demand for my players – three games in seven days, including the thrill of a Dundee derby – but they were exceptional. I’m really proud of them.”

And after?

Celtic have an intimidating mission against in-form Germans Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League group stage on Thursday (8 p.m. BST), before a Premiership trip to Aberdeen on Sunday (12 p.m.).

United are looking to score four league games unbeaten when they host Ross County on Saturday (3:00 p.m.).