MATCH REPORT : LATE HEARTBREAK FOR UNITED AFTER DEFENSIVE MASTERCLASS

Ange Postecoglou’s red-hot Celtic were the next opponents for United as the hectic cinch Premiership winter schedule continued on a blustery afternoon in the East End.

The Terrors came into the match fresh off the back of a much-needed victory against Ross County on Wednesday, super-sub Nicky Clark the hero as he netted both the equaliser and the winner, with the latter coming deep into stoppage time.
 
Clark was, unsurprisingly one of five changes made to the side that snatched victory against the Staggies, as well as Adrian Sporle, Ilmari Niskanen and Academy graduate duo Archie Meekison and Lewis Neilson. The personnel change also led to a change in shape – 3-5-2 the preferred formation over 4-3-3.
 
It was United who started brighter, carrying a threat on the counter through Sporle. The Argentine helped force the first corner after being picked out by Ian Harkes on the left, proceeding to send a front-post cross in for Clark which was cautiously deflected behind by Starfelt. Then, in the sixth minute, United went agonisingly close to taking a lead through Sporle. Tony Watt fed Harkes on the right and his cross drifted all the way to the back stick for Sporle, who cut inside Ralston and fired a half-volley inches wide of the target.
 
At the other end, Tony Ralston sent Georgios Gikoumakis clean through on goal with a perfectly weighted ball over the head of Neilson. Luckily for United, Calum Butcher flew across to slide in and prod the ball behind for a corner.
 
United weathered the early storm admirably, and began to enjoy sustained possession in the middle of the park, through Harkes in particular, but were unable to find a way through the compact and organised backline due to a lack of movement in the final third.
 
Celtic began to turn the screw towards the half-hour mark, causing United problems with their runners from midfield who would fire a hail of dangerous crosses into the box. However, Butcher and Neilson stood firm to clear all in their path to safety.
 
Ralston found space on the edge of the box but his first touch let him down just as he was about to pull the trigger, allowing McMann to close in and smother his shot. The loose ball fell to Liel Abada though and he skipped beyond Butcher with a sharp shift before striking for goal from a tight angle, Benji Siegrist up to the task as he spread himself quickly.
 
The Swiss came to his side’s after Abada had been set free in behind the defence, pulling the ball across the six-yard line for Giakoumakis who looked certain to score. The Greek made contact with the ball but a combination of Siegrist and Butcher managed to divert it behind for yet another corner.
 
The keeper’s heroics continued as the match headed towards the break, this time getting down low to beat Matt O’Riley’s low curling away from danger.
 
O’Riley then went on to squander Celtic’s most clear-cut chance of the half, sending James Forrest’s low cross whistling past the post under minimal pressure from the top of the box, with Siegrist rooted to the spot.
 
Following the break, the introduction of Jota from the hosts instantly brought more dynamism to their play, stretching the game and creating space for others to operate in, with makeshift right-back Niskanen struggling to cope. Jota was almost the architect of the opening goal three minutes after the restart, bending a tantalising cross onto the head of O’Riley, his glancing effort tipped round the post on the stretch by the keeper.

 20-year-old Ross Graham entered the fray soon after to replace the injured Scott McMann, claiming his cinch Premiership debut.
 
The frustration began to build inside Celtic Park as United’s well-drilled defensive shape forced countless turnovers in the hosts’ attacking third. When possession changed hands though, Tam Courts’ side failed to capitalise on the out of sorts defence at the other end, frequently turning back on the counter despite having progressive options in support. Perhaps if these had been utilised, the Terrors could’ve claimed the upper hand heading into the final 25 minutes.
 
Siegrist’s outstanding display and the vitriol of the Celtic support climaxed with 67 minutes on the clock when Giakoumkis failed to convert from point-blank range after Greg Taylor found the advancing Jota in the left half-space. The Portugese winger squared to his Greek colleague and Siegrist sprung across his line to somehow force the ball over the bar with his leg.
 
Giakoumakis spurned another golden opportunity soon after, slashing a volley wide on the penalty spot after a deflected cross from Taylor dropped favourably for him.
 
United’s press high up the park looked as if it had paid off on the 81st minute, as a combination of Marc McNulty and Declan Glass disposessed Taylor as he dithered on the ball. Glass slipped in Harkes who looked to be heading through one-on-one with Hart, but Bitton cynically hauled the American down, leading to his dismissal for a second bookable offence.
 
In stoppage time, when United began to believe a point was heading their way, Abada struck a cruel blow, controlling Ben Doak’s cross and slamming it high into the net past the helpless Siegrist to send Parkhead into hysterics and break tangerine hearts, both on the park and in the stands.
 
The visitors upped the intensity after conceding, burning all that was left in their depleted tanks, but failed to carve out a chance to level it.
 
A rock-solid defensive performance from United, who can take multiple positives from yet another valiant performance against the odds in Glasgow. Celtic perhaps deserving of their victory on chances created, but the character and desire of the youthful United will feel aggrieved they leave with nothing. All eyes now turn to Tuesdays’ hotly-anticipated Dundee derby at Dens, with United undefeated against their city rivals in almost five years.