A stubborn United side fell just short in Glasgow. 

Celtic 2 (Maeda 23', Hatate 83')

Dundee United 0

7.45pm Wednesday 8 January 2025

Celtic Park

William Hill Premiership

Images: Richard Wiseman (Club Photographer)

The Team Talk

Following a hectic run of fixtures and with one eye on St Mirren, Jim Goodwin rang in five changes for our clash with Celtic. 

Out: Ryan Strain, Kevin Holt, Luca Stephenson, Sam Dalby and Miller Thomson

In: Ross Graham, Kristijan Trapanovski, Glenn Middleton, Kai Fotheringham and Jort van der Sande

After being recalled from his loan spell yesterday, Sam Cleall-Harding was named amongst the substitutes - one of five DUFC Academy graduates involved in our matchday squad. 

An Early Warning Sign

It was backs-to-the-wall stuff as we coped well with the early pressure at Parkhead. 

A couple of intricate moves around the United penalty area failed to provide a killer touch before Auston Trusty almost broke the deadlock as he nodded Arne Engels' corner onto the crossbar just under fifteen minutes in. 

Falling Behind

The hosts did eventually ripple the net on 23 minutes as Jack Walton was equal to a curling effort from Luke McCowan who broke into the box before it was followed up and brushed home by Daizen Maeda.

In truth, there was little else to write home about in the first half. Walton was kept quiet which was a testament to our resilience but we failed to pose much of a threat ourselves. 

A Move at the Half

We got back underway with one change as Ross Docherty replaced Vicko Ševelj in the middle of the park. 

It was followed by some good United pressure as a number of early corners and long throws were hoisted into the Celtic penalty area in search of a leveller. There was a brief VAR check for a penalty before Kasper Schmeichel was allowed to continue.

We made a double switch before the hour as Dalby and Stephenson replaced Odada and Trapanovski. 

Celtic themselves went to their bench with Kyogo Furuhashi and Reo Hatate entering the fray - the former forcing Jack Walton into a smart stop as he nodded a corner towards goal. 

No Chance of a Comeback

Despite a much-improved second half, the game was out of reach with just over five minutes remaining. Middleton forced Schmeichel into a smart save, and several dangerous balls flashed across the face of goal, but it was all to no avail as Hatate put the game to bed.

It was well crafted by the hosts as Luis Palma's outside of the foot cross was flashed back across goal before being dummied by Paulo Bernardo and swept home by Hatate. 

Despite defeat, we stay third in the Premiership after losing by more than one goal for the first time this campaign. 

Post-Match Thoughts

Teamlines

Celtic

Starting XI: Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Taylor, McGregor, Engels, McCowan, Yang, Idah, Maeda.

Subs: Sinisalo, Scales, Palma, Kyogo, Valle, Bernardo, Kuhn, Hatate, Ralston

Dundee United

Starting XI: Walton, Ševelj, Graham, Trapanovski, Ferry, Odada, Middleton, Adegboyega, Fotheringham, van der Sande, Gallagher (c)

Subs: Richards, Strain, Stephenson, Dalby, Docherty, Thomson, Cleall-Harding, Stirton, Meshack

Next Up

We're back on the West Coast this Saturday as we travel to Paisley to clash with St Mirren. 

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