Celtic snatch defeat from the jaws of victory

Scottish Premier League/Dundee Utd 2 Celtic 1:THE CHANTS of "We're gonna win the league" here came from the Dundee United supporters and not, as one would perhaps have expected, those of Celtic.

Tony Mowbray’s record shows just two wins in Celtic’s last 10 matches, sufficient for fans to make their distress perfectly plain. This defeat will prove all the more galling bearing in mind United had not beaten Celtic since August 1999. The visitors, moreover, had led with seven minutes to play.

Mowbray, however, dubiously claimed there was a “huge gulf in quality and class” prior to United’s two goals. Those attributes were absent as Celtic striker Marc-Antoine Fortune missed a series of glaring first-half chances, and when Mowbray’s defence afforded Jon Daly and Darren Dods free headers to win the match.

Rangers are now a point clear at the summit of the Premier League with a game in hand.

United manager Craig Levein responded to Mowbray’s assertions regarding perceived disparity of play. “We weren’t that much better than them,” he said laughing, before adding; “Tony is entitled to his view. What I would ask is how many saves our goalkeeper had to make? Not many.”

Hints of desperation had appeared before Barry Robson gave Celtic the lead. The midfielder, upended by Dods, slotted home the penalty with ease.

What followed proved a nightmare for Celtic’s central defence. Daly nodded home a Danny Swanson free-kick to restore parity before Dods, in the dying seconds, was afforded similar freedom when meeting a corner from the same player.

United are highly unlikely to claim the championship. As, on this troublesome form, are Celtic.

DUNDEE UTD: Weaver, Kovacevic, Webster, Dods, Dixon,Myrie-Williams, Buaben, Gomis, Conway (Swanson 63), Cadamarteri (Goodwillie 62), Casalinuovo (Daly 73). Subs not used: Banks, Dillon, David Robertson, Shala.

CELTIC: Zaluska, Hinkel, Caldwell, Loovens, Daniel Fox, McGeady, N’Guemo, Crosas, Robson, Fortune (Samaras 58), McDonald (McGinn 82). Subs not used: Cervi, Naylor, Flood, Thompson, Caddis.

Referee: D McDonald.