Celtic dropped Premiership points for only the second time this season in a goal draw against Diligence Dundee United. In his first meeting at Tannadice as Celtic manager, Brendan Rodgers looked like his much-changed side dominated possession for a large part of the game but couldn’t find a way past a solid defence.
It was the first point dropped since the 2-2 draw against Aberdeen in October and it means Celtic finished the day nine points ahead of Rangers at the top. Celtic remain unbeaten at home as they prepare home games against Motherwell and St Johnstone, before the Old Firm clash at Rangers on January 2.
Rodgers sounded the changes after exhausted Premier Sports Cup final win over Rangers last weekend and the arrival of Anthony Ralston, Stephen Welsh, Liam Scales, Luke McCowan and Yang Hyun-jun. Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty were given bad news by Rodgers before the game.
In the 10th minute, Celtic midfielder Daizen Maeda set up Reo Hatate with a nice flick, but Hatate’s low drive from 16 yards beat the far post. After McCowan’s 25-yard bicycle kick was whistled, efforts from Kyogo Furuhashi, McCowan and Hatate followed before the break, with United showing little threat as they rallied to keep the visitors at bay.
Britain had a good chance early in the second half when Miller Thomson broke down the left, assisted by Sam Dalby, but his shot was weakly collected by Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
Rodgers spent an hour, Adam Idah and Luis Palma replaced Yang and McCowan, and after Idah they came close with a low effort.
In a rare United attack, Furuhashi’s back-tracking on the ball was caught by Glenn Middleton inside the box, but his shot was easily saved by United players in the stretch.
Celtic came back on the attack and Jack Walton headed in a header from Maeda on 78 minutes before Furuhashi stopped a great Idah moments later.
The visitors piled on the pressure and Walton’s close drive was blocked by another substitute, Arne Engels, before Celtic survived a goalmouth scramble as Britain headed in a late winner.