Celtic Should Have Beaten Dundee United By More Goals Says Ronny Deila

Celtic manager Deila revealed that the hamstring injury Mikael Lustig picked up during the game was not as serious as first thought which leaves him with a chance for the return game in Malmo next Tuesday night.

Deila was delighted, especially as he felt his team could and should have scored more goals.

Leigh Griffiths will feel confident of retaining his place after adding another to his burgeoning tally in what was a solid outing.

As well as a 74th minute Callum McGregor goal that owed everything to his edge-of-the-area shot taking a deflection off Coll Donaldson, the second period was notable for the first appearance of Scott Allan following his move from Hibernian a week ago. Kris Commons came in and he was great. There was also a start for forgotten man Anthony Stokes.

Celtic defeat Dundee United 3-1 in the Scottish Premiership.

Yet not all defences will be as accommodating as United proved.

Emilion Izaguirre’s through ball caught out Durnan who attempted to play for off-side.

Leigh Griffiths got the ball rolling for Celtic, beating the offside trap before rounding Dundee United goalkeeper Luis Zwick and tapping into the empty net.

Zwick then made a superb save to deny Commons with a rasping drive before blocking a Griffiths strike with his feet.

It was not all one way, however.

Home striker Robbie Muirhead had shouts for a penalty when being challenged by Celtic’s debutant keeper Logan Bailly before Ryan McGowan sliced wide from good work by Blair Spittal.

The pair combined to hand Celtic a 17th minute lead as Griffiths scored for the fourth consecutive match.

But United immediately got back in the game after Efe Ambrose tripped Scott Fraser as the United midfielder ran towards goal and Erskine sent Bailly the wrong way from the spot.

“In the first half I don’t think it was easy for the other team to play any better”.

As the half-time whistle shrilled, Celtic headed into the break with a slight advantage in a game in which they ought to have buried United out of sight and they could have paid a higher price for their profligacy had Paul Dixon’s effort not come off the side-netting just minutes after the restart.

Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara said his side were punished for switching off.

“I got an unbelievable reception from the supporters”. Allan nearly made an impact within seconds, impudently chipping Zwick whom he had spied off his line but the United keeper recovered. We should’ve scored more – that’s the biggest issue.

The hosts tried to recover with goalscorer Erskine and Aidan Connolly trying later efforts but there was to be no way back for them. You can look at it all different ways.

CELTIC: Bailly; Janko, Ambrose, O’Connell, Izaguirre; Mackay-Steven, Commons, Mulgrew (McGregor 61), Rogic (Thomson 79), Stokes; Griffiths (Allan 67).