Celtic could afford a draw with Dundee United – even if Brendan Rodgers wouldn’t admit that, according to the pundits.
And with a depleted squad for the trip to Tannadice, and two huge games coming up to make amends, three Celtic-minded media personalities reckon they know exactly why he wasn’t too fussed. Rodgers admitted he was frustrated at the 0-0 draw but was far from cracking heads after they dropped points in the league for just the second time this season.
It means they go into Christmas Day nine points ahead of Rangers at the 16-game mark, a position that has, historically, been unassailable. It’s the result of their relentless drive and hard work and a possible Invincible season is still on the cards. Speaking on the BBC, former Hoops keeper Pat Bonner said they “have worked hard early in the season to afford a day like this.”
Aiden McGeady sees it the same way, and reckons the fact they have two big home games on the immediate horizon – against Motherwell on boxing day and then St Johnstone on Sunday – is another reason he won’t be too concerned with the dropped points. Six from six there would tee them up nicely to take on Rangers on January 2, and McGeady told Sky Sports: “It was the final ball, the final pass, the killer pass, the finish, it just wasn’t quite there. He knows he’s got a lot of games upcoming in the next month. He’s got a big squad, and he’s having to manage those players and manage those personalities, and there’s still a healthy lead at the top of the league, so he doesn’t seem too despondent.”
Rodgers also refused to point to his depleted squad as a reason behind the unusually flat performance. But with no Nicolas Kuhn, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty or Alistair Johnston, it was always going to be a factor, even if Rodgers wouldn’t make the excuse publicly. Chris Sutton sees it that way as he wrote on X: “Celtic weren’t good enough in the final third today. You can’t win them all mind. Big players missing and not easy for fringe players to come in and perform to the required level. Well played to Jim Goodwin and Dundee United.”
Speaking after the game, an upbeat Rodgers said: “The expectation that we put on ourselves is to win every single game. The players have been absolutely brilliant up until this point. I can’t complain. Today, it’s a mixture of our own fault really. We have to do better in that area of the pitch, but also give credit to Dundee United. I thought their team defended well, they were resolute, they made blocks, but I think it was more us really. We either didn’t arrive in the areas for crosses or we didn’t hit the target.
“So, that was my only complaint. Otherwise, the players have been absolutely fantastic. They play with a big personality in the game, big expectations to win every game and this has been constant for them. They’ve been playing to a really good level. So, we just, as I said, we look to our next game now to get the points. We’ve got two great games now close together, so we’ll aim to take maximum points there.”