Celtic were a hard watch in their 2-0 defeat to Dundee United.
In fact, the Hoops have seldom looked as bereft of ideas all season. Certainly not under Martin O’Neill, and you could even include the disastrous short term of Wilfried Nancy.
There are now seven Scottish Premiership games remaining, and Celtic won’t get away with any more performances like it.
This is more obvious the more you look into the numbers behind the performance.
Your INSTANT REACTION to that loss 😡
Is the title race over?
Celtic’s appalling display vs Dundee United
United’s total of 19 shots is the highest total that Celtic have faced in the Scottish Premiership this season.
If expected goals are your thing – and they certainly aren’t O’Neill’s – there is a similar story to tell. The host’s total of 1.51-1.09 emphasises that the Celts deserved nothing.
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The visitors had a huge share of the day’s possession, 74% to be precise. This is eight percentage points higher than their average this season.
Their total of 592 passes was almost triple that of United’s total, but this simply didn’t translate into chances created.
It’s a criticism that was often levelled at Brendan Rodgers’ Hoops side; that they were too partial to possession for possession’s sake. Today shows that this is not purely a manager thing.
The hosts did an impressive job of limiting Celtic’s most important players. Benjamin Nygren and Yang Hyun-Jun – the Hoops’ two top-scorers this season – didn’t have a single shot between them.
From a more historical perspective, the significance of today’s result becomes even clearer. O’Neill had won 19 out of 19 matches against Dundee United until this afternoon.
It’s the first time that Celtic have lost to United twice in one season since 1990-91, and their first defeat by more than a single goal against them since 1990.
The Hoops’ total of eight league defeats – their highest since the 1999-2000 season under John Barnes – is more than Hearts and Rangers combined.
Should Martin O’Neill take some of the blame for the loss to Dundee United?
Chris Sutton’s reaction to Celtic defeat vs Dundee Utd
Speaking on X, Celtic hero and pundit Chris Sutton nailed the team’s performances this season as a whole.
He also expressed sympathy with his former manager O’Neill, saying: “It was coming. This Celtic team have been a shambles this season.
“The centre forward situation sums the club up. Everyone knows the root cause. Celtic reaping what they sowed.
“Complacent to the core and trying to rely on Martin to bail them out. I feel for Martin.”
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