The race for the Scottish Premiership title race has become absolutely unpredictable following a dramatic Saturday that saw both Hearts and Rangers secure vital wins.
Martin O’Neill’s Celtic find themselves playing catch-up as the Bhoys travel to Tannadice today and look to leapfrog Rangers back into second place and close the gap to Hearts to two points.
However, for Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin, the pressure of today’s game in Tayside lies squarely with Celtic as the Tangerines boss says ‘there is more pressure’ on O’Neill’s side ahead of the big SPFL clash.
Pick your Celtic XI vs Dundee United
Jim Goodwin says ‘more pressure’ is on Celtic at Tannadice
With just seven games to go after the Tannadice visit, Celtic know that there can be no more slip ups, and so does the Dundee United gaffer.
Goodwin told The Scottish Mail, “We know what’s at stake for both teams and in particular what’s at stake for Celtic in terms of the challenge that they’re trying to mount against Hearts and Rangers to go and win the title.
“You could argue there’s a bit more pressure on the Celtic players than there is on mine, but we’re the home team.
“We had a really good performance and result against Celtic the last time we played them at Tannadice and we have to take confidence from that one into this one.”
Goodwin’s Celtic Park hurt after Martin O’Neill masterclass
The last time the two teams met, Celtic beat Dundee United with O’Neill at the helm, and it’s clear that defeat still rankles with Goodwin.
The Tannadice boss continued, “When we beat them at Tannadice it was under Wilfried Nancy playing a different system. Now obviously Martin O’Neill went back to the more familiar 4-3-3 and we faced that at Parkhead – they gave us a really difficult time of it.
‘We’ve got to take the learnings from Parkhead and a bit of confidence from the game at Tannadice. We’ve certainly got to build on the good moments that we showed in the game against Dundee.
“If we can bring all that together then we give ourselves a chance of picking up a positive result.”
United’s previous success came against the system of former boss Wilfried Nancy, but they now face the revitalised and relentless 4-3-3 of Martin O’Neill.
With Celtic missing veteran keeper Kasper Schmeichel due to a long-term shoulder injury, O’Neill has a very capable deputy in Viljami Sinisalo.
For Celtic, anything less than three points would leave them trailing Derek McInnes’ high-flying Hearts. For the Arabs, it’s a chance to exorcise the ghosts of Celtic Park, but with the Hoops high in confidence, Goodwin could be in for another tough time.
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