Gordon Strachan opted to concentrate on the positives after another draw with Craig Levein's side at Tannadice today. A game which Celtic could have won easily but conversely also a game they could easily have lost. Scott McDonald's first half goal looked to have set the Bhoys on their way to a Tayside victory and they had chances to consolidate that lead before the referee ended the first forty-five minutes. United started the second period like men possessed and raced into a 2-1 lead through Spanish striker Sandaza before a spectacular strike from left back Lee Naylor claimed a share of the points for the Hoops.
With both teams looking for the win it was a thrilling encounter and the Celtic manager was hoping that it would be reported as a fine example of the quality to be found in the SPL. "I only hope it's covered in that way," said Strachan. "The football does get a negative slant and, if there was a negative about that game, someone will find it and play on it. But if you didn't enjoy the result, enjoy the goals, you're warped."
Rangers dropped two points at home to Hearts yesterday after racing into a two goal half-time lead and Celtic fans were hoping that the Bhoys could enter next week's international break with a five point lead at the top of the league table but once again the Huns have managed to squirm off the hook. The manager though was quite happy with the performance and happy to maintain the lead at the SPL summit.
"We look upon it as a positive, the performance was good, apart from 20 minutes, and the goals were good." he said. "Overall, we are in the same position as we were in the last round of games. I thought for 70 minutes we were excellent and I thought for the 20 minutes after half-time Dundee United came back into the game."
"We gave them the opportunity to come back and weren't professional enough in the first five minutes of the second-half and they capitalised on that." he added. "After about 20 minutes of the second-half we were right back in it and made some good chances, the goalie made a good save and there's one that goes past the post. So from that point of view it was excellent. Performance-wise that's as good as we've been for a long time coming here."