Celtic F.C. was held to a goalless draw at Tannadice Park against Dundee United on December 22, 2024, as the Scottish Premiership champions struggled to find the back of the net, dropping points for only the second time this season. Despite controlling the majority of the match, the Hoops' attacking efforts were thwarted by the resolute defense of the home side and some missed opportunities during the game.
This match marked Brendan Rodgers' first visit to Tannadice as the Celtic manager, coming just after his squad lifted the Scottish League Cup the previous week. The team was without key players due to injuries and illnesses, with Alistair Johnston and Nicolas Kuhn absent. This meant Anthony Ralston and Stephen Welsh were called to step up for the Hoops.
From the start of the match, both teams took time to settle, adjusting to the cold and dry conditions. Celtic's first real chance came just nine minutes in, when Callum McGregor attempted to set up Daizen Maeda, but the Japanese forward’s control failed him, and the chance slipped away. Shortly after, Reo Hatate tried his luck with the first major effort of the game, dragging his shot wide of the post.
Meanwhile, Dundee United did not remain silent, as Luke McCowan, back at Tannadice after moving from Dundee, tested the Celtic defense with his own left-footed effort, which also missed the target. The best chance for Celtic before halftime came at the 27-minute mark when Kyogo's curling shot just missed the far corner following another good pass from McGregor. By the end of the first half, neither side had managed to register any shots on target, leaving the match scoreless.
Both teams returned unchanged for the second half, and Dundee United created the first chance through Miller Thomson, but his attempt posed no real threat to Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. Celtic introduced fresh legs midway through the second half, bringing on Adam Idah and Luis Palma. Almost immediately, Idah nearly broke the deadlock with his shot narrowly missing the target, igniting hopes among the traveling Celtic supporters.
Conversation among fans intensified late in the game when Anthony Ralston sent over a pinpoint lofted pass to Daizen Maeda, whose looping header was expertly saved by United's goalkeeper Jack Walton, maintaining the deadlock. The pressure continued to mount as Kyogo found himself with another clear chance but was smothered by Walton once again. Late substitute Arne Engels also attempted to snatch victory for the visitors, only for Walton to foil his efforts as well.
Despite the persistent pressure from Celtic and reaching the dying moments of the game, they couldn't find the breakthrough goal, and Kyogo’s last-minute attempt drifted wide, leaving the final score at 0-0. This outcome means Celtic remains unbeaten domestically, extending their remarkable streak to 32 league matches without defeat, dating back to March.
Dundee United's manager Jim Goodwin praised the performance of his side, noting, “It’s a really well-earned point from our perspective. If you’d offered me a clean sheet before kick-off, I’d have snapped your hand off. Defensively, we were excellent.” His words reflected the hard work and resilience displayed by his team throughout the match.
On the opposing side, Celtic's Brendan Rodgers expressed disappointment at the draw but acknowledged the challenges posed by the match, stating, “You are always disappointed when you draw a game you should win. We didn’t work the keeper enough but the players gave everything.” He emphasized the importance of finding early goals to prevent opponents from gaining confidence.
This draw leaves Celtic nine points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table, holding onto their leading position through what continues to be a remarkable season. While the result raised eyebrows among fans, it offers hope to those competing at the top, as it marks just the second time Celtic has dropped points this season.
The match not only highlighted the continuing defensive strength of Dundee United but also raised questions about Celtic’s attacking capabilities when faced with well-organized opposition. With this frustrating afternoon, Celtic will need to regroup as they head toward the midway point of the season, preparing for the busy festive period.
Next, Celtic must focus on bouncing back from this result as they aim to maintain their dominant form and capitalize on the nine-point lead they hold over their nearest rivals, Rangers.