Celtic maintained their position at the top of the Scottish Premiership, but were frustrated to leave Tannadice with just one point after being held to a goalless draw against Dundee United on December 22, 2024. This match marked the champions' first blank outing of the season, as they struggled to breach the resolute defense set up by Jim Goodwin's side.
The game started off on the front foot for Celtic, with Daizen Maeda forcing Dundee United's goalkeeper, Jack Walton, to make early saves. Despite dominating possession with 77.6% and registering 17 shots, Celtic could only manage three on target, highlighting their inefficacy to convert chances.
Brendan Rodgers, Celtic's manager, who was at Tannadice for the first time, expressed his disappointment post-match: "The expectation on ourselves is to win every game. The players have been absolutely brilliant up until this point – I can’t complain. We just have to do...better in the final third but also give credit to Dundee United. They were resolute and got blocks in." His comments reflected the frustration felt by the champions as they sought to maintain their lead at the top of the table.
Conditions were far from ideal for football, with wind playing a significant role, yet both teams battled through as they vied for supremacy. The first half was relatively uneventful, with Dundee United focusing on defensive tactics, effectively smothering Celtic's attacking threat. Despite Celtic's tactical setup and high possession, they could not capitalize during key opportunities.
One of the standout moments came when Celtic's Kyogo Furuhashi, presented with a clear chance thanks to Adam Idah's clever touch, failed to find the back of the net after appearing to mistime his shot. This miss underscored Celtic's struggles as they looked to gain the upper hand.
Rodgers made tactical substitutions as the game progressed, bringing on Adam Idah and Luis Palma to inject some fresh energy and create more scoring opportunities. Nevertheless, Dundee United's defense held firm, and they nearly capitalized on rare counter-attacks.
Despite Celtic's consistent pressure throughout the second half, they were frequently thwarted by Walton, whose heroics included tipping over Maeda's looping header and blocking close-range efforts from Furuhashi. The stalemate, though disappointing for Celtic, was indicative of the progress Dundee United has made, as they extended their unbeaten run to seven matches.
The match also highlights Celtic's upcoming fixture congestion, including the Boxing Day clash against Motherwell, where they will need to improve their finishing if they’re to build on their current lead over rivals Rangers. This draw was only their second of the season, and falling short against teams they’re expected to defeat could weigh heavily on their title ambitions.
For now, Celtic will be focusing on rectifying their profligacy and retaining their dominance before heading to face Motherwell and then preparing for the highly anticipated Old Firm derby against Rangers on January 2, 2025. The challenge remains clear for Rodgers' side: find the spark needed to turn possession and chances created, no matter how hard-fought, back to goals.
