Disappointing defeat for Celtic at Tannadice

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Celtic F.C.

·22 March 2026

Disappointing defeat for Celtic at Tannadice

Scottish PremiershipSunday, March 22 2026Tannadice Stadium, Dundee

DUNDEE UTD…2(Ferry 51, Ageyi 66)

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CELTIC…0

Celtic suffered a disappointing setback at Tannadice, as a difficult afternoon on a challenging pitch ended in a 2-0 defeat to Dundee United.

With results elsewhere over the weekend increasing the pressure on the Hoops to respond, Martin O’Neill’s side arrived in Dundee looking to close the gap at the top of the table, but found conditions and an organised home side difficult to overcome.

Dundee United made the brighter start and applied early pressure, with Ross Graham meeting a well-delivered corner from Will Ferry inside the opening stages, although his header failed to trouble Viljami Sinisalo.

Celtic looked to counter shortly after, with neat interplay between Benjamin Nygren, Kelechi Iheanacho and Yang, but Luca Stephenson halted the move with a late challenge on Yang which earned him a booking.

Celtic’s first clear opportunity came from a set-piece. Nygren recycled a corner into the box, where Benjamin Arthur cushioned the ball into the path of Kieran Tierney, but the defender’s powerful strike rose over the crossbar.

The hosts responded with a dangerous moment of their own following a defensive error, as Sam Dalby’s move ended with Ferry driving a fierce effort towards the top corner, only for Sinisalo to produce an excellent save to tip the ball away.

Conditions at Tannadice proved challenging throughout, with a heavily sanded surface disrupting any attempts to build rhythm or tempo, and both sides struggled to establish control in a stop-start first half. Liam Scales was booked after being caught out by a bobble in the pitch, bringing down Max Watters as the hosts threatened again.

Celtic came close to breaking the deadlock late in the half when Reo Hatate threaded a pass through for Iheanacho, but the striker’s effort was well saved by the goalkeeper, ensuring the sides went in level at the break after a quiet opening 45 minutes.

The deadlock was broken early in the second half as Dundee United took the lead. A move down the right saw the ball find its way to Will Ferry, who struck low beyond Vil Sinisalo to give the home side a 1-0 lead.

Celtic came close to pulling a goal back when Reo Hatate, operating from right-back, struck a first-time effort which clipped the inside of the post and rolled along the goal-line before being gathered by the goalkeeper.

Martin O'Neill's side looked to respond with changes, introducing fresh legs in an attempt to regain momentum, but they were dealt a further setback just after the hour mark when the hosts doubled their lead.

Following a series of blocked efforts inside the area, Emmanuel Agyei reacted quickest to fire home through a crowded box to mkae it 2-0.

Further changes followed as the Hoops searched for a route back into the contest, and they continued to press in the closing stages.

Tierney fashioned an opening inside the box, delivering a low ball across goal which Daizen Maeda attempted to convert, but the opportunity passed by.

It proved to be a frustrating afternoon for Celtic, who were unable to find a foothold and were ultimately left with no reward, with attention now turning to regrouping after the international break.