Rate it!

2 votes

Celtic missed the opportunity to hit the top of the SPL when they could only manage a 1-1 draw with ten-man Dundee United at Parkhead.

A victory would have seen them leapfrog Rangers after their Glasgow rivals drew with Motherwell, but a David Goodwillie strike put the visitors ahead before Scott McDonald levelled.

The Tangerines' Scott Robertson saw a late red after a second yellow, but the Bhoys were unable to make the extra man count as time ran out.

Celtic had a 100 per cent record before the match, but three out of four draws in last season's head-to-head with United suggested this would be a difficult match and so it proved when the visitors got off to the perfect start.

Morgara Gomis did well to ride the challenge of Gary Caldwell and when he found Goodwillie, the striker turned and lashed the ball past Artur Boruc with six minutes gone.

Shaun Maloney should have done better for the hosts when he fired over Nicky Weaver's crossbar, but Celtic levelled in controversial circumstances after 17 minutes.

Scott Brown slammed the ball at Darren Dods and when referee Steve Conroy signalled for handball, McDonald took full advantage to head Danny Fox's free kick past Weaver from six yards.

Celtic came within a whisker of taking a lead into the break as Maloney dribbled his way through the United backline and it took Danny Swanson's timely interception to prevent McDonald from side-footing home.

United started the second period as they did the first.

Goodwillie was about to let fly when Fox whipped the ball off his foot and Swanson's curler edged just wide of Boruc's post.

Celtic boss Tony Mowbray reacted by pushing Georgios Samaras into the fray and it looked to have paid dividends when the Greek striker powered a header past Weaver, only for the flag to cut short the celebrations.

Neil McGinn's shot whistled past Weaver's post as United rocked and when Robertson received his marching orders after bringing down Sameras, Maloney came agonisingly close to snatching all three points when his free kick was deflected just wide with Weaver helpless.

Earlier, ten-man Rangers clung on for a 0-0 draw at Motherwell after Allan McGregor made a late penalty save from Jim O'Brien at Fir Park.

A drab game burst into life five minutes from time when Madjid Bougherra was adjudged to have tripped Lukas Jutkiewicz in the Rangers box.

Referee Dougie McDonald pointed to the spot and booked Bougherra, before showing the Algerian a second yellow card for dissent.

With Motherwell's regular penalty taker Ross Forbes having been substituted, O'Brien stepped up, but McGregor leapt to his left to make a brilliant save.

However, his efforts were not enough to maintain Rangers' 100 per cent record in the SPL ahead of Wednesday's Champions League opener against Stuttgart.

Ian Hare / Alex Chick / Eurosport