Ronny Redemption
Simunovic makes Celtic league debut and Kris Commons retains place as Celtic romp to 5-0 win.​

Anything but a win today would massively increase fan pressure on Ronny Deila and his Celtic team, but 5 goals and a clean sheet are the first steps to redemption in the eyes of the Celtic support.

Many fans had been calling for Deila to be removed from his position in the aftermath of the monstrosity in Molde. The only way for Deila to silence his critics is to win games.

His critics will remind you just how poor Dundee United are at the moment. The Arabs have struggled since losing their best players in such a short period of time and even the potential rejuvenation effect of new manager Mixu Paatelainen hasn't stopped them looking like relegation fodder.

Craig Gordon must have been the most bored man in the UK today as he had absolutely nothing of note to do all afternoon. The men in orange and black came to sit deep, frustrate and try not to concede too many goals.

Celtic, knowing a good performance and a win was required after Thursday, piled on the attacking pressure. At first, they struggled to break down the Utd defence, evidenced by Armstrong's 15th minute shot being saved by Zwick.

League debutant Simunovic tried a speculative shot in the 18th minute but it sailed just high and wide of Zwick's left hand post. Despite not really being tested this match, Simunovic looked composed and comfortable. Encouraging signs given the defensive frailty the Celtic team has displayed recently.

The 19th minute saw Commons swinging in a corner, met by the head of Boyata and sent wide. Shortly after, Commons swings in Celtic's 5th corner of the match and Zwick catches a weak header in the air.


All smiles

Play starting from a throw in Celtic's half, the ball was passed between Simunovic, Johansen, Brown, Ambrose and Commons, with Brown delivering the final killer pass as Griffiths rounds the goalkeeper and slots in a low drive from an acute angle to open the scoring. Celtic's best football of the match up until this point makes it 1-0 Celtic.

Efe Ambrose showed true consistency in the 28th minute by misplacing a pass in front of his own 18 yard box, losing possession and allowing Dundee United the chance to attack the Celtic goal. Fortunately for Ambrose, this time it didn't prove to be costly.

Ambrose found himself on the right wing on the 36th minute, placing a pass with his left foot to Griffiths, who controlled it and hit a powerful low drive to the Dundee United goal. Zwick saved the shot with little effort. Not long after this, Celtic double their lead as Boyata atones for his recent errors by heading the ball into the net. 2-0 Celtic.

As half time approached, Tierney is brought down in the box and referee Craig Thompson awards the Hoops a penalty. The man in the spotlight Kris Commons, coolly converts the penalty with a powerful shot. 3-0 and the match looks well beyond Dundee United before the half way point.


Paatelainen powerless to stop Celts

The second half began with some immediate Celtic attacking pressure, with Gary Mackay-Steven hitting a low shot from the goalkeeper's left, that can only be parried on to the post and then cleared.

Not satisfied with a 3 goal lead, Celtic continued the hunt for goals and in the 50th minute a slick back heel from Brown on the edge of the box allowed Stuart Armstrong to hit a shot on goal. 4 minutes on from this, Celtic's persistent hunting was rewarded when Kris Commons found the ball at his feet inside the United 18 yard box, dragging the ball to his left before unleashing a sharp and fast lighting bolt shot to the top left hand corner of the net.


No grudges

Commons is subbed off in the 66th minute along with Griffiths, replaced by Rogic and Ciftci. A public show of friendship between Commons, Deila, Collins and the rest of the bench clearly done to show unity amongst the squad. After Thursday night, this is encouraging viewing.

Final sub in the 73rd minute as Armstrong is replaced by Callum McGregor. Armstrong, perhaps being rested for Wednesday's clash against Hearts, had a good game.

76th minute sees another long attempt from Simunovic as this time it's on target. Good attempt but the keeper saves comfortably. Another encouraging sign from Simunovic who didn't put a foot wrong all game.

77th minute sees Celtic's 12th corner and an outswinger from Johansen is cleared by the Dundee United defence.

Still on the hunt for goals, the 86th minute sees Ciftci going close with a header that goes just over the bar.

The captain Scott Brown finished off the scoring by making a run cutting inside, going along the left goal line then lifting it over the keeper and into the net via a deflection off Kuhl.

Dundee United had already given up by this point and the match was completely dominated by Celtic. A huge 23 attempts on goal, 12 on target dwarves Dundee United's 3 attempts and 1 on target. This was reflected in the scoreline and the domination of possession.

It wasn't a huge challenge and Dundee United were poor, but credit where credit is due as Ronny Deila and the Bhoys begin to repay the fans for the shambles in Norway.

The final positive note in a good performance was that of academy break through, Kieran Tierney. Awarded Man of the Match, he is surely a real threat to Izaguirre's slot in the starting line up. The question of whether or not Tierney can make that position his own is up to him and how he performs.

CELTIC (4-2-3-1) Gordon; Ambrose, Boyata, Simunovic, Tierney; Brown, Johansen; Mackay-Steven, Commons (Rogic 65), Armstrong (McGregor 73); Griffiths (Ciftci 65)

Not used: Bailly, Blackett, Lustig, Bitton

DUNDEE UNITED (4-5-1) Zwick; McGowan, Durnan, Souttar, Dillon; Fraser (Connolly 90), Kuhl, Rankin, Telfer (Murray 66), Bodul (Taggart 55); McKay

Not used: Szromnik, Donaldson, Souttar H, Robson