Sport nationCeltic’s 0-0 draw against Dundee United at Tannadice was a frustrating result for the Hoops, and one that highlighted the team’s lack of killer instinct in front of goal. Despite dominating the game in terms of possession and creating 17 chances, Celtic were unable to find the back of the net, with only three of their efforts on target.
The draw was a disappointing result for Celtic, who had been hoping to build on their League Cup final win over Rangers the previous week. Instead, the team produced a rusty and uninspired performance, with several players struggling to make an impact.
One player who came in for criticism was Luis Palma, who was introduced into the action on the hour mark. Palma has only played 143 minutes of football this term, and it showed at Tannadice, as he struggled to make an impact on the game.
Pat Bonner, the legendary Celtic goalkeeper, was critical of Palma’s performance, stating that the 24-year-old is too one-dimensional in his play. Bonner noted that Palma is unable to play on his left foot, which limits his options on the pitch.
“I have always wondered why Palma can’t play on the right-hand side, because he can’t play with his left foot,” said Bonner. “He always comes on the inside. When Maeda was still on the pitch, at that point, he could still play on the left and the right-hand side.
“I have said so many times when I watch him play. You have got to be able to go on the outside and the inside. You can’t keep coming in on the inside all the time. You come on the pitch, then you have to make a real impact. I know he had a shot, but that’s all I have seen of him so far. That’s why he’s not in the team, I am afraid.”
Bonner’s comments were echoed by Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, who noted that his team lacked a killer instinct in front of goal. Rodgers stated that Celtic had enough of the ball and enough chances, but failed to capitalize on them.
“We had enough of the ball and enough of the ball in the areas we wanted to, but we just failed to show that little bit of guile and that bit of quality in the final third of the pitch,” said Rodgers. “I thought that, especially in the first-half, we didn’t work the keeper enough. We had got into some really good areas but didn’t hit the target.”
The draw against Dundee United was a reminder that Celtic still have work to do to achieve their goals this season. Despite being top of the Scottish Premiership table, the team has struggled to find consistency, and has dropped points in several games.
Rodgers will be looking to strengthen his team’s attacking options in the January transfer window, and will be hoping that his team can return to winning ways against Motherwell on Boxing Day.
In terms of statistics, Celtic dominated the game, with 78% possession and 17 chances created. However, they only managed three shots on target, which was not enough to secure a win. Dundee United, on the other hand, had only two shots on target, but defended well to earn a point.
Palma’s stats for Celtic against Dundee United were also telling. He had four unsuccessful touches during his half an hour on the pitch, more than any other player. He also had only two key passes and one successful dribble, which was not enough to make a significant impact on the game.
Overall, the draw against Dundee United was a disappointing result for Celtic, and one that highlighted the team’s lack of killer instinct in front of goal. Despite dominating the game, Celtic were unable to find the back of the net, and were forced to settle for a point.
The result was a reminder that Celtic still have work to do to achieve their goals this season. Despite being top of the Scottish Premiership table, the team has struggled to find consistency, and has dropped points in several games.
Rodgers will be looking to strengthen his team’s attacking options in the January transfer window, and will be hoping that his team can return to winning ways against Motherwell on Boxing Day.
Sport nation
Amina Umar
