Martin O’Neill calls for Celtic to ‘reinvent character’ after costly defeat

Martin O’Neill believes Celtic will have to “reinvent” their character after a damaging 2-0 defeat by Dundee United left them up against it in the William Hill Premiership title race.

On a poor Tannadice pitch, the Hoops fell behind to a Will Ferry goal in the 51st minute before Emmanuel Agyei drove in his first Terrors goal since signing from FC Ashdod in January to clinch the three points.

It was an eighth league loss for Celtic this season and it left the reigning champions in third place, five points behind leaders Hearts and two behind Old Firm rivals Rangers with seven fixtures remaining after the international break.

O’Neill, 74, said: “I must admit, I don’t think there ever has been (wriggle room). But today is a setback.

“I don’t think it’s the end of it. I still think that we’re in it. But you’re probably right, I think we’d have to win the seven games.

“Really disappointing. So, yeah, we have to come back and try and get a bit of strength about ourselves and reinvent our character.

“I’ll have a look at the game. I’ll have a look at myself – which is, I think, as important as players looking at themselves – and see what I could have done.

“Some of you will say I could have done a lot, really, at the end of the day, after the second half.

“I thought in the first half we had possession, didn’t really do enough with it, obviously.

“For little periods we camped outside their penalty area. They defended in numbers, which is to their credit.

“And so the first goal was going to be vital in the game. Second half just got away from us completely.”

O’Neill revealed that loan full-back Julian Araujo, missing for the second game in a row, was back at parent club Bournemouth receiving treatment for a unspecified injury.

United, who have beaten Celtic twice in a row at home in the league for the first time since April 1991, are six points behind sixth-placed Falkirk with two fixtures before the split and still with a chance of a top-half finish.

Boss Jim Goodwin claimed his side “got what they deserved” and had particular praise for captain Ross Graham, whose own goal in added time last week gave Dundee a share of the spoils in the 2-2 derby draw.

He said: “Ross Graham was devastated last week.

“He doesn’t need to be told what that game means to the supporters. He’s one of them. He’s been here since he was seven or eight years old.

“So for him to be able to bounce back seven days later and go and put on a performance like that, I think it’s credit to him.

“I’m really pleased for the players. We’re not getting carried away.

“The players and myself have received a lot of criticism for the way that we’ve managed games in the past. Today, the players deserve a huge amount of credit.”