“The atmosphere in here was a lot better than what it was a week prior,” Jim Goodwin

Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin has given his verdict following his side’s 4-0 defeat to Celtic yesterday afternoon as Celtic ultras tell Michael Nicholson to own his failures and resign…

Strikes from Yang, Arne Engels, Benjamin Nygren and Daizen Maeda capped a convincing afternoon for Martin O’Neill as he marked a memorable return to the Celtic Park touchline.

The result lifted Celtic back ahead of theRangers and to within three points of table-toppers Hearts, who are both in action today, while also drawing a line under the disastrous 33-day spell under the hapless Wilfried Nancy, who was Michael Nicholson’s first choice pick to replace elite level manager Brendan Rodgers.

Those Celtic supporters who didn’t reckon Rodgers was an elite level manager got a 33-day lesson in what a coach NOT at that level really looks like. Yesterday the Celtic ultras, a mixture of Bhoys Celtic and Green Brigade had this message shown below for the Celtic CEO relating to his appointment of Wilfried Nancy.

For Dundee United, it’s back-to-back defeats and remain seventh in the Premiership on 25 points after 22 matches played.

Tangerines boss Goodwin gave his thoughts after a disappointing day at Celtic Park: “We always knew today’s fixture was going to be difficult,” he said via The Herald.

“We know the quality Celtic have got but obviously the change in management has given the players and home supporters a real lift because the atmosphere in here was a lot better than what it was a week prior.”

Goodwin added: “They’re playing a formation and a system that the players are familiar with, and one that suits the squad they’ve got. When you come here you know you’re going to be starved of possession at times and you have to really show a bit of resilience in and around your penalty area and I think today there’s lots of areas within the goals we’ve conceded we could’ve done a lot better. When you give Celtic a two goal advantage it becomes a mountain to climb.”

“When you come here you have to do the basics well defensively, at times you need your goalkeeper to make saves and when you get half chances you’ve got to be clinical and take them, we couldn’t do that today.”

🟢 Celtic produced a dominant performance to beat Dundee Utd 4-0, as Martin O'Neill returned to the dugout again ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/8pIY1SQ3lN

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) January 10, 2026

Reflecting Julian Araujo’s tackle on Will Ferry in the first half which resulted in a yellow card for the Mexican, Goodwin commented: “I thought the Celtic defender was a little bit out of control.”

“Will Ferry took a real sore one, VAR seemed to skim over it pretty quickly so if they’re satisfied with it then it’s fine.”

🗣️ “Coming to Celtic Park at the best of times is never easy”
🗣️ “The goals, all four of them, are very avoidable”
🗣️ “We have to move on now”

Jim Goodwin reflects on Dundee United’s loss away to Celtic ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/xRYadhy7R5

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) January 10, 2026

Conor Spence

Read Julian Araujo’s post-match thoughts on the next page…