Martin O'Neill calls for Celtic reinvention, makes title admission and gives Julian Araujo injury update

O'Neill watched on as his Celtic team were defeated 2-0 by Dundee United at Tannadice on Sunday lunchtime. With leaders Hearts and Rangers both winning the day before, Celtic are now five points off top spot and two behind their Old Firm adversaries.

Celtic were downed by second half goals from Dundee United's Will Ferry and Emmanuel Agyei and looked uncomfortable all afternoon. O'Neill was dispirited afterwards and while he refused to chuck in the towel in the title race, he knows his team will have to improve significantly and also re-write history. No team has won the Scottish top flight with eight defeats in the three-point era - the number of losses Celtic have now clocked up in the league.

"I didn't know that stat," said O'Neill. "Yeah, just disappointed, naturally. We got ourselves a bit of spirit and determination about the team, which I've been saying for the last few weeks. And I felt that, I think that was the disappointment. I think, you know, when we fell behind in the game, we didn't show enough to warrant fighting back.

"That was just not good enough. Not good enough for us. When I say us, I mean Celtic Football Club. Not really good enough, and not good enough for the fans who've arrived here, and disappointing for the fans from a distance. So not great at all.

"I must admit, I don't think there ever has been [any 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.

"In all honesty, I think that, one, we have to try and create more. And two, when we do create, I think we have to try and take the chances. And that, I thought, in all honesty, both were missing today.

"We have to come back and try and get a bit of strength about ourselves and reinvent our character."

Celtic were without right-back Julian Araujo, who O'Neill confirmed is back at his parent club Bournemouth receiving treatment for an unspecified injury. "He's missing, he's down and he's getting treatment and being rehabbed at his football club at Bournemouth," said O'Neill. "I'm not sure [if he'll be back for the next match against Dundee], but the extra two weeks could help."

O'Neill's Dundee United counterpart Jim Goodwin hailed the resolve of his players for bouncing back from last weekend's late collapse against Dundee to draw the derby 2-2.

"I'm really pleased for the players," said Goodwin. "We're not getting carried away. It's just another three points, but I've been very critical of them. And 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.

"I thought today we got what we deserved in terms of the end result. I thought we were the better team throughout. You know that Celtic are going to have plenty of possession, but they never really carved us open. I think they had one big chance in the first half and the goalkeeper’s made a big save. But other than that, I thought we were comfortable in our shape."

United can still make the top six but need to win at Ibrox against Rangers and then defeat Livingston - and hope Falkirk do not pick up any further points against Motherwell and Rangers before the split.

"I think there is a real small glimmer of hope," added Goodwin. "We know we have to win our two games. We know that Falkirk have to lose their next two. If we do it, it would be miraculous.

"If we don't, then we'll no doubt look back on this season with great regret because we have dropped so many points from leading positions and conceded so many late goals that had we been able to manage those situations better, we'd probably be comfortable sitting fifth or sixth on the table."