Celtic's Ruthless Performance Dominates Dundee United

Celtic’s ruthless edge is back – and Dundee United felt every bit of it.

Martin O’Neill’s side ripped through the Tangerines at Tannadice to storm into the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals, dishing out a second straight 4-0 beating and sending a clear message before Wednesday’s Champions League play-off. Free-scoring, relentless, and at times downright fortunate, the Hoops still walked off looking like a side that has rediscovered its old swagger.

Player Ratings

Here’s how the Celtic players rated on another punishing night for United.

Viljami Sinisalo – 7

Another clean sheet, another reminder that sometimes goalkeepers need friends in strange places. This time, the woodwork. Five times Dundee United were denied by the frame of the goal as Sinisalo survived a barrage of near-misses. He’ll focus on the shutout, not the fortune. The Finland international looked secure when called upon, but his distribution again veered from calm to careless.

Colby Donovan – 7

Thrown in with Alistair Johnston sidelined and likely to keep his place for the looming Champions League showdown, the 19-year-old did not blink. Donovan defended with composure and carried a real sharpness going forward from right-back. The big surprise? Third-choice Anthony Ralston didn’t even make the squad, underlining the faith in the youngster.

Cameron Carter-Vickers – 7

The heartbeat of the backline is beating louder again. Fresh from a brutal Achilles injury that ended last season, Carter-Vickers is edging back towards his dominant best. He still looks a yard off it in some one-on-one races, but in the air he was immense and his presence alone has tightened Celtic’s rearguard. Took Celtic’s only booking of the night, a sign he’s back in the thick of it.

Auston Trusty – 7

The breakthrough came from the USA defender and it was a beauty. Trusty rose to glance in a corner early in the first half, settling any nerves and setting the tone. He looks increasingly comfortable beside Carter-Vickers and has the air of a man who knows the shirt is his. O’Neill will think twice before breaking up this central defensive pairing. They look locked in.

Liam Scales – 7

Back from a two-game league ban and back in from the start, but not in his usual slot. Scales was asked to cover at left-back with Kieran Tierney kept in reserve for LASK. He coped well enough defensively and slotted into the system without fuss. Still, it was another reminder that Celtic lack a natural, attacking understudy on that flank.

Callum McGregor – 7

Those who claimed his legs had gone might want to reassess. At 33, the captain still ran the game. McGregor dictated the tempo, knitted everything together and rarely wasted a touch. One lung-bursting surge into the box almost brought a goal for Kasper Hogh, underlining that the engine remains very much intact.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 7

On his 33rd birthday, he finally got his first start of the season – and used it well. The former Liverpool and Arsenal midfielder sprayed passes around Tannadice with familiar quality, threading balls through gaps that barely existed and repeatedly slicing open the United defence. His influence faded after the break as the legs tired, but the technique is still there. So is his usefulness.

Benjamin Nygren – 9

Celtic’s new numbers machine. Three games, three goals, three assists. The “Super Swede” is carrying the creative burden and making it look easy. His pinpoint corner set up Trusty’s opener. Later, he slipped in Sebastian Tounekti for the third before thundering in the fourth himself from 18 yards. A man-of-the-match display from a player who currently looks untouchable.

Camilo Duran – 8

A £6million gamble that already looks a steal. Duran prefers to play through the middle but has been devastating from the right. He opened his Celtic account just minutes after Trusty’s header, reacting quickest to a loose ball in the box – even if the build-up appeared to involve a touch off Hogh’s hand. His work rate is relentless, his pressing constant. A real find.

Kasper Hogh – 7

No repeat of last week’s stunning first-half hat-trick at Kilmarnock, but still a handful. The Dane’s movement and physicality gave United’s backline problems all night. He played a key role in two goals – first being wrestled to the ground before Duran pounced, then holding the ball up smartly in the build-up to Nygren’s assist for Tounekti. Goals or no goals, he grafted from first whistle to last.

Sebastian Tounekti – 8

This was the version of Tounekti Celtic hoped they were signing. After a frustrating previous campaign, the Tunisian lit up his first start of the season with a goal and an assist. His strike was all about individual brilliance – twisting defenders inside out before squeezing the ball into the bottom corner to finish a devastating counter. Later, he returned the favour by teeing up Nygren for the fourth. With Yang absent, Tounekti didn’t just fill the gap. He grabbed it.

Subs

• Mika Baur – 5 Brief but bright. The German midfielder showed the same energetic, dynamic style that has drawn comparisons with Reo Hatate and looked like he belongs at this level.
• Dane Murray – 4 Another taste of first-team football for the academy defender. Replaced Trusty and slotted in without fuss, keeping things tidy at the back.
• Luke McCowan – 4 Introduced for standout Nygren after scoring off the bench at Rugby Park last week. Couldn’t repeat those heroics but offered energy and familiarity on his old Tayside patch.
• James Forrest – 4 On for Hogh as O’Neill shuffled the pack. The veteran winger hugged the touchline and allowed Duran a run through the middle, adding fresh legs out wide.
• Haissem Hassan – 3 Rusty, understandably. The Egyptian wide man has barely featured in pre-season and it showed, but he still drew a rousing ovation when he replaced Tounekti late on.

Celtic leave Tannadice with another four-goal statement and a place in the last eight. With the Champions League play-off looming, the only question now is whether this ruthless streak can carry them onto an even bigger stage.