Punchdrunk United look certain to be counted out

IF only the SPFL awarded bonus points for fistclenching and displaying an exemplary attitude, you could then make a case for Dundee United clawing their way back to safety between now and May.

Frankly, though, in the absence of such a ruling being magically passed overnight, the Tannadice men now look as good as done for.

Yet again last night, the sleeves were rolled up and the teeth were bared.

But while that other common denominator — individual mistakes — continues to be the constant companion of Mixu Paatelainen’s side, the required levels of progress will simply not be attained.

You have to feel for the Finn. As per his instructions, his side were in the faces of their opponents from the first blast of Bobby Madden’s whistle.

Just when the home fans were daring to think optimistically, however, the book of old failings was dusted down and given another airing.

Firstly, Gavin Gunning lost his footing on the turf to gift Leigh Griffiths Celtic’s opener.

The culpability for the second was widespread but neither keeper Eiji Kawashima nor his back-four will review Jozo Simunovic’s free header with much pride.

Neither will Scott Fraser wish to see Kris Commons’ fourth goal any time soon.

Simon Murray’s smart conversion with the deficit at just two suggested there is still some spirit at Tannadice but it seems destined to be spent attempting to climb mountains for the foreseeable future.

No side in Scotland could have longed to see the back of 2015 quite like United. A thoroughly miserable 12 months had brought just eight league wins — with just two of them coming in the present season.

In recently laying the blame for much of that squarely at the door of previous manager Jackie McNamara, Tannadice chairman Stephen Thompson had inadvertently decided to play a high-stakes game.

‘It’s very easy in my eyes where it went wrong,’ he stated. ‘It’s not to do with the money we spent, it’s not to do with player sales. It’s about who we replaced them with.

‘Our recruitment last summer was poor at best and that’s why we are where we are.’

And how might that have gone down those who were recruited? On the evidence on the subsequent matches, it’s hardly sparked a mutiny.

If anything, there does seem to be an appetite to shove the words back down his throat. Whether that can be turned into something tangible remains doubtful. Paatelainen wouldn’t be human if he didn’t have private moments of despair.

As if the task facing his players last night wasn’t already akin to scaling Everest, the exclusion of Billy Mckay on compassionate grounds yesterday afternoon rather typified the way things have been going.

For Riku Riski, the on-loan Rosenborg striker who made his debut from the bench at Airdrie, the chance to secure hero status came along sooner than he may have imagined — but it was to prove a forgettable evening.

United at least began the game with the look of a side that believed this was the start of a long climb back towards respectability.

Fraser got his head up to advance 20 yards and worry Craig Gordon with an ambitious strike but the traffic was soon heading towards Kawashima’s goal.

Blair Spittal gave up on one ball prematurely, allowing Kieran Tierney to cross for Stuart Armstrong. The former United man wasn’t more than six inches from handing his side an early lead.

Commons worried Kawashima with a strike that flashed across the Japanese keeper’s goal but, as the clock brought up 20 minutes, United were well in the game. We should have known better.

The concession of the first had a familiar feel to it; Tom Rogic’s burst up the middle was meekly dealt with. The Australian’s determination was in contrast to that of his opponents and he deserved the break of the ball. Gunning’s slipped and Griffiths swept home his 50th Celtic goal with consummate ease.

Conclusive proof that United only lose bad goals these days arrived six minutes later; Commons’ free-kick was crying out for someone in tangerine to show some defensive mettle yet there was none. Simunovic could not have wished for a simpler first goal for Celtic .

United managed to stem the flow with a smartly worked effort, John Souttar bounding forward to allow Murray to find the bottom corner with a delightful finish.

But that glimmer of optimism that abounded at the break lasted four minutes — the time it took for Griffiths to beat Kawashima for the second time.

Six minutes later Commons’ fine scissor-kick removed all doubt.

The United fans then slowly began their familiar retreat.