Celtic’s Dens Park revival and the flaw that could define title race

The 2-1 victory against Steven Pressley's outfit was both a step forward in performance for Martin O'Neill's side, certainly in comparison to recent weeks, as well as a reminder that they continue to play with fire and have the potential to be burned for as long as they do not have a reliable starting striker who can stick away chances.

Rather ironically, it was Kelechi Iheanacho who missed the most opportunities when Celtic were defeated at the same venue in October, one of the final matches that accelerated Brendan Rodgers' exit from the club. Six months later, which feels more like six years for most supporters, the Nigerian was Celtic's saviour, closing the gap to Hearts to three points at the top of the table after their hiccup in Livingston.

This was the ninth time Celtic have directly earned points from a goal scored after the 80th minute in the Premiership this season, worth 17 points in total. Those points demonstrate resilience but they also underline how often Celtic leave matches unresolved far later than they should. Over time, it begins to look more like a pattern of inefficiency than a spirit to be celebrated.

Let's not get it wrong, the away side deserved to win Sunday's match despite being bailed out by another late show. Celtic generated a higher xG total (2.31 xG) than their previous five matches, also restricting chances created by Dundee to a very manageable level (0.55 non-penalty xG conceded). It's a massive improvement from Tannadice a fortnight ago (1.00 xG vs 1.28 xG conceded)

Celtic's xG and xG conceded since Martin O'Neill's appointment in January. (Image: Statsbomb)

It was not simply about the Dens Park pitch compared to their neighbours across the road, though that was also much improved.

"Did we reset our attitude? Absolutely I think we did and I think that was to do with the way we approached the game right from the off," O'Neill said afterwards.

This was not just standard football manager patter, but manifested itself on the pitch and in the underlying numbers, at least initially.

Celtic have not been a particularly intense pressing team in the Scottish Premiership this season. In fact, on a per 90 basis, they have fewer pressures and pressure regains (winning the ball back within five seconds of a press) than the entire division. This is a reality of often being the side that enjoys the vast majority of possession, but even in that context, it's been a part of Celtic's game that has required improvement of late.

Against Dundee, Celtic registered more pressures (202) and pressure regains (68) than any game during O'Neill's two spells as manager this season. Both totals were more than double what the team produced at Tannadice a fortnight prior and more than any other team in the Premiership over the weekend.

Celtic pressures and pressure regains this season. (Image: Statsbomb)

Daizen Maeda, Yang Hyun-jun and Tomas Cvancara each had more than 25 pressures in the match, with Celtic leading from the front to put Dundee on the back foot high up the pitch, which helped their improvement in overall performance.

The pressure heat map below, from the first half, shows the consistent areas Celtic were squeezing Dundee.

Celtic pressures heat map, first half vs Dundee. (Image: Statsbomb)

If Celtic are to now truly go on a run of consistent winning form, it's this intensity and effort that will help get them there. Every game needs to be a battle that they are proactive in winning. This is not the time of the season to be passive.

Even the second half in this match showed what can happen with a drop-off in pressing endeavour. The controlled possession of the Rodgers era has largely been abandoned and Celtic no longer suffocate opponents. In this context, their pressing game cannot be a weakness or opponents will find footholds and ways back into matches against an inefficient Celtic attack.

Before Dundee's spot-kick equaliser, Celtic could have been ahead by two or three goals. Yet for all that collective progress, the team's consistent flaw this season was again apparent.

Cvancara did a lot of the dirty work demanded, linking play and pressing with real diligence, but left Dens Park without the goal his chances merited. Four spurned efforts amounting to 0.93 xG underline that he found the right positions; the fact none of them went in explains why Celtic still needed Iheanacho’s late intervention to escape with the points and ultimately why the Nigerian might be fancied moving forward.

O’Neill’s sympathy for Cvancara was obvious afterwards, but so too was his awareness of how costly such wastefulness could become.

"Even though we had the win, he was down because he needs to score," the manager admitted, reflecting the reality that good movements and near‑misses will not be enough in a title race defined by fine margins. In another week, against sharper opposition, those misses might have turned an important three points into another damaging stumble.

Tomas Cvancara shot map vs Dundee. (Image: Statsbomb)

This lingering fragility in front of goal means they are still walking a tightrope in this title race, even as they close the gap.

However, if the way they started at Dens becomes their default and is matched by sharper finishing, then the anxious, stop‑start version of Celtic that Dundee, as a city, has hosted all season might finally find the required gear.

That may be enough to salvage silverware from a season that has felt like a never-ending nightmare. The title race is a three‑point scramble between flawed sides and, regardless of what has happened up to this point, whoever figures out their issues in the final six games will emerge victorious. The opportunity is there, can Celtic finally finish?