Celtic 2 Dundee United 2 Celtic were hit so suddenly and savagely on Saturday that one half expected that the post-mortem investigation would be followed...

Celtic 2 Dundee United 2

Celtic were hit so suddenly and savagely on Saturday that one half expected that the post-mortem investigation would be followed by an appeal to anyone who spotted a licence number to contact the authorities immediately.

It was as if a juggernaut had appeared out of the chill night and driven the champions off the road. The truth is more prosaic. The concession of a two-goal lead to an ultimately assured and flowing Dundee United merely confirmed impressions that have been growing in the minds of regular observers of Gordon Strachan's side.

The first observation is entirely positive. When Celtic are allowed room to play, they can be pleasing to the eye and difficult to resist.

Both their goals on Saturday came from errors from Lee Wilkie who, firstly, inexplicably allowed Scott Brown to rob him of the ball to set up Georgios Samaras and then failed to match the Greek's near-post run to despatch a Shunsuke Nakamura free-kick past Lukasz Zaluska.

But they were also the product of an enterprising, sometimes enthralling, performance by the champions. United seemed confused over whether to press or to stand off the home side. Sean Dillon, in particular, was left in a no-man's land as he tracked Barry Robson who held a deep position. The result was that there was room for Celtic to play the ball into the full-back channel and to pick their way through the United defence infield.

Samaras chipped over after a delightful Nakamura pass, Brown shot wide and Robson dragged the ball past the post as Celtic contrived to create a series of chances that should have sealed the destination of three points. This was as good as Celtic have played in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League this season. Brown and Nakamura were outstanding in the first half.

The negatives of the performance were highly visible in the second period but if United's resurgence was surprising, the cause of Celtic's downfall would not raise an eyebrow for those who have watched the side recently. Celtic lose too many goals, running at more than a goal a game in the league.

On Saturday, the defence was again culpable in allowing United the opportunity to come back into a game that seemed beyond the visitors.

Artur Boruc was never convincing and allowed Paul Dixon too much room to place his excellent, scoring free-kick. Mark Wilson escapes blame after leaving injured at half-time but Lee Naylor was incompetent again. Gary Caldwell was reduced to desperation in the latter stages of the match but the major question mark hangs over Stephen McManus.

His lunge on Morgaro Gomis was unnecessary and intemperate. It was punished by the concession of the free- kick that Dixon promptly converted into the goal that gave United hope. McManus was also part of a general hesitation that allowed Jon Daly to flick on for Warren Feeney to poke an equaliser past Boruc.

McManus did, however, clear a Feeney shot off the line but his form has been poor this season. Supporters will point to two clean sheets in the preceding away matches against Falkirk and Rangers. But McManus did not play in the first and his obdurate, brave display at Ibrox could not disguise a mistake in possession that should ultimately have been punished by Kris Boyd.

The defence on Saturday was also not helped by the disappearance of the midfield in the second half. Strachan bemoaned his side's inability to play "common-sense football". More precisely, Celtic could not keep possession.

Brown, energetic and threatening in the first half, was not the man to calm the match down in the second. Paul Hartley was battling hard to curb the incursion of the increasingly influential Willo Flood and Robson could not get on to the ball to any effect.

United's two goals then threatened to be followed by a winner. So what could Strachan do? With eight minutes left, Nakamura was taken off to be replaced by Koki Mizuno.

The Japanese winger never threatened to provide Celtic with the inspiration for victory. High in a sponsors' box, Aiden McGeady watched. The Celtic manager insisted he was "staying faithful" to the side who had garnered six points from the Falkirk Stadium and Ibrox. He added that the under-21 rule, whereby three players under that age must be in the match-day squad, had influenced his selection.

However, it is obvious that the rift between manager and player has not healed. There were isolated chants of McGeady's name as Celtic lost the initiative on Saturday. These will grow in volume and emotion if Celtic threaten to squander their lead in the league.

There was no McGeady for Strachan to blame on Saturday. There was also no McGeady to come to his rescue.