MARTIN O’NEILL is determined to bodyswerve more torture on Tayside when Celtic visit Dens Park to take on Dundee on Sunday afternoon.
The Celtic caretaker boss endured possibly the champions’ worst performance of a turbulent campaign when they flopped dismally to Dundee United at Tannadice nine days ago.
A toothless Hoops outfit collapsed to a 2-0 loss – and that score was mirrored when Brendan Rodgers took the team to face Steven Pressley’s strugglers on October 19.
GREEN FOR GO…Martin O’Neill prepares for Celtic’s weekend visit to Dundee.
A week later, the Hoops crashed 3-1 to Hearts at Tynecastle and that miserable display and result brought about the sudden departure of the second time-around gaffer and opened the door to the dramatic return of O’Neill in a caretaker basis.
There were 33 days of catastrophe and chaos after the appointment of the woeful Wilfried Nancy before the Northern Irishman once again answered the faltering club’s SOS.
With just seven league games to go and Celtic five points behind leaders Hearts, the 74-year-old team chief is well aware defeat is not an option in the run-in.
O’Neill said: “This is a really big game and one that we’ve essentially got to win.
“That won’t be easy, but if we’re still in contention come the split, then I think we’ve got three home games and two away – all big matches against the big sides, so there’s still all to play for in that sense.
“I thought Dundee played exceptionally well against us in the Scottish Cup-tie. We got the late equaliser and then went on to win the game in extra-time.
“So, they played very well and in a lot of subsequent games they’ve been well and truly in the picture.”
WE’RE BEHIND YOU…Martin O’Neill watches on at Parkhead. Images courtesy Celtic TV.
O’Neill, speaking exclusively to Celtic TV, looked at the opponents’ recent 2-2 draw in the derby after coming a sensational stoppage-time revival from two goals adrift and added: “They fought back against Dundee United in that game.
“They’re a strong outfit and whatever way they approach the game, it’s about how we approach it as much as anything else, and we just have to be as strong as them.
“I think if you can play early and win your game, you’re in the box seats in that aspect.
“But, really, it’s a game that you still have to win regardless of what happens the previous day.”
Derek McInnes’ Edinburgh side face a potential banana skin when they take on Livingston in West Lothian two and a half hours earlier.
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