It took a while for Jackie McNamara to get the response he’d hoped for from his Dundee United team after their Hamilton humiliation.
But it came in the end.
It might not have been enough to take a point from the champions, but it certainly stopped the bleeding.
Now, for United to take the next step and return to winning Premiership football games, improvement in the mind will be key.
Switching off cost United their three goals against Celtic, according to McNamara, and a failure to believe in themselves didn’t help their cause either.
The Tannadice boss explained: “I was disappointed with how we started the game. We were very deep and were a bit scared with our passing.
“I’ve no complaints because they were very dominant in the first half.
“The first goal was down to concentration and the other two came from our corners. To lose a goal from them is pure concentration.
“When we do pass it we’re a good side. I had teenagers starting the match who are only going to get better. I’m not going to panic about today.
“The fans were great. Fans react to what they see on the pitch. We didn’t give them enough in the first 30 minutes but when we started passing it we gave them encouragement.
“Obviously results need to improve but we’ll get better.
“We were lacking belief in the first half but when things were against us the shackles came off and we played a bit of football. You could see that in a few of them. It’s how we start games that is the most important thing for me and continuing to believe in what we’re doing.”
On paper this had the look of a Celtic reserve side, with nine changes made by Ronny Deila from their midweek clash with Malmo. But you wouldn’t have known it from the way the visitors started the match.
Celtic came close to scoring after just a few minutes when Kris Commons had a worrying amount of time to turn and shoot in the box (that would become a recurring theme) and Mark Durnan cleared his effort off the line and on to the bar.
The opener came on 17 minutes when Durnan wasn’t able to cut out an Emilio Izaguirre pass and Leigh Griffiths took the ball round Luis Zwick and slotted it home.
Debut Hoops keeper Logan Bailly got himself into a mess with poor control at his feet and ended up in a race for the ball with Robbie Muirhead. They eventually came together on the edge of the box. United claimed a penalty (or even a free-kick) but neither were given.
McNamara said: “Willie’s (Collum) not seen it – again. I thought he pulled Robbie’s jersey.”
United got their act together in the last five minutes of the opening period and Ryan McGowan should have scored from the edge of the box, but dragged his effort past the post.
Zwick had been United’s star performer he had to be but he was beaten in the most frustrating manner for Celtic’s second on 44 minutes.
Commons tried to slide a ball into Griffiths. It wasn’t the best of passes, and Durnan stuck out a foot to intercept. However he only succeeded in re-directing it past his helpless keeper.
The big defender said: “I was just trying to get my foot in the way and unfortunately Luis has moved out the way and it crept in slowly.”
A two-goal half-time deficit would probably have been fatal for the Tangerines, but they pulled a goal back in injury time. Efe Ambrose brought down Scott Fraser in the box and Erskine gave Bailly no chance with a low penalty.
United old boy Scott Allan came on in the second 45 but it was another Celtic sub who sealed the points for Celtic Callum McGregor. The forward’s shot from 18 yards took a deflection off Coll Donaldson on its way past Zwick.
McNamara, who revealed that John Rankin missed out with a back injury sustained in training on Friday, praised his young keeper.
“I feel sorry for Luis because he’s had some fantastic saves,” he said.
“He couldn’t do anything about the goals. He looks the part. We just need to protect him a bit better.”
Next up for Celtic are Malmo, and captain at Tannadice Charlie Mulgrew believes the Parkhead men are in perfect shape.
He said: “Against Dundee United we managed to score first and we also managed to show a really good attitude.
“There’s a belief. We have to approach Tuesday with the right attitude, be up for the game and be up for the battle.”