Martin O’Neill insists Celtic’s hunger to win the title is stronger than ever after victory at Dundee saw them move within three points of leaders Hearts.
Celtic had lost on all three previous visits to the city of Dundee this season, twice against Dundee United and once against Dundee.
The most recent of those defeats came a fortnight ago when a 2-0 loss at Dundee United had prompted O’Neill to question whether his players really had the bottle for a title fight.
But they responded in the best way possible today as goals from Yang Hyun-yun and Kelechi Iheanacho secured a 2-1 victory.
With Hearts slipping up earlier in the day as they drew 2-2 at Livingston, it was Iheanacho’s winner with 10 minutes to play which closed the gap to the leaders to just three points with six games to play.
‘For the first time, a fortnight ago, I had to question whether we really, really wanted it,’ said O’Neill, who had challenged the players to reset mentally after the defeat at Tannadice two weeks ago.
Celtic’s players celebrate the late goal by Kelechi Iheanacho in their 2-1 win against Dundee
Substitute Iheanacho secures a vital three points for Celtic with his winning goal at Dens Park
Celtic boss Martin O’Neill says his players have reset their attitude ahead of the title run-in
‘Forget about the pitch, just in the second half I felt we didn’t show an appetite to get into the game. The second goal knocked us really back but we never really created anything through the course of the game.
‘Then you have a fortnight to think about it, so we’ve come in with renewed determination, try to get in front today and try to naturally take the game away from Dundee.
‘We did that today, we’re still in it and still have a lot to ponder. 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’s side were much-improved from what they served up a fortnight ago across the road, showing much more attacking intent throughout.
Yang had given them an early lead, before Simon Murray equalised for Dundee from the penalty spot to tee up a nervy final half-hour.
But it was a test of character that Celtic passed, with substitute Iheanacho coming off the bench to fire the winner with a little under 10 minutes to play.
On the importance of the win, O’Neill continued: ‘I think that if we had dropped points today, it would have been a long, long way back. I’m not saying it was finished, but it was a long way back.
‘But given the fact that Hearts dropped a couple of points today, the games are difficult. They are honestly, they’re really difficult.
‘So we need to try and beat St Mirren next week so that you go into the split – I think we’ve got three at home and two away.
‘But there’s no room for us [to slip up]. It seems as if there’s never been any room for us. But if we had dropped points today, I think that would have been a long way back for us.
‘We carved out chances and when the second goal didn’t come, maybe it’s just the pessimistic side to me, but I felt it might come back to haunt us.
‘Dundee got the penalty, the resurgence of confidence, so it was tough. But we had to try to do something because a draw was no good for us. Thankfully, we got there in the end.’
On Iheanacho scoring the winner, O’Neill added: ‘He has had some issues with injuries. At 29, he should be at the peak of his career rather than sometimes scratching around.
‘He scores, he can hold the ball up and is really good at that. He maybe can’t run the channels much but at the end of the day he can hold the ball up and that’s his trademark.
‘He’s played for Manchester City, some time ago like everything else. But that goal will do him the world of good.’
Despite the experience of the likes of Callum McGregor, Kieran Tierney and some of the other senior players, O’Neill believes this is uncharted territory for many others in the Celtic squad.
Especially given the manner in which they have often had the league title sewn up by the time they reached the split over recent seasons.
‘We do have a couple of players with experience, but we’ve actually got a couple of boys who haven’t been over the course,’ he said.
‘You make an interesting point because this time last year, Celtic were cruising, you know, and had been cruising for a number of years.
‘This has been really tight for them. So this is kind of – even though we’ve got some experience in the side – it’s a kind of a new experience for these lads.
‘To be chasing and chasing and chasing, you know, and being under pressure to get results all the time.
‘But if you’re thinking about the likes of Callum [McGregor] and people like this here, yeah, I think that the younger lads would want them to be leaning on someone like him.’
