Half-Time Report: Dundee United holding Celtic in lively encounter

Dundee United are holding Celtic to a goalless draw at half time following a lively opening 45 minutes at Tannadice Park in which either side could have taken the lead.

Emilio Izaguirre lashed a low shot across the face of the six-yard box that narrowly evaded the boot of Stefan Johansen as the Scottish Premiership leaders started brightly.

A Stuart Armstrong corner was then nodded over the top by Virgil van Dijk, but the hosts were always in contention, and could have taken the lead had Robbie Muirhead's powerful strike from range not been acrobatically tipped over the bar by Craig Gordon.

Izaguirre was Celtic's most useful outlet in the first half, with his constant forays down the United right carving out a catalogue of chances, the best of which was fired straight into the hands of a grateful Radoslaw Cierzniak by Van Dijk on the half-hour mark.

The reigning champions could have been reduced to 10 men moments later when Scott Brown scythed through John Rankin, but referee Willie Collum elected just to book the Celtic midfielder.

Having survived that scare, Celtic finished the first half the stronger, but they could not find a way past a resilient Dundee Untied defence that restricted them to shots from range.