Martin O’Neill determined to end Celtic’s dismal record in Dundee

The champions have already lost three times in the City of Discovery this season, under three different managers, the latest a 2-0 defeat at Tannadice two weeks ago

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill senses a squad who are determined to end their dreadful record in Dundee when they run out at Dens Park on Sunday.

The champions have already lost three times in the City of Discovery this season, under three different managers, the latest a 2-0 defeat at Tannadice two weeks ago.

They were on the end of the same scoreline along the road in October, which was Dundee’s first home win over Celtic since Tommy Coyne netted a winner in 1988.

A fourth defeat in the same street would leave Celtic facing a major uphill struggle to retain the William Hill Premiership title and O’Neill’s players are eager to improve on their Tayside record.

“The non-international players got a few days off and then we’ve been training all week,” he said.

“It’s the training, the manner in which they’ve trained, I think that gives you good confidence in that sense.

“Of course, I’ve seen teams who’ve trained brilliantly and then things didn’t materialise at the weekend. But overall, I’ve been really happy with the training.

“In fairness, I think that the players themselves, we’ve all had a look at it. I’m sure that the players have thought about their own individual performances and just want to try and put it right if they can.”

Dundee have eased their relegation concerns with an upturn in form since late December but manager Steven Pressley is braced for the possibility that things could yet become fraught in the weeks ahead.

“As long as we focus on doing what’s required and performing and improving then hopefully we can get over the line, but if it takes to the last game of the season, that’s what it takes, and we have to be aware of that,” he said.

“My time in football tells me that anything meaningful that you ever achieve, you’ll never get there without struggle, without uncertainty, without difficulty.

“It’s never plain sailing and we just have to be ready for the challenges that the coming weeks provide us with.”

Dundee now have the chance to make it back-to-back home wins over Celtic in the league for the first time since 1972.

“I like throwing statistics at the players,” said Pressley. “It’s like ammunition for myself and I think the players like that, they like the challenges that we put in front of them. The reason we’ve improved a lot as a club is the attitude of the players has been terrific over the period.

“The Hearts result (a 1-0 defeat before the international break) was our first defeat in six games.

“I think it was the longest period the club had gone for some years in the Premiership without defeat, so that says a lot about the players.”