Dundee United vs Celtic Prediction: Hosts worth backing for a point

Wilfried Nancy's career at Celtic has started horrifically, with defeats in each of his first three games - and he is the first coach in the club's history to experience this. The Hoops are in action on Wednesday (20:00 GMT, Sky Sports Football) as they travel to face Dundee United at Tannadice Park in the Scottish Premiership.

The hosts are winless in their last seven games but they may be sensing an opportunity here. Below you will find my Dundee United vs Celtic predictions, featuring the latest match odds and team news.

Team News

Dario Naamo (unspecified), Isaac Pappoe (knee), Panutche Camara (hamstring) and Yevhenii Kucherenko (calf) are all unavailable for Dundee United due to injury.

Boss Jim Goodwin may be tempted to make changes in attack given that the Tangerines have failed to score in their last two matches. So there may be starting opportunities for Ivan Dolcek and Nikolaj Moller.

Football Odds

Celtic are set to be without the services of, Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles), Jota (cruciate ligament), Alistair Johnston, Kelechi Iheanacho, Callum Osmand (all hamstring) and Marcelo Saracchi (unspecified) due to a range of injury issues.

Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Sebastien Tounekti are also absent as they are playing at the Africa Cup of Nations for DR Congo and Tunisia respectively.

Today's Football Fixtures

Dundee United vs Celtic Odds

Dundee United have just three wins from their opening 16 matches in the league and they are 11/2 to defeat Celtic.

They have drawn three of their last five fixtures in the top flight, though, and the stalemate is on offer at 10/3 (implied probability of 23.1%).

Celtic have won five of their previous six matches in the Scottish Premiership and they are 2/5 to collect the three points.

The Hoops' past two way trips in the league have produced over 2.5 goals, which is available at 8/15.

Match Result - Draw @ 10/3

He has barely had the time to get his feet under the table but Nancy is already under pressure at Celtic. He's the first manager in the club's history to lose his first three fixtures, so he will be determined to stop this record from extending on Wednesday.

But the truth is, it won't be an easy fix. Three defeats in succession will be difficult to shake off, particularly when the latest was a cup final, as St Mirren won the Scottish League Cup final at Hampden Park on Sunday.

Dundee United may be winless in seven matches, but they will be sensing that the Hoops are vulnerable heading to Tannadice on Wednesday. The hosts have managed to pick up three draws in their last five outings in the league, with one of them coming at home to Rangers on December 3.

Celtic do have players with individual quality to step up here but given the form they are in, I think they will find it difficult to get into a rhythm here. The draw looks like excellent value for this clash.

Anytime Goalscorer - Daizen Maeda @ 19/20

Daizen Maeda is someone the Hoops will look to for inspiration in the final third against Dundee United, and while his long-term future at Celtic remains uncertain, he is determined to deliver by potentially putting himself in the shop window.

The Japan attacker has scored three goals in his past five appearances in the Scottish Premiership, so he is heading here in a decent run of form, even if his team isn't.

Surprisingly, Maeda has just one goal against the hosts in nine career appearances, although he does have four assists. I think he will look to improve his goalscoring fortunes against them and I am predicting him to get on the scoresheet here.

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