Ronny Deila looking for response against Dundee United after midweek defeat
Ronny Deila is hoping for some domestic bliss against Dundee United on Sunday following Celtic's midweek despair in Europe.
The Hoops' 3-1 Europa League defeat by Molde in Norway on Thursday night left them at the bottom of Group A with two points from three games and put the Norwegian boss under some pressure.
In addition to taking flak from some of the fans who had travelled to the Aker Stadion, and many more who had watched from afar, Deila also had to deal with Kris Commons' substitution strop.
In the midfielder's anger at the decision to bring him off for Nadir Ciftci with 15 minutes remaining, he berated assistant manager John Collins in the dugout which subsequently led to him issuing an apology through the club's official website the following day.
While hopes of qualifying out of a group that also includes Ajax and Fenerbahce are fragile, Deila turns his attention back to the cosier confines of the Ladbrokes Premiership.
A home victory against bottom side United - who have new manager Mixu Paatelainen in charge for his second game - would guarantee Celtic stay top of the table.
The former Stromsgodset boss said: "They have changed the manager so it's not so easy to say how they are coming into this game.
"There's always a change when the new manager comes in.
"The club has been through a difficult situation but they still have talent in the side.
"It's going to be a difficult game. They have to fight to get points and we need the points to stay top of the league so it's going to be an exciting match on Sunday."
One Parkhead positive on Thursday was Carlton Cole signing a contract with the club until 2017.
The 31-year-old former West Ham United striker, who was a free agent before clinching his deal, will not be involved against United as he works his way back to fitness following a knock sustained while training with the Hoops.
Deila, however, was glad to have Cole on board.
He said: "I'm very happy about that. He's an experienced player and has qualities that we are missing from the team.
"It's going to be exciting to see him play. He is not yet (ready to play). He has been injured so we need to get him up to his best fitness."
Charlie Mulgrew will be missing again for Celtic after he suffered a setback in his recovery from a thigh injury which has kept him out since September 12. James Forrest is back in contention after recovering from a knock.
Paatelainen has urged his team to take more care with their passing.
The Finn was happy with his players' fight during his first match in charge but felt they lacked quality on the ball in the final third as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Hearts.
The bottom club will not have so many opportunities to create chances at Parkhead and Paatelainen knows they will need to improve their possession play against the champions.
"They attack you in numbers and they have very educated players," he said. "So when we win the ball we want to make sure we don't just give it away and waste it.
"We want to keep the ball and cause them one or two problems."
United are still without long-term casualties Mario Bilate, Paul Paton, Paul Dixon and Chris Erskine, while Callum Morris remains out with a calf problem.
Blair Spittal is suspended and Paatelainen hinted at further selection problems.
"We have a couple of injuries but we will have to wait and see," he said. "But I would have contemplated changes anyway because this match is a little different in nature to others."
Source: PAR
