Source: Team_Talk
Mowbray looking on the bright side
A dramatic last-gasp winner from United skipper Darren Dods gave the Tannadice side their first victory over Celtic since 1999 and left Mowbray looking at a depressing run of only two wins in 10 games.[LNB]Dods had fouled Barry Robson inside the box to give the former Tangerines midfielder the chance in the 71st minute to send Nicky Weaver the wrong way from the spot.[LNB]However, with seven minutes remaining, Jon Daly, on for Damian Casalinuovo to play his first competitive game since April following a knee injury, headed the equaliser from Danny Swanson's corner.[LNB]In the dying seconds, from another Swanson corner, Dods left the visiting fans stunned when he bulleted a header past Lukasz Zaluska.[LNB]Mowbray admitted the tinkering with his defensive tactics to counter-act the height and strength of United had failed but insisted his side should have still left Tayside with three points.[LNB]"I felt there was a huge gulf in quality and class between the two teams and yet they scored from two set-plays," he said.[LNB]"Whether they can continue to score from set-plays, I don't know.[LNB]"I don't think we got what we deserved from the game but if you don't defend your set-plays properly, then goals are what the game is about.[LNB]"But generally, for about 85 minutes, I think it was one-way traffic.[LNB]"We totally dominated the football match. The first half wasn't a problem for us. I never felt they could get near our goal.[LNB]"I didn't think they could hurt us other than set plays and ultimately they did, which of course, is sore.[LNB]"But they didn't create any other chances."[LNB]Mowbray added: "They have some huge, physical boys which is why we changed things today.[LNB]"Instead of man-marking, we went to part-zonal marking.[LNB]"We didn't have the physicality to mark their six foot four, six foot five players.[LNB]"So you try and out your strongest headers in the best part and most dangerous part of the pitch and in theory it works but in practice it didn't."[LNB]Celtic passed up on the chance to leapfrog Rangers to the top of the table but Mowbray claimed not to be too concerned.[LNB]He said: "I judge my team on the performance level and whilst we didn't get the result, it shows me that for the bigger picture, we should add a little bit of quality here and there this team can go on and be successful for a very long time."[LNB]Asked about Mowbray's assertion about the "gulf in class between the two teams," Dundee United manager Craig Levein joked: "We weren't that much better than them.[LNB]"That would be doing Celtic an injustice, really."[LNB]Levein continued: "He is entitled to his view of the game the same as I am and I didn't think we played very well but how many saves did Nicky Weaver make in the first half?[LNB]"I've played against Celtic in the past where the keeper has had to make wonder saves and we have still been 3-0 down at half time.[LNB]"Then, I would have said there was a gulf in class - but not today."[LNB]Levein, who refused to talk about the constant speculation linking him with the vacant Scotland post, was especially pleased for Daly.[LNB]"If there is such a thing as a footballing God then he is looking down fondly on Jon Daly today," the United boss said.[LNB]"He certainly hasn't been looking down very fondly on him in the past.[LNB]"The only person who will be happier than me is Jon.[LNB]"He has been out for seven or eight months and played 30 minutes of football in that time.[LNB]"I think he was surprised that he was on the bench - and I had him on the bench because we needed cover in central defence.[LNB]"He is away home absolutely thrilled and so he should be."[LNB]Dods was relieved that his mistake for the penalty had not proved decisive.[LNB]"It was disappointing to give away the penalty," he said.[LNB]"I played against Barry Robson for years and I know all about his step overs but he done me this time.[LNB]"But the win over Celtic has been a long time coming and I'm delighted."[LNB][LNB]
