Premiership featured game

Dundee United host Premiership leaders Celtic on Sunday, with the game being shown live on BT Sport, kick-off 12.15pm.

The Tannadice side lost 6-1 at Parkhead back in August but have recovered well and are third in the table, seven points behind Ronny Deila’s men.

Former Dundee United defender David McCracken, now with Falkirk, was involved in a number of games against Celtic during his time on Tayside.

The 33-year-old said: “I made my debut for Dundee United in a game against Celtic back in May 2000. It was heading towards the end of season and we lost 1-0, with Mark Burchill scoring.”

The following season started in July and McCracken made an instant impact, as he explained: “Celtic had brought in Martin O’Neill by this time and they had all the big guns playing like Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton and Stan Petrov.

“To be on the same pitch as those guys was incredible and I have to admit it was a bit over-awing. However, I tied the scoring at 1-1 with a header from a set-piece after Larsson had scored for Celtic.

“In my excitement I ran to the Celtic fans but I was just so caught up in the occasion. When you think where the guys I was playing against had come from and that I was just starting out in my career you could hardly blame me!”

Sutton scored the winner in a 2-1 success, with McCracken playing in one fixture between the sides in the following campaign when Petrov was on target.

McCracken was on the bench for the Scottish Cup Final in May 2005 that Celtic won 1-0 and he moved on from Tannadice in 2007, playing for Wycombe Wanderers, MK Dons, Brentford and Bristol Rovers before returning to Scotland with St Johnstone. At Saints he finally enjoyed success over Celtic, with a 1-0 win in August 2011.

He added: “I have not played Celtic for Falkirk yet and it would be good if a cup draw was to pair us together, especially at Parkhead which would be a great experience for our young players. We have played Rangers a few times in the past couple of seasons and these are the big games you want to play in.

“You want to test yourself against the best in your league and the best in your country. We took a few beatings but what an experience. I would be delighted to help Falkirk get back into having games like that regularly.”

Celtic head for Tannadice on the back of a long winning run, with their latest victory a 4-1 home victory against St Mirren on Sunday.

Craig Stewart