Do Dundee United have Scotland’s best midfield three?
Dundee United’s 2-2 draw at Celtic prompted praise for their midfield trio of Zidane Iqbal, Lyall Cameron and Dylan Tait, who controlled much of the first half. Their performance helped the side extend an unbeaten run to six matches and stop Celtic increasing their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
United fell behind after Celtic introduced wingers Jota and Haissem Hassan at half-time, but held on for a point despite spending much of the second half defending. Former players and pundits praised the midfielders’ composure and passing, while manager Jim Goodwin’s game plan was credited; United are fifth after city rivals Dundee moved above them with a win over Kilmarnock.
In short
- United’s midfield impressed in a 2-2 draw at Celtic Park.
- Iqbal, Cameron and Tait controlled much of the first half.
- The result extended United’s unbeaten run to six games.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Iqbal, Cameron and Tait have a strong case as Scotland’s best midfield three: against Celtic they controlled much of the first half through composure and incisive passing, helping United earn a draw and extend their unbeaten run. Their ability to influence a match against the league leaders, alongside a well-executed game plan, suggests a trio whose quality and balance compare favourably with rivals.
The case against
One standout performance does not establish that they are the country’s best: United spent much of the second half defending after Celtic changed their attack, and the trio could not maintain the same control throughout. The claim also depends on comparisons across other clubs and matches; their recent form is impressive, but the evidence here alone supports praise more readily than a definitive ranking.
Explained simply
Dundee United and Celtic are clubs in the Scottish Premiership, Scotland’s top men’s football league. The season is played over two rounds, with each team facing the others home and away; points from wins and draws shape the table and the race for the title and European places.
A midfield three are the players positioned between a team’s defence and attack, helping to win the ball, pass it forward and manage the pace of a match. United’s Zidane Iqbal, Lyall Cameron and Dylan Tait have drawn attention for how they work together, under manager Jim Goodwin, while Celtic are among the league’s leading sides.