Detailed Celtic player ratings as Sead Haksabanovic and super-subs deliver victory in face of VAR controversy

Joe Hart: The Celtic number one spoke of the fire within the players' bellies to return to the Champions League group stages by retaining the title. In the build-up to this clash, he said: "We are going to look to take care of business over the next three games and then we will worry about the future when it comes." He couldn't keep out Steven Fletcher's spot-kick but was a virtual spectator for the rest of the opening period as well as much of the second half. That said, he was saved by the woodwork late on as United chased a leveller which they got from Tony Watt's glancing header. 7

Anthony Ralston: Once again 'The Brickie' was asked to bring his toolset to the table as he replaced Josip Juranovic for another round of domestic duty. He pinged an absolutely brilliant cross-field ball from left to right that had the hallmark of quality stamped all over it to Jota who surprisingly failed to hit the target. His passing was on point and it was another sure-footed performance from a player who really is throwing the gauntlet down to the Croatian for the regular starting jersey. He even forced Birighitti into a decent save from a first-half effort and got the crucial flick on for Kyogo Furuhashi's winning goal. 8

Cameron Carter-Vickers: Thankfully the American central defender's absence from the Hoops team was temporary. He was restored to the side in place of Carl Starfelt after missing out on the Champions League trip to Madrid. He is a different kind of captain from Callum McGregor but is just as effective in his own way. He is always there to clear his lines by being physically strong and leading from the back of the pack. He forced a save late on from a header as Celtic pushed for a winner. 8

Moritz Jenz: Like his partner in crime in central defence the German offers a level of reassurance and physicality that most offensive teams in the Premiership can't cope with or combat. He was kept occupied by the busy Steven Fletcher but might feel he could have been positioned better for Tony Watt's equaliser. 7 

Alexandro Bernabei: Ange Postecoglou showed there was no room for sentiment as he rotated Greg Taylor from the side on his birthday of all days. Despite the fact that Taylor had scored twice in his last two league matches his Argentine deputy had raised his own game levels of late. He was the victim of one of the harshest VAR penalty awards you are likely to see this season courtesy of Nick Walsh in the booth as he jumped up for balance and the ball struck his arm but it was neither deliberate nor intentional. Bizarrely he copped a double whammy and picked up an unjust yellow card. The luckless fullback was wisely withdrawn at half-time by the manager. 5

READ MORE: Inside Alexandro Bernabei's controversial Celtic VAR call as reasoning for penalty revealed

Matt O'Riley: It was his floated cross ball into the penalty area that saw Giorgos Giakoumakis win the aerial duel and divert into Sead Haksabanovic's path for the goal that put Celtic back in front at 2-1. The Danish under-21 international's distribution was of a high standard all afternoon. He hit two tame efforts at goal early that were easily dealt with in the second half but he also did his fair share of domestic chores to snuff out the threat of the Tangerines. It was his corner that led to the third goal. 8

Reo Hatate: Carried out his manager's instructions to the letter of the law as everything he does is done with purpose. It doesn't always come off but like midfield partner Matt O'Riley he is never afraid to express himself or take risks. His spins and turns are a joy to watch and the Japanese star is adept at finding pockets of space beyond the opposition's lines. 8

David Turnbull: He seemed to enjoy his outing in Spain and was full of gushing praise for Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric in the process. However, the Scotland internationalist was handed a rare chance to see if he could put any of what he had learned in the Bernabeu into practice as he started only his sixth game of the campaign. He produced a little bit of composure when he tried to sidefoot home the third goal but was denied by a timely intervention by Dundee United skipper Ryan Edwards. He was denied a goal by some last-gasp defending after a delicate glancing header from Jota's cross and curled a shot inches wide with his left foot as his influence grew after the break. 7

Sead Haksabanovic: The Montenegrin was deployed on the right wing and he scored his first goal in Celtic colours as he was on hand to prod home after Jota had laid it on a plate in six minutes. He gave the hosts the lead after 34 minutes when he swept home confidently after Giorgos Giakoumakis headed knockdown. Showed his versatility as his goals came from both the right and the left of the pitch and linked the play well for the most part before being replaced by Liel Abada at 65 minutes. 8

Giorgos Giakoumakis: His anguished scream told its own story last weekend as he looked bitterly disappointed with himself after failing to hit the target from 12 yards against Livingston. The Greek striker seemed desperate to atone for that miss and it was a cute power play by the Aussie to let him loose on the Dundee United defence instead of Kyogo. He produced a superb diving save from Mark Birighitti at 19 minutes from his powerful header and had a couple of other half chances. He was caught waist-high by a reckless flailing high boot by Craig Sibbald which VAR did not deem worthy of a booking or a red card but he still offered nuisance value. 7

Jota: Celtic's man of the moment who can clearly do no wrong. The Portuguese wide man was entrusted to take the game to the Tangerines after his excellent goalscoring cameos against Livingston and Real Madrid in his first start since being out injured. He was heavily involved in the opening minutes when he was inches away from the opening goal after Ralston's exquisite pick-out. He unselfishly squared the ball to Sead Haksabanovic for a tap-in to make it 1-0. He peppered the match with some sublime bits of skill as he danced up and down the flank and put in some delicious and teasing deliveries. 8

Substitutes

Greg Taylor (Bernabei 46): The Scot was chasing a hat-trick of domestic goals in his last three matches and came on at the break for Bernabei. Never got a sniff of goal but he linked up the play from back to front with real aplomb. He then produced a bit of outstanding defensive play when he was on hand to deny Greg Middleton an equaliser with a superb header off the line. 7

Liel Abada (Haksabanovic 65): He always scores against Dundee United and the specialist made it six career goals against the Taysiders so far as he made the game safe with a dinked finish. 6

Kyogo Furuhashi (Giakoumakis 65): It was time for the striker to put his Japan World Cup finals snub on the back-burner and focus on the bread-and-butter of the Premiership. He did that by heading an effort inches wide of the post before flicking home a last-gasp winner. 6

James Forrest (Jota 75): Celtic's century boy was given a 15-minute cameo to see if he could put the game out of sight and he was denied a goal when he struck the post with a header. 4 

Daizen Maeda: (Turnbull 88): Thrown on for the last two minutes plus injury time.

Substitutes not used: Benjamin Siegrist, Carl Starfelt, Aaron Mooy, Oliver Abildgaard.