Celtic returned to winning ways with a convincing 4-0 victory over Dundee United at Celtic Park, marking Martin O’Neill’s first match back in charge following the sacking of Wilfried Nancy earlier in the week.

Appointed on Monday, O’Neill was back in the dugout by Saturday and immediately restored a sense of order and clarity that had been missing. The performance felt calm, controlled and purposeful, with the scoreline matching the balance of the game from start to finish.

The context around the match mattered almost as much as the result itself. Nancy’s short spell had ended in frustration, confusion and poor results, leaving Celtic in need of stability rather than novelty.

O’Neill provided that from the first whistle, with the team set up to dominate the ball, press with intent and remove doubt early against a Dundee United side that never truly settled.

Celtic controlled possession from the opening minutes and pinned United deep inside their own half. The passing was sharp and the movement off the ball was clearer than in recent weeks, with players knowing where their next option would be.

That control turned into an early breakthrough when Yang Hyun-jun found space on the edge of the box and drove a low shot beyond Dave Richards.

The opening goal settled any nerves around the ground and allowed Celtic to play with freedom. Kieran Tierney, wearing green and white again under O’Neill, was central to much of the attacking play down the left and repeatedly found space to deliver.

One of those deliveries led to the second goal, with Arne Engels timing his run well before finishing first time from close range.

By half-time, Celtic were two goals up and the game already felt out of reach for Dundee United. The visitors struggled to deal with the tempo and were forced into defensive positions for long spells.

O’Neill watched on as his side passed the ball with patience rather than forcing the issue, which was a clear change from recent frantic displays.

The second half followed the same pattern, with Celtic continuing to apply pressure without losing shape. Substitutions were used to freshen things up rather than to rescue the game, which underlined how comfortable the situation had become.

Benjamin Nygren made an immediate impact from the bench, showing composure inside the box to take Celtic’s third with a clever finish.

Julian Araujo’s first start added another layer to the afternoon. The right-back showed energy and willingness to get forward, even if there were moments of rawness that will be smoothed out with time.

His yellow card was the result of enthusiasm rather than recklessness, and his early introduction felt like a clear statement of trust from the returning manager.

The fourth goal summed up the overall mood at Celtic Park. Sebastian Tounekti’s shot was parried by the goalkeeper and Daizen Maeda reacted first, finishing from close range after staying alert.

There was a brief VAR delay, but the goal stood and the result was put beyond any doubt.

More than the scoreline, the match felt like a reset. O’Neill did not reinvent the side or introduce anything complicated, instead focusing on discipline, spacing and confidence in simple decisions.

Players looked comfortable in their roles and the crowd responded to that sense of direction with growing belief as the match went on.

This was not a performance that solved every issue Celtic have faced this season, but it did address the most urgent one. After weeks of uncertainty, there was a clear plan, a settled touchline and a team that understood its job.

With O’Neill back in charge, Celtic delivered the kind of afternoon that gives momentum a chance to return.