Celts suffered from ref justice

LUKASZ ZALUSKA has blamed referee Dougie McDonald for Celtic's last-gasp collapse at Dundee United.

The Hoops' miserable start to the season continued last weekend as two headers within seven minutes cancelled out Barry Robson's penalty opener.

United pushed their licence to block and man-handle opponents in the box to the limit as Jon Daly and Darren Dods secured a famous win for Craig Levein's side.

Former United keeper Zaluska was not surprised by the home side's rough-house tactics at dead balls as the imposing figure of Mihael Kovacevic stood eyeballing him at both corners.

The Pole insists Levein's game plan crossed the line between simple jousting and foul play - but reckons whistler McDonald chose to ignore it.

He said: "I was analysing the goals with our goalkeeping coach Stevie Woods and, to be honest, I think it was two great corners. Maybe at the second one I should have done something more, but the first one was great.

"After the game I spoke with Mihael Kovacevic and he said at half-time Craig Levein told him his one job was to block me any chance he got. I don't think he even looked for the ball. It's very difficult if you have a guy in front of you who is two metres tall and is only trying to block you.

"I don't think this is part of football and I think the referee should look out for this situation, because three or four Dundee United players also caught our players.

"Before every corner we spoke to the referee and said 'Referee, watch out for this'. He said 'I see, I see'. But he didn't do anything. Mihael didn't apologise. I think he was very happy after the game."

The defeat left the Hoops with just six clean sheets in their last 22 games and while Zaluska's claims are valid, an increasingly-dejected Celtic support are growing tired of excuses from a team which seems to have forgotten how to defend.

In any event, Zaluska admits there wasn't too much to admire about how the Bhoys dealt with the late United surge. He added: "We have got really good defenders and they are very good headers of the ball. I think it was only bad positioning. Everybody knows their position and where they should be, but maybe against Dundee United you are talking about concentration or something like that.

"Before the game we were talking about corners, and we knew set-pieces were very strong for United.

"There was one tactic - put the ball in the box - but for 80 minutes it was perfect and we played very well, much better I think than the game against Falkirk.

"But after the game everyone was disappointed, especially the supporters. I understand the situation."

Despite shipping seven goals in his six matches standing in for crocked No 1 Artur Boruc, 27-year-old Zaluska has shown himself to be a genuine candidate to challenge his fellow Pole for a starting spot in the long term.

With Boruc now on the brink of full fitness again, Zaluska might know as early as Wednesday's Europa League visit of Hapoel Tel Aviv if he has done enough to keep his rival sidelined for a while longer.

He admitted: "I feel great because everybody wants to play, but the last two games were not so good for us and I hope everything changes.

"Artur started training on Tuesday and I think he needs a few days to be fully fit, 100 per cent. I don't know if I'll play against Hapoel. I felt I'd done well at the start. I played four games and lost just two goals and I think everything was good and we were playing pretty well.

"But after the Hamburg game it was Falkirk and we drew 3-3 and that was the worst game of the season for us. Then against Dundee United we lost bad goals and we lost the points."

Zaluska also hopes he's done enough during his recent run to catch the eye of the new Polish national coach. He added: "I have never worked with Franciszek Smuda, but we will see. Obviously Poland have quite a few very good goalkeepers and he has said everyone will get his chance.

"I play for a big club and I hope I get my chance."

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