Celtic manager Gordon Strachan insists only a warped mind could take any negatives from the Hoops’ 2-2 draw with Dundee United at Tannadice which gave the Scottish title race another unexpected twist.

Rangers’ 2-2 draw with Hearts at Ibrox on Saturday gave Celtic the opportunity to stretch their lead over the Ibrox men to five points but it took a dramatic late Lee Naylor equaliser to keep the gap at three.

Scott McDonald scored his 16th goal of the season after 24 minutes but United striker Francisco Sandaza scored twice at the start of the second half before Naylor volleyed saved the day when he volleyed in from the edge of the box with nine minutes remaining.

Strachan could only see the positives in the game, saying: “It was terrific, absolutely terrific. I think the players and fans enjoyed it.

“If anyone can find a negative — and I’m sure they will — then they are warped. I thought we would get the equaliser, we put enough pressure on although I didn’t expect it to come from Lee, that’s for sure.

“Their goalie has made a couple of important saves and as important as Sandaza was in scoring, the keeper was terrific. In the first half we played well, they played well for 20 minutes in the second half.

“We weren’t professional at the start of the second half and we paid for that and then we came good for the last 25 minutes and I thought, ‘Here we go again, we are going to win this game.‘

“There’s been no change in the title race. At this moment in time, the two teams are not good enough to take a grip of it.”