Hartley makes his point after draw at Tannadice

CELTIC midfielder Paul Hartley insists the 1-1 draw against Dundee United at Tannadice yesterday could turn out to be a point gained rather than two points dropped by the time the Clydesdale Bank Premier League is settled at the end of the season.

United bounced back from last Monday's surprise defeat at Hamilton with a fine performance, although things looked bad when Hartley's deflected goal in the 51st minute was followed by referee Charlie Richmond's refusal to award a penalty when United striker Roy O'Donovan appeared to be felled inside the box by Gary Caldwell.

However, the home side stepped up their efforts and were rewarded with just over ten minutes to go when substitute Francisco Sandaza grabbed a deserved equaliser.

The champions fell two points behind Rangers but Hartley tried to put the result in context. He said: "I put my neck on the line at the start of the season and said United would be the team which would be up there challenging.

"I stick by that because they've got an excellent manager in Craig Levein who has assembled a very fit squad who play a lot of good football."

On the face of it, Dundee United manager Levein had every right to be angry at Richmond after the official apparently blundered in turning down the second-half penalty claim.

However, Levein spared himself another trip to Hampden to face the SFA disciplinary committee by remaining calm during his post-match interview.

Levein was fined a record £5000 last week for castigating referee Mike McCurry for a catalogue of errors during a 3-1 defeat from Rangers at Ibrox in May.

While alluding to that game, the United boss went easy on Richmond who, in a bizarre incident moments after he turned down United's penalty appeal, was replaced by fourth official Iain Brines after injuring himself in an accidental clash with Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura.

Levein said: "I haven't seen it but everybody tells me it was a stonewall penalty. I thought he was looking right at it but I don't know.

"I like Charlie and I think he's a decent referee. At least it was only one mistake inside the penalty box today and I've got to put that down as an error, because the alternative isn't worth thinking about."