United need to get back to defensive best - Holt

Dundee United defender Kevin Holt says they will need to get back to defending "brilliantly" when champions Celtic visit Tannadice on Sunday.

Fifth-placed United's impressive season so far has been built on defensive solidity but after losing 4-3 at Motherwell last time out, Holt knows they will have to shore things up this weekend.

"We had a disappointing result last weekend, and uncharacteristically conceded four goals," Holt said. "We will be looking to get back to how we have been this year, we have defended as a team brilliantly and we will be looking to get back to that on Sunday.

"We have built a lot on clean sheets this year and defending as a team from the front and right through the team, defending strongly. For the majority of the season we have done really well in that department and not conceded too many goals.

"It is something we will be looking to get back to on Sunday, we know it will be a tough test but it is one the boys are all looking forward to."

United know all too well about the challenge of hosting Celtic, with the 9-0 loss two years ago still all too easy to remember.

"You see it every season, teams go through good spells, they are obviously unbeaten up to this point and it is not going to be an easy challenge for us on Sunday.

"But it is one we can definitely go in with confidence in how we have defended against other teams in the league this year and look to get something from the game.'

"That winning run for them will come to an end at some point, there is no reason for that not to be on Sunday."