Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner has questioned Sam Johnstone’s part in Dundee United’s second goal at Celtic Park last night.

Speaking on BBC Sportsound, Bonner felt the 33-year-old should have come for Lyall Cameron’s free-kick before Neil Farrugia put United 2-1 up.

“Probably Sam Johnstone might have been able to come and get a punch and it goes right into the six-yard box from quite a distance out,” Bonner said.

“He didn’t come. Then there was hesitation. The ball dropped down, second phase, and they had two or three bodies there to put the ball in the back of the net.”

Farrugia’s goal came three minutes after Zachary Sapsford’s header had cancelled out Camilo Durán’s opener. Liam Scales headed Celtic level in the second half, but the champions had to settle for a point.

O’Neill still to decide

Martin O’Neill was happier with his goalkeeper than Bonner was, but he is still not ready to name a number one.

“Sam, yeah, I thought he did fine, really fine in the game. So it’ll take us a few weeks before we find out who will stay in goal for hopefully the rest of the season,” O’Neill said after the game, as reported by The Herald.

Johnstone, on loan from Wolves, has started the last three games in the space of a week, with Viljami Sinisalo on the bench.

Sinisalo, 25, made 13 starts this season before losing his place and has made it clear he wants the jersey back. O’Neill said this week that he doesn’t want to “stop people’s progress”, which suggests the door is still open for the Finn.

The numbers behind the debate

The goalkeeping question is part of a wider problem. Celtic have kept one clean sheet in their last eight games, the 2-0 win at Fir Park on 11 October, and have conceded 14 goals in that run.

Johnstone has let in five in his three starts since coming back into the side: two against Celta Vigo, one at Easter Road and two last night.

Not all of that is on the goalkeeper, and Bonner himself pointed at the set pieces Celtic keep giving away. But with O’Neill wanting a decision within weeks, every game now counts.

Whether Johnstone keeps his place at Falkirk on Sunday (1pm) will be the next clue. Here’s how to watch Celtic.

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