Celtic manager Ronny Deila expects another tough encounter at Tannadice

Celtic manager Ronny Deila admits his side face another tough encounter when they take on Dundee United at Tannadice in front of the Sky Sports cameras this Sunday.

The midday meeting will be the seventh between the sides this season - including a mini series of four-in-a-row - with the Hoops having prevailed in all four Glasgow matches, two at Hampden and two at Celtic Park, but yet to register a victory on Tayside.

In that run, Deila's side won the Scottish League Cup, prevailed in the Scottish Cup quarter-final after a replay and won 4-0 in the league at home. That Premiership success was only bettered by their 6-1 defeat of Jackie McNamara's side at the start of the campaign.

However, United took the league honours with a controversial 2-1 victory at Tannadice in December and Deila believes McNamara will make it equally as tough for his side when the teams clash for the final time this season.

During the four-timer in March, six players saw red - including four from United - but the Norwegian is confident there will be no fall-out in the first post-split fixture of the campaign. 

"I have a big respect for Dundee United, they've had a good season," said Deila, whose side are eight points clear at the top of the table and closing in on their fourth successive league title.

"It was tough for them when they lost two players in the transfer window - we got Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong - but they are still a good side.

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"I expect a high intensity game on Sunday but hopefully without any red cards so we can play 11 against 11. That is the most fun thing to do.

"We have been focusing on the next game all the time. We did well on Wednesday to get through against Dundee and it is another important game on Sunday. You can see it (the title win) getting closer but it's going to be a tough game."

Deila has no qualms about coming up against the same team so often over the course of a season.

The former Stromsgodset boss admits it is different from what he has been used to in his homeland but insists it is no big deal.

"You can't meet more than three times in Norway," he said. "I've only been here one season. If you ask me after 10 years I might think differently but it is no problem for us to play the same team a lot of times."