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Apr 1 2007 By Mark Guidi

Nutter Robson off after a street attack on Naylor Strachan rage as last-gasp goal robs Celts of win

DUNDEE UNITED skipper Barry Robson will be hammered for a shocking street attack on Lee Naylor as Celtic's title charge stalled again.

Robson was sent packing two minutes from time at Tannadice after elbowing, kicking then headbutting the Hoops full-back in shameful scenes that look set to land him a massive SFA ban.

Celtic were 1-0 up at the time thanks to Shunsuke Nakamura's free-kick but United battled back to grab a shock point when Jon Daly fired home an injury-time strike.

And Parkhead boss Gordon Strachan was furious with his side for throwing victory away. They still sit 13 points ahead of Rangers after the Ibrox side also let a 1-0 lead slip against 10 men at home to Inverness.

But Celtic have now gone four games without a win and are limping towards the finishing line.

United manager Craig Levein was far happier with the result but Robson's shame took the shine off his team's battling display. And the Tannadice boss reckons only a SHRINK can work out what goes on in his fiery skipper's head at times.

Levein said: "The players are all smiles but Barry has his head in his hands. He has apologised for his conduct. I will look at television pictures before deciding what action, if any, will be taken. "Barry has a fiery streak in him, the same as a lot of good players.

He tends to react in a manner that leads to him doing something silly if things aren't going his way.

"I don't know why he does it. You'd need to speak to a psychologist to find out exactly what it is.

"You'd need to go to university for six or seven years to be sure."

Levein was delighted with the rest of his players - although the injury youngster Keith Watson suffered in the warm-up was another blow.

Watson was set for his first SPL start but suffered a knee problem and was replaced by Stuart Duff.

Levein said: "It's a serious injury and we're concerned. He has dislocated a knee-cap in the past and it might be the same knock this time. We'll wait for the exact diagnosis.

"The lads deserved a point but it would be stretching it to say we merited a win. It was a great time for Jon to score his first goal."

Strachan was once again left to dwell on missed chances. Craig Beattie, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Maciej Zurawski were all guilty on a frustrating afternoon for the Hoops boss.

He said: "We were 1-0 up and thought that would be enough. We made chances but didn't finish them off.

"When you are only one ahead you think the opposition might go up the pitch and score a smashing goal - that's what happened.

"I can't complain about the commitment.

"The second half was good and we stopped them from creating chances."

Strachan knows he needs to make some signings in the summer and has already started his rebuilding with the capture of Motherwell's Scott McDonald.

Rangers were interested in the striker and also lost out to the Hoops for Paul Hartley in January.

But Strachan insists he gets no pleasure from beating the club's biggest rivals in the transfer market.

He said: "We want to sign good players and so do Rangers. Our paths have crossed for signings and may continue to do so.

"I don't get more out of it because Rangers may have wanted the same guy.

"I'm not going after players to stop Rangers from getting them.

"On the other hand I won't take it as a slap in the face if someone decides they want to play for Walter Smith instead of me.

"Our main concern is bringing good players to this club. We have to find value for money but there's no point signing somebody on a Bosman or for £20,000 when they could be rotten.

"We'll try to bring players in but that doesn't mean I'll ask folk to leave. I've never asked anyone to leave this club. But some have asked me if they can go."