Dundee Utd v Celtic: Peter Houston urges players to bounce back Published on Saturday 5 May 2012 02:53 DUNDEE United manager Peter Houston has warned his side they cannot afford another sloppy start when they face Celtic in tomorrow afternoon's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash at Tannadice. The Tangerines, who were 3-0 down after just 20 minutes of Wednesday's 5-0 hammering against Rangers, will bid to return to winning ways when they take on champions Celtic. Rangers" whirlwind opening left United with a mountain to climb and Houston is keen to avoid a similar scenario against the other half of the Old Firm this weekend. "The early goals obviously didn't help us the other night," he said. We were just never at the races from the start and were made to pay by a very good Rangers side. The goals were cheap from our point of view and before we knew it we were 3-0 down and things just got worse. Celtic obviously have a lot of quality in their ranks and the last thing we want is to defend the way we did at Ibrox because we'd be asking for it. I'm sure, though, the lads will be desperate to bounce back and I can sense their determination to do well and make up for the disappointment. Houston hopes the atmosphere of a full house in front of the live television cameras - the match is being broadcast by Sky Sports - can inspire his fourth-placed Tangerines and help them erase the bitter memory of their Govan setback by sealing their Europa League place. He said: "Any game against the champions is special. This one is no different and hopefully our lads get a lift from the whole occasion. There should be a good crowd which I think our players can benefit from as they have done throughout the season. I think three points would get us over the line because something has to give between Hearts and St Johnstone. If we consolidate fourth it will be a great achievement from the players when you take everything into consideration. It's been the most competitive top six because there's not much distance between fourth, fifth and sixth so it's all very exciting. We want to go into Europe as high as we can if we get there and a win on Sunday would help our cause. United did receive some cheer midweek, with five of their players being named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year. Just 24 hours after that defeat to Rangers, Gavin Gunning, Paul Dixon, Gary Mackay-Steven, Johnny Russell and Jon Daly were named in the SPL XI. Gunning, though, is still fighting to return from a shoulder injury which has kept him out for the last two games and the defender is struggling to be fit for tomorrow's match. Garry Kenneth and Russell are both doubts while Willo Flood is nursing a knock from Ibrox. Meanwhile, Celtic midfielder Joe Ledley says he has no intention of putting his feet up in the final weeks of the season. Manager Neil Lennon made seven changes for the visit of St Johnstone on Thursday night but the Wales midfielder was in his favourite place in the team's engine room, helping the champions to a 1-0 win courtesy of an Anthony Stokes goal. Ahead of the trip to Tannadice for the penultimate SPL game of the season, Ledley revealed he had passed up on the chance to join other regulars like Scott Brown, Charlie Mulgrew and Georgios Samaras in the stand. "The gaffer called me in the other day but I said that I wanted to play," the 25-year-old said. It's great to have the opportunity to go out there and play football, it's what we get paid to do and that's what we want to do. I thought we did well and on another day we might have got more goals. The gaffer changed it a bit to give some of the boys an opportunity to show what they can do. He was happy after the game and I think the boys who came in should be happy as well. While wanting to see the season out to a conclusion, Ledley admits he has one eye on next season's Champions League qualifiers. Celtic have two qualifiers in the champions route and the former Cardiff player believes this season's Europa League experience, where they finished third in their group behind Atletico Madrid and Udinese, will stand them in good stead. "That's the main step you want to take as players, playing in the Champions League," said Ledley. It is going to be difficult without a doubt but we have more experience from this year. We did well in the Europa League and next season hopefully we can do it [qualify for the Champions League]. The team has gelled well this season and we just need to take it into next season. We are on a great run and everyone is playing brilliantly at the moment. So as long as we can continue our form from this season to next season, then hopefully we can qualify. United go into the game on the back of that thrashing at Ibrox but Ledley is still expecting a tough time on Tayside. "We have done well against Dundee United this season," he said. But they will want to bounce back from their last game and they are going to make it difficult for us. But as long as we keep playing the way we are, then hopefully we will get the three points.