Celtic manager Ronny Deila has praised his players for fighting back to earn a draw with Dundee United in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals.

In an eventful tie at Tannadice Park, the Hoops secured a replay after Leigh Griffiths's 71st-minute equaliser cancelled out Nadir Ciftci's first-half penalty.

While Deila believes that his players should have won the game, the Norwegian was pleased by how they kept their cup hopes alive.

"First half [was] not good enough, we should have been more direct and fought more for second balls, but we did that in the second half," he told reporters. "The players showed character and I am happy about that. We should have won it but I can live with a draw."

Celtic are back in action next Sunday when they face Dundee United again in the Scottish League Cup final.