DUNDEE 1 CELTIC 2
CELTIC moved to within one game of their sixth successive Premiership triumph after a hard-fought encounter at Dens Park this afternoon.
It was tough and tense, but once the smoke of battled had cleared, three more points were in the bag and now the title can be won a fortnight today against Hearts at Tynecastle.
There was precious little sparkle on this occasion as the Hoops ground out their third odd-goal victory of the season over Paul Hartley’s stubborn side.
Referee Willie Collum allowed five minutes of stoppage time as the Tayside outfit frantically searched for an equaliser.
The game eventually came to a halt with Moussa Dembele limping heavily with what looked like a hamstring strain.
Possibly, the international break is coming at the ideal time for the French Under-21 striker.
He has lost some of his goal threat in recent weeks and rarely threatened Scott Bain on this occasion, although to be fair, the 32-goal man worked hard throughout.
Scott Sinclair, too, isn’t quite performing at the top of his qualities and he was sacrificed near the end when Brendan Rodgers introduced Erik Sviatchenko to help shore up the defence.
There was a perfectly-observed one minute’s silence for Lisbon Lion Tommy Gemmell before the kick-off as the Tayside club honoured their former player and manager.
It took 11 minutes for Celtic to show any danger after Sinclair had been flattened by Darren O’Dea and the match official had no hesitation in awarding a free-kick 30 yards out.
Stuart Armstrong took it, but sent the ball spiralling wide of the keeper’s right-hand post.
In the 20th minute, ex-Celt Paul McGowan was the first name to be noted by referee Collum after a tug on Callum McGregor’s shirt.
Kevin Gomis joined him when he knocked over Dembele from behind as the home side showed they meant business.
In the 39th minute, Scott Brown lofted over an inviting cross from wide left and Mikael Lustig nodded it down to Dembele about 16 yards out. His first touch was excellent, but his follow-up shot drifted waywardly into the crowd.
Then it was O’Dea’s turn to be booked when he rugby-tackled Sinclair to the ground.
It looked to be heading a for a scoreless stalemate at the interval when Celtic suddenly sparked to life.
In the 45th minute, Armstrong flighted over a superb corner-kick from the right that picked out Dedryck Boyata.
The central defender arrived smack on the money to direct a header wide of Bain, but McGowan managed to clear on the goalline for another corner-kick.
Armstrong’s accuracy was out second time around, but the Hoops regained possession through James Forrest on the right.
His first attempt at a cross was blocked, but he gathered the rebound, jinked past Kevin Holt and hit a right-foot cross into the box.
Jozo Simunovic, just 12 yards out, lunged at the ball and didn’t make the cleanest of contacts, but there was enough on his touch to direct the ball goalwards where it took a nick off Gomis on its way low past Bain at his left.
Dundee were up for a scrap in the second-half and in the 47th minute Holt tried to catch out Craig Gordon with a crafty low free-kick to the keeper’s right.
However, the Scotland international No.1 was alert enough to read his effort and he made a routine save at his post.
And four minutes later, Gordon was involved in a fabulous sweeping move that set up the second goal.
He sent an inch-perfect clearance to Lustig on the right touchline. The Swedish defender killed the ball instantly and touched it inside to Dembele.
He passed it onto McGregor who fed it out wide right to the lurking Forrest.
The winger brought the ball under control, looked up and swung over a cross with impeccable accuracy and Armstrong raced in to glance an eight-yard header wide of Bain, who was rooted to his line as the ball soared in at his right-hand post.
A few minutes later, Brown was booked after a foul on McGowan as the game got a bit towsy.
Sinclair, who had been strangely subdued, came to life in the 65th minute with a neat run into the box as he tried to tee up an opportunity for Dembele.
However, Gomis’ timely interception brought the move to a halt just as the frontman was poised to pull the trigger.
Three minutes later, Sinclair made a complete mess of an attempted header after a nice ball into the box by McGregor.
In the 69th minute, Rodgers sent on Eboue Kouassi for his first Premiership appearance.
The Ivory Coast midfielder replaced McGregor, but, on this showing, he will need time to settle into the Hoops’ pattern.
Two minutes later, Patrick Roberts came on for Forrest and Sviatchenko completed the trio when he came on for Sinclair near the end.
Dundee substitute Faissal El Bakhtaoui, only on the field for a matter of moments, put the Parkhead men under pressure with a spectacular goal in the 76th minute.
Kouassi, who was also booked, was penalised in the centre of the pitch for a foul and the home side cleverly took the free-kick swiftly.
The substitute striker turned deftly away from Boyata and sped directly towards Gordon as Simunovic tried to catch him.
El Bakhtaoui then lashed at the ball about 25 yards out and the Celtic keeper didn’t have a chance as his effort moved in the air on its way into his top left-hand corner.
As the game limped to a conclusion, over-fussy referee Collum booked Dembele and then Dundee’s Holt.
It wasn’t pretty and, as a spectacle, it won’t linger in the memory banks.
But it was job done as the champions stretched their unbeaten domestic run to a remarkable 36 games.
Now it’s time to get that champagne on ice for another title party in a fortnight’s time.
Gordon; Lustig, Boyata, Simunovic, Tierney; Brown, McGregor (sub: Kouassi 69); Forrest (sub: Roberts 71), Armstrong, Sinclair (sub: Sviatchenko 83); Dembele.
48 Comments- Pages:
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podium?
Nicely timed article :)
Bit late P !
Im guessing paul67 got the am and pm wrong in the script
or Dundee standard summer time
The league and league cup are in the bag. Just beat thems in the semi and I believe the final belongs to Celtic. A treble yell and prepare for Europe. Legends are made from this breathtaking ground work. Please dont F**** it up!!
Amended that scheduled post from Paul re Live Updates to feature the match report.
Paul revere and the Updates
Margaret McGill,
The Newco are emboldened.
I’m hoping for the Perfect 7 when it really Matters.
Anyway.
G’night CQN – Sorry for offending so Many.
The Word of God is so offensive now. It is so offensive in so many ways. The Thing is…. It is Timeless.
;))
petec on 20th March 2017 12:15 am
I respect your faith but you need to leave it behind in my opinion.
Think the hoops will win 2 v 1 today.
H.H
Or should that be Ho Ho
Hi Bhoys and Ghirls.
Finally I have my broadband in my new home after a lot of messing around by certain providers.
OH NO…..I hear some on here say !
Anyways, its good to be back online.
It will be great to chat again to all the Bhoys from CQN that I have already met, and some that I haven’t met like Thai Tim.
When is the next booze up cos I missed the last one in January in the BV due to being unwell ?
Hail Hail.
!!BADA BING!! on 19TH MARCH 2017 10:44 PM
https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/745730/footie-lawyer-who-defended-rangers-ebt-scheme-goes-bankrupt-over-hrmc-debt-days-before-ibrox-tax-case/?CMP=Spklr-_-Editorial-_-ScottishSun-_-News-_-TwImageandlink-_-Statement-_-TWITTER
And the gift keeps on giving..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Sun surely achieves a new low there-they canny even spell an acronym correctly!
BIGJIMMY
Good to have you back,big fella. Got a campbed installed in The Tollbooth yet?
Good morning friends. After an evening and night of pretty constant rain it’s now looking a wee bit brighter, with broken clouds and just a modest breeze in ole EK.
Good morning CQN from a grey, overcast and damp East Devon.
Three points is three points, onwards and upwards.
First week report card.
We are on the one road to the success we have become accustomed to expecting, The love everywhere for this greatest of clubs, especially from here is inspiring.
Really pleased to see Craig Houston go for the club liaison officer role. He would be magnificent and probably the best SLO in the world. It would provide another outlet for him to deal with a to the fans.
King David Rskyped me last night advising he is NOMAD about a recent judgement as it was always his intention to invest in owning the club outright.
Today I will take an easy training session with the lads with four top referees in attendance to enable confirmation of tactics for upcoming games. We will heed any advice these professionals give us throughout my tenure and I will ask for protection of my stars.
We have resolved the I injury problem of all players with our perfected knuckle protectors. And the great news for fans is that they too can own a pair of these knuckle protectors from today available for £18.72 (half the cost of making them) from all dignified and respected Champions of Europe Elect stores. Don’t let your Knuckle injuries drag on for too long.
Great news on our knew kit suppliers and shirt sponsors after Puma have agreed to pay up the remainder of contract in full. ADiDUS have signed a 300 year deal with this the greatest club in the history of sport. ADiDUS 5 star logo is magnificent and will look wonderful on our beautiful royal blue strip they have designed that will have historic names associated with this great institution woven into the nearly breathable fabric. Historical figures like David Murray; Craig White; Charles Green and obviously King Dave and Club1872 plus many more.
Anyway need to run. First breakfast time and my eggs Benedict will be awaiting me.
Word of The Day
Concomitant /kənˈkɒmɪtənt/
adjective
1. existing or occurring with something else, often in a lesser way; accompanying; concurrent
2. existing or occurring together; associative
noun
3. a concomitant quality, circumstance, or thing
4. a concomitant act, person, etc
Derived Forms
concomitantly, adverb
Word Origin
C17: from Late Latin concomit ā r ī to accompany, from com- with + comes companion, fellow
KTF
Oh Pedro, you are a fox. You are so cunning that I think you are planning to bypass ” 55″ and go straight to 56, you cunning devil .
You scare the living daylights out of us down Under ;-)
https://stayinguplateblog.wordpress.com/2017/03/20/edging-closer-to-title-party/
Back on Jura after a wee saunter to the big city. Mrs Unthank has a new hip. Plastic and ceramic are this years “Must have” fashion accessories. There a ship about a mile out. Can’t quite see if it is the oldies mini cruise ship- – very unlikely this time of year. It might be a survey vessel, but I’m hoping it is Miss Sarah Ferguson on her annual “Scottish Islands” jaunt. I wonder who she will visit? Lady Fletcher? Lord Vesty? Or Mr Cameron and his father in law, Lord Astor, none of whom has ever bought me a pint!
Must away and get out my Union Jack just in case!
Curtain up…..!
BANKIEBHOY
I reckon you’ve brought the curtain down on the blog!
Tragic news overnight of the death of Ryan McBride.
Captain of Derry City,only 27yo.
And a former colleague of TRICOLOUREDRIBBON.
R I P
Planning ahead a bit, but does anyone know the weekend dates of the last round of SPL games, otherwise known as Trophy Day for Celtic-minded people? Tried the SPFL site, but no luck.
Thought it was a nice touch to see Brendan speaking warmly to El Bakhtaoui after the game.
EMERALDBEE
The cup final is on the 27th,so I expect the last game to be the previous weekend.
Bobby Murdoch’s Curled Up…….
You’ve done a no’ bad job yersel’.
Celtic can win the league on March 31. if Aberdeen lose to Dundee at Dens Park we are Champions without having to kick a ball.
Hearts’ season is pretty much over. They are out of the Scottish Cup and look unlikely to catch the comedy club for third place.
They are re-developing their main stand at the moment.
Surely it would be a good money spinner for them to look at moving our game against them on Sunday April 2 from Tynecastle to Murrayfield to let as many fans see the game as possible.
It could help pay for their new stand and give their own fans a ‘cup final’ feel.
My friends in Celtic,
Some post game thoughts :-
Three points again. Always welcome.
Immaculately observed minutes silence. ( Even observed in the boozer )
What has the Griffalo got to do to get a game. I love big Moussa but he is simply off form and a rest will help him.
The though did cross my mind that he is maybe being played for commercial reasons. Surely not as I quickly dismissed it.
BR showed his class after the game. A cracking goal should always be appreciated.
Willie Collum had a decent game.
We need more dig in our team.
Do we really need to belt out non Celtic songs at away games. We have brilliant Celtic songs.My own view is that we will never ever rid of the ” Old Firm” tag by singing such songs.2017, Sing them in pubs, clubs, busses but not at the game.
Does Jay ever miss a game. I hope the club financially helps in some way . He and his family deserve it.
There are numerous other points we discussed, but my heid is bursting.
HH . The journey continues.
BANKIEBHOY
Trust me,the thought had occurred to me!
WINNINGCAPTAINS
Have you been standing too close to DELANEYSDUNKY in the smoking section?
Thoughts and prayers with young Ryan McBride, his family and friends TCR included,
HH
LA BELLA ITALIA .
9 we like violence lulus hospitalised with serious wounds following a wee bit of organized violence between Rube and Napoli Ultras . .
Genoa players ,Management , and Owner forced to take security measures in response to threats from Ultras unhappy with how their team are doing .
A lovely day – way down south .22 at 11 am . _2 choons for the day –
7″ -Eddie Giles -Losing Boy (MURCO )
7″ – Marvin Gaye -One More Heartache (TAMLA )
H
MELBOURNEMICK
Speak up,man!
And H to you too for a nice wee
HH
TCR
Just read in here that young Ryan was a buddy of yours. Condolences buddy. Thoughts and prayers with Ryan his family and yourself.
MWD
WC
I’m assuming that was a humour pus and sarcastic post re. Hearts and Celtic fans.
That club wouldn’t give us an extra ticket even if the home ticket take up was 1 person. Anne Grudge, she disny like us Tims.
MWD