CELTIC 1 DUNDEE 0
DAIZEN MAEDA gave Martin O’Neill the perfect leaving present with the only goal of the game against Dundee at Parkhead this evening.
The gift of three points was crucial as the 73-year-old interim manager took his final bow with a seventh win in his eighth game since his dramatic return.
The fans had serenaded the charismatic Irishman from the kick-off to demonstrate their feelings for his endeavours on behalf of their club following the abrupt departure of Brendan Rodgers.
Now new boss Wilfried Nancy will take charge of the champions in the top-of-the-table encounter at Parkhead on Sunday against a Hearts team that drew 1-1 with Kilmarnock at Tynecastle with both teams now level on 32 points.
The Edinburgh side are three strikes better off in goal difference, but the Hoops, of course, have a game in hand.
The hosts were within a couple of feet of the opening goal in the fourth minute when a dipping long-range drive from Reo Hatate left keeper Jon McCracken motionless, but slipped just wide of the right-hand post.
THE LAST HURRAH…Martin O’Neill waves to the Celtic fans.
The goal was only delayed seven minutes and Maeda displayed great courage in knocking in a header from close range after a shot from Yang Hyun-jun had been blocked by McCracken and the ball spun into the air.
The Japanese speedster didn’t hesitate as he launched forward to get his head to the rebound and nod it over the line just as he was challenged by a Dundee defender.
Maeda was treated on the pitch and led off before returning nine minutes later with his head heavily bandaged. The striker was given a rousing reception by an appreciative audience.
Hatate and Yang were combining well with the South Korean winger taking up some great positions around the box.
However, it was Marcelo Saracchi who almost benefited from a pass by the clever playmaker in the 33rd minute when he was picked out at an angle 16 yards out.
The Uruguayan left-back dragged the ball wide before whipping in a low drive that was nudged off target by McCracken and a defender completed the clearance off the line.
Saracchi limped off in the 44th minute with what looked like a hamstring injury and Kieran Tierney raced on to take his place.
There was a scare as the interval loomed when Liam Scales was short with a cushioned headed passback and Simon Murray intercepted to lift the ball over the stranded Kasper Schmeichel, but the Tayside striker was denied by the crossbar as the home side breathed a sigh of relief.
CELTIC’S WOUNDED WARRIOR…matchwinner Daizen Maeda with his bandaged head and swollen eye after claiming the points-clincher.
Four minutes after the turnaround, an astute pass from Hatate picked out Luke McCowan running into the box. The former Dundee captain lashed in a low effort that was pushed out by McCracken and Maeda just failed to snap up the ricochet.
In the 58th minute, Yang, who had worked tirelessly, came off to be replaced by Sebastian Tonekti.
Three minutes later, Hatate came so close to a second goal after a wonderfully-constructed passing movement involving Tierney, Engels and Donovan presented the midfielder with an opportunity on the edge of the area.
He shifted the ball to his left foot before rattling in a low drive, but he was thwarted by McCracken who dived to his left to block the shot.
The Hoops back lot had to keep their wits about them and twice the Dens Parkers broke forward with menace and, on the second attempt, Schmeichel had to make a smart save from a low angled drive from the right by Ashley Hay.
Celtic bossed possession, but the killer pass was proving elusive and the fans were experiencing a fair bit of anxiety as moves came to a frustrating halt.
O’Neill attempted to gee up the team with three substitutions in the 81st minute with Anthony Ralston, Paulo Bernardo and Benjamin Nygren replacing Donovan, Hatate and McCowan.
There were some bizarre decisions from referee Duncan Nicolson as the game ticked down that baffled the home fans and players.
In the third minute of stoppage-time Maeda was out of luck in his efforts for another goal when he thundered a drive off the woodwork.
It didn’t matter in the end as Martin O’Neill bowed out in fine style.
TEAM: Schmeichel; Donovan (sub: Ralston 81), Trusty, Scales, Saracchi (sub: Tierney 44); Engels, McGregor, Hatate (sub: Bernardo 81); McCowan (sub: Nygren 81), Maeda and Yang (sub: Tounekti 58).
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