Dundee United 1-0 Celtic

Celtic were careless in possession throughout this game but it would be wrong to suggest it was a lackadaisical performance, if anything the champions were hurried in possession when a bit more composure and patience was required.

The Dundee United goal came as a result of poor defending.  United won a corner on Celtic’s right which was taken short before the cross came in.  Scott Robertson met the ball 7 yards from goal and placed a header into the corner of the net giving Fraser Forster no chance.

Celtic enjoyed the majority of possession throughout the game but failed to make anything of it before going behind, however, Kris Commons soon sparked into life.  On 29 minutes Gary Hooper knocked the ball down to Commons who fired in a shot which was deflected wide.

Commons then fed Hooper whose shot from 25 yards was spilled by Pernis in the United goal.  The final seconds of the first half should have led to a Celtic goal.  Commons’ shot from outside the box was saved by Pernis but United could not clear the chance and when the ball broke back to Commons he fired a cross along the six yard line which Anthony Stokes completely missed with an empty goal in front of him.

The second half was most notable for the procession of ineffective cross balls Celtic threw into the Dundee United box.  With Charlie Mulgrew playing in central defence his delivery from wide positions was badly missed.

Tony Watt replaced Stokes at half time and immediately stirred things up, forcing Pernis into a good save from a header soon after the break.  Within a minute he forced another save which Pernis could only parry.

While Mulgrew was missed on the wing he twice blocked shots which could have put United two ahead.  MacKay-Steven crossed for Jon Daly who was denied by Mulgrew while late in the game the Celtic defender halted a Jonny Russell effort.

Gary Hooper put Celtic’s best chance of the game inches wide after Kris Commons (again) linked play to set him up for a shot inside the box.

You can buy a hard copy of the new issue of CQN Magazine via Magcloud here.

The graphic below is just for a flick through, to read the magazine go here to it’s dedicated site.