Dundee went down to a narrow 2-1 defeat at home to Celtic today. Hyun-Jun Yang gave Celtic an early lead and the visitors went on to dominate the first half. The game could have been settled by half time but thanks to some resolute defending, good luck, and poor Celtic finishing, the Dark Blues were only a goal behind at the interval. With the wind behind them Dundee fought back strongly after the restart. Simon Murray scored from the penalty spot to put the Dee back on level terms, but a neat finish by Kelechi Iheanacho gave Celtic a late winner that they deserved for their performance over the whole game.
There were two changes to the Dark Blues’ starting eleven. Simon Murray and Yan Dhanda came in for Ash Hay and Joe Westley, who were both on the bench.
With a strong wind at their backs Celtic soon took charge. It was a long and difficult first half for the Dee. Celtic carried a constant threat down the left from Daizen Madea. They served an early warning when Maeda flashed a low ball across goal that was begging for a touch but no-one arrived in time.
The opening goal came in the eighth minute and followed the same route down the left. Tierney crossed into the goalmouth for Tomas Cvancara to shoot. Jon McCracken pulled off a marvellous save but Benjamin and Yang both went for the loose ball and YANG got the credit for the decisive touch into the net.
Dundee struggled to settle into the game. The midfield couldn’t hold the ball and there were far too many careless moments and slack passes as possession was given away too easily. Celtic might have put the game out of sight by half time but the Dark Blues dug in, aided by some good fortune, to prevent any further damage.
Nygren played a dangerous low ball across goal from the right but neither Yang nor Cvancara could reach it for a tap in. McCracken saved with his feet from Maeda at the end of a fast Celtic break. Dundee’s biggest escape came after Yan Dhanda was dispossessed on the halfway line allowing Cvancara to run clear. He clipped his shot past McCracken only for the ball to come back off the post and Luke Graham cleared.
Celtic eased off as the half wound down and Dundee managed to get into a few promising positions without making anything of them. It was something of a relief that the half time whistle arrived with the Dee only one goal behind. It could have been much worse and there was always hope the Dark Blues might save the game when they had the wind at their backs.
It seemed that the game’s pattern would continue in the second half when Celtic immediately created and spurned a good chance. Nygren sent Cvancara clear but the Czech striker took a poor touch that allowed McCracken to block.
After a tough 50 minutes Dundee finally started to get forward with serious intent and turn the game into a contest. A good move brought a corner that led to a goalmouth scramble in which Ryan Astley’s shot was blocked by the arm of Colby Donovan. Referee Steven McLean missed the handball, but it was obvious to the VAR camera and the eventual penalty award was inevitable. Simon MURRAY sent keeper Viljami Sinisalo the wrong way and the Dark Blues were level after 57 minutes.
The game was much more even now and there was reason to hope the Dee could go on and win. Both teams were swapping attacks, but for 20 minutes neither was able to get on top of the defences. Dundee were coming forward far more effectively than in the first half but without being able to create clear chances. The same applied at the other end where the Dee defence coped well with Celtic’s attacking.
Ash Hay and Joel Cotterill came on for Simon Murray and Fin Robertson, then Scott Wright replaced the injured Tony Yogane. The loss of Yogane was particularly disappointing because, yet again, the full back marking him had been replaced after struggling to handle the young winger.
Celtic were desperate to get the win, and it was no surprise that they stepped up the pressure towards the end. Kelechi Iheanacho had replaced the ineffective Cvancara and he was on hand to score when Celtic finally did create a clear chance in the 82nd minute. Marcelo Saracchi crossed from the left and IHEANACHO turned quickly to shoot past McCracken.
Dundee were never able to get forward to good effect after that, and the difficult task was made almost impossible when the Dark Blues were reduced to 10 men. Ryan Astley was judged to have denied a goalscoring opportunity when he brought down Yang two minutes after the goal.
Celtic controlled the game as time ran out, keeping possession against the 10 men and denying Dundee any chances. There were seven minutes of added time and Celtic saw them out professionally.
Dundee’s poor start cost them dearly in the end. Celtic were able to get on top quickly and take confident control in midfield. There was massive pressure on Celtic, and the Dark Blues had to unsettle them and prevent them settling into a groove playing the way they wanted. Against top teams like Celtic there is little margin for error, and Dundee made too many mistakes in that first half. Their inability to hold onto the ball made life far too easy for a Celtic team who thrived on the easy possession they were given.
The Dark Blues were well short of their best today, but the most pleasing aspect of a disappointing game was that they nevertheless kept working and fighting. Instead of rolling over they turned the game into a serious contest and Celtic were relieved to hear the final whistle.
Dundee 4-2-3-1
Jon McCracken
Brad Halliday, Ryan Astley, Luke Graham, Drey Wright (Billy Koumetio 90+2)
Ethan Hamilton (c), Fin Robertson (Joel Cotterill 67)
Cameron Congreve, Yan Dhanda (Charlie Reilly 90+2), Tony Yogane (Scott Wright 73)
Simon Murray (c) (Ashley Hay 67)
Unused substitutes: Kieran O’Hara (gk), Imari Samuels, Joe Westley, Callum Jones.
Booked: none.
Sent off: Ryan Astley (denying goalscoring opportunity).
Celtic 4-1-4-1
Sinisalo
Donovan (Ralston 67), Trusty, Scales, Tierney (Saracchi 76)
McGregor (c)
Yang, Nygren, Oxlade-Chamberlain (McCowan 67), Maeda (Forrest 76)
Cvancara (Iheanacho 57)
Unused subs: Doohan (gk), Tounetki, Hatate, Arthur.
Goals: Nygren (8), Iheanacho (82).
Booked: Scales (foul on Hamilton), Ralston.
Attendance: 9,007.
Referee: Steven McLean. Assistants: Calum Spence, Douglas Ross. VAR: Matthew MacDermid. Assistant VAR: Chris Graham.
Report: James Christie.
