| Match Pictures | Matches: 1999 – 2000 | 1999-2000 Pictures |
Trivia
- Mark Viduka won the Scottish PFA’s Player of the Year Award beating Van Brockhorst and Craig Moore of Rangers and Ian Durrant at Kilmarnock.
- The U18 side won their league, even though they lost to Rangers youth side, results elsewhere meant that they could not be beaten at the top of the Youth league.
- Matt McGlone was in trouble over an article written for the match day programme for the Hibernian game of the 22/4. In the article he listed players who either could not be sure of a game under the new coach or would be moved on. The players got their gander up and threatened to withdraw cooperation with the club publications.
- Guus Hiddink, the primary candidate for the Head Coach’s position, was sacked by Real Betis on 1/5/00 making him immediately available. No plans were given by the board for rush meetings with Hiddink. However it was thought that one of the ‘alternative’ candidates, Martin O’Neill had ruled himself out.
Review
Pretty much end-of-term fare. The players if anything had more to play for but you would hardly have thought it. Everyone was waiting to hear what the score was on the Head Coach now that it was known that Hiddink was available.
Teams
Dundee Utd:
Combe, McQuillan, De Vos, McCracken, Partridge, Davidson (Easton 46), Venetis, Hannah, Telesnikov, Mathie (McConalogue 76), Ferraz (Thompson 76).
Subs Not Used: Gallacher, Pascual.
Booked: Telesnikov, McQuillan (Dundee Utd)
Celtic:
Kerr, Mahe, Riseth, Stubbs, Crainey, Lambert, Moravcik, Berkovic (Johnson 72), Healy, Viduka (Petta 88), Burchill (Kennedy 88).
Subs Not Used: Gould, Smith.
Goals: Burchill 9.
Booked: Stubbs. (Celtic)
Att: 7,449
Referee: Willie Young (Scotland).
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Stats
| Dundee Utd | Celtic | |
| Bookings | 2 | 1 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Fouls | 12 | 8 |
| Shots on Target | 4 | 5 |
| Corners | 7 | 7 |
| Offside | 2 | 3 |
Small comfort for Celtic
The Scotsman 03/05/2000
ALAN PATTULLO
Dundee Utd 0
Celtic1 Burchill (9)
CELTIC last night claimed their first victory since 5 April, but as usual in the saga of the Parkhead club, their relief was overshadowed by events elsewhere, this time in Spain where managerial target Guus Hiddink was packing his bags, perhaps Glasgow-bound. Chief executive Allan MacDonald was conspicuous by his absence at Tannadice as was chairman Frank O'Callaghan.
That Celtic are now likely to employ a manager whose last job, at Real Betis, has ended in failure might not be enough to appease fans who have suffered so much this season, but at least three points at Tannadice will offer some comfort. They did, after all, lose here for the first time this season back in August, on a day that offered the first hints of a campaign set to fall apart at the seams.
Celtic are now 19 points behind the title-winners. Afterwards the black humorists among their fans were talking of the pressure being back on Rangers, who play Hibs tonight. Celtic won thanks to a Mark Burchill goal in nine minutes, and the slender margin marked the paper-thin difference between the sides. Indeed, United could well have stolen the points at the end, with Steven Thompson seeing his header thrillingly saved by Stewart Kerr and then, in the last minute, Stephen McConalogue bashing a header off a post.
Apart from these bursts of action and the first start for Celtic's Alan Stubbs since March, the game might be best remembered for a sighting of Parkhead's forgotten man Bobby Petta, who appeared in the second half in place of Mark Viduka. Celtic's woes have been pretty much relentless of late, and with 12 of the Parkhead first-team squad out with injuries (it is unknown whether any of the various afflictions include wounded pride) there was hardly a jauntiness accompanying Celtic's contingent on the road and the miles to Dundee, even with the news from Spain regarding Hiddink.
Celtic will say they were engaged in an effort to chip away at Rangers' lead, but quests for damage limitation rarely make for startling viewing. As for United, their battle may be similarly reduced to a parochial level, with a derby on Saturday to prepare for.
Manager Paul Sturrock made a big point of outlining his determination to keep the 4-4-2 formation he switched to last night in place for good.
"From now on we will be known as a side which plays 4-4-2, and tailor the playing staff to suit our system," he announced from the pages of the match programme, like a craggy Old Testament prophet on arrival at the darkest hour.
It didn't do much good initially, with Burchill firing Celtic into the lead so early on, having impressively completed with an 18-yard drive a move that also involved Eyal Berkovic and Viduka. United, though, were swift in their retort and David Hannah was a ball of agitation after seeing his swivel-and-shot saved by Stewart Kerr at point blank range. A desperate tackle by Stephane Mahe prevented Alex Mathie from diverting into the net the subsequent loose ball, while Joaquim Ferraz put an abrupt end to the attack with a wild shot over the bar.
It was hardly end-to-end stuff, but it was enough to prevent the imagination straying too far away. That said, Burchill's thoughts seemed far from football when he was put clean through by Stubbs. His weak attempt at a chip over Alan Combe was foiled by the ball being lifted only three yards into the air although the United goalkeeper had to be applauded for standing his ground, especially after seeming suspect at the goal.
Some Celtic fans who had been delayed in traffic were still making their way into the ground at the interval. After the break United, with Craig Easton on for Hugh Davidson, were first to threaten, Ferraz driving just wide of Kerr's far post.
The main talking point however was the booking of Jan Telesnikov, for pulling back fellow-countryman Berkovic. The pair had been in animated discussions during the first half, after play was held up for an injury to Stubbs. The culmination of those talks was a shove at Berkovic by Telesnikov. Nevertheless, when he was replaced by Tommy Johnson, Berkovic was given a standing ovation by the Celtic section of the paltry crowd – almost 5000 less than watched this fixture at Tannadice in August. Such a readiness to seek comfort from the player's negligible contribution is perhaps some indication of how little these folk have had to cheer this season. Still, the rest of his side's efforts were enough to give Celtic a much delayed win, and it is that which presumably warmed those travelling fans' hearts most.
Dundee United 0 Celtic 1 By Simon Buckland, PA Sport
The season cannot end soon enough for a Celtic side left a distant second by Rangers, but at least the torture was eased by the consolation of a 1-0 victory at Dundee United on Tuesday night.
Mark Burchill's ninth-minute strike was enough to secure all three points at Tannadice, yet, in truth, this was a game which was all about what might have been for Celtic this troubled campaign.
Their last visit to this venue was August 15 last year, John Barnes' fourth in charge, with three wins and 13 goals his proud record ahead of that contest.
The result then was a 2-1 success for United which prompted the first questions about Barnes and Celtic which were never quite answered ahead of his February dismissal.
Tonight's consolation effort was Celtic's first win since April 5, since when Rangers have clinched the title and ahead of this game had established a 22-point lead in the Championship race.
A mere 7,449 were at Tannadice due to a low away following combined with gaps in the home support end explained by United's failure to win at home in the league this year.
In second-half injury time, United almost deepened the visitors' gloom when substitute Stephen McConalogue saw a header come back off the post, but for once it was to be Celtic's night.
Celtic now await their next head coach being appointed with Guus Hiddink, dismissed by Real Betis today, the clear favourite for a post which offers a daunting challenge.
Alan Stubbs made his first-team return after ankle and thigh problems, lining up for the first time since March, in a Celtic side which saw youngster Stephen Crainey start.
Stewart Kerr continued in goal with Jonathan Gould left on the bench, while for United defender David McCracken was offered a debut chance at centre-half.
It was a low-key opening which needed an early goal to lift it and that came on nine minutes after Eyal Berkovic combined with Mark Viduka in fluid fashion.
Scottish Players' Player of the Year Viduka played in Burchill who struck a powerful first-time effort low beyond the reach of Alan Combe to put the visitors ahead.
United were not overawed, Celtic no longer seem to have that effect on their rivals, and it needed a superb one-handed save from Kerr to deny former Parkhead midfielder David Hannah.
From the rebound Joaquim Ferraz blazed over while moments later Hannah controlled the ball expertly on the edge of the area before sending a looping volley just over the bar.
Jason De Vos then saved United at the other end as he reached a Colin Healy cutback ahead of the onrushing Burchill after more skilful work by Berkovic in the centre.
After 20 minutes, Stubbs tackle in the centre circle enabled Lubomir Moravcik to release Burchill clear on the Combe, but the keeper was equal to the task blocking smartly.
Ferraz directed a header wide for United, while Viduka cut inside with purpose for Celtic before driving a low effort into the side-netting aschances were being created at both ends.
Vidar Riseth sent an ambitious effort wide for Celtic before the busy Hannah curled a free kick off-target in response.
Ferraz was enduring a miserable half and should have done better when set up with a free header from an Alex Mathie cross only to direct it well wide from point blank range.
United replaced Hugh Davidson with Scotland Under-21 captain Craig Easton at the break and had the first chance after the restart when Ferraz dragged a shot wide.
Paul Lambert fired a 25-yard drive narrowly wide for Celtic, but United were posing the bigger threat, Ferraz sending a header straight at Kerr from a De Vos cross.
Portuguese striker Ferraz should have done better on 67 minutes when picked out by Hannah's cross, but his header drifted over the bar as Celtic held on to their 1-0 advantage.
With 20 minutes remaining, Scottish record signing Eyal Berkovic was withdrawn from the fray to allow Tommy Johnson a comeback from injury following a recent muscle strain.
The match was a flat affair now, but Celtic almost doubled their lead when Burchill's sharp near post effort was stopped one-handed by Combe in the United goal.
With two minutes remaining it needed a fine low save from Kerr to maintain Celtic's lead as he pushed aside a McCracken header in a late, but fruitless United surge.
Teams:
Dundee Utd: Combe, McQuillan, De Vos, McCracken, Partridge, Davidson (Easton 46), Venetis, Hannah, Telesnikov, Mathie (McConalogue 76), Ferraz (Thompson 76).
Subs Not Used: Gallacher, Pascual.
Booked: Telesnikov, McQuillan.
Celtic: Kerr, Mahe, Riseth, Stubbs, Crainey, Lambert, Moravcik, Berkovic (Johnson 72), Healy, Viduka (Petta 88), Burchill (Kennedy 88).
Subs Not Used: Gould, Smith.
Booked: Stubbs.
Goals: Burchill 9.
Att: 7,449
Ref: Willie Young (Scotland).