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Trivia
- Respectful minutes silence was heard for remembrance Sunday.
- Celtic were made to battle all the way by a plucky Dundee United side.
- John Hartson staked his claim for a place in the Celtic starting line-up against Blackburn on Thursday with the opening goal of the game.
Review
United started in determined fashion but it was Celtic who almost took the lead when John Hartson's header caused a scramble in the United goamouth. Chris Sutton tried to capitalise but Paul Gallacher was eventually able to dive on the loose ball.
But in 14 minutes, Hartson gave Celtic the lead, heading home from Steve Guppy's cross.
Alan Thompson should have doubled the lead moments later but he prodded the ball wide with only Gallacher to beat. Then Derek Lilley headed just wide at the other end as United sought a quick equaliser.
Celtic claimed for a penalty but were turned down after Momo Sylla went down under Jim Lauchlan's challenge, but the referee saw nothing amiss. There were further penalty appeals from Celtic eight minutes before the break after Larsson was felled by Mark Wilson, but again play was waved on.
Larsson brought out a fine save from Gallacher as the half neared a close.
Hartson was in fine form and he made Gallacher work to block his effort eight minutes after the interval.
At the other end, Douglas had to be sharp to thwart Steven Thompson in the air.
In 58 minutes, Hartson almost had a second, but he just failed to reach Larsson's cutback across goal. With seven minutes left, United sub Allan Smart tested Douglas with a powerful shot on the turn, but the Scotland keeper was again equal to the challenge.
But Sutton made sure of the points by heading Alan Thompson's cross past Gallacher.
Teams
Dundee Utd:-
Gallacher, McCunnie, Lauchlan, McCraken, Wilson, Easton, Miller, McIntyre, Paterson (Smart 72), Lilley, Thompson.
Subs not used:- Combe, Duff, Hamilton, O'Donnell.
Booked:- Lauchlan, Lilley.
Celtic:-
Douglas, Valgaeren, Balde, Laursen, Sylla (Agathe 69), Sutton, Lennon, Thompson, Guppy, Larsson, Hartson (Lambert 83).
Subs not used:- Gould, Maloney, Crainey.
Goals:- Hartson 14, Sutton 88.
Booked:- Balde, Sutton, Thompson.
Att:- 10,664
Ref:- J Underhill.
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
- Match Report (BBC)
Pictures
Stats
| Dundee Utd | 0-2 | Celtic |
| 4 | Shots On Target | 6 |
| 4 | Shots Off Target | 6 |
| 19 | Fouls (Conceded) | 14 |
| 4 | Corners | 9 |
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 3 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
Celtic edge out battling United
BBC
Dundee United 0-2 Celtic
Celtic were made to battle all the way by a plucky Dundee United side.
John Hartson staked his claim for a place in the Celtic starting line-up against Blackburn on Thursday with the opening goal of the game.
United battled hard but rarely looked capable of beating Rab Douglas.
With two minutes remaining, Chris Sutton made sure of victory with a header.
Dundee United started in determined fashion but it was Celtic who almost took the lead when John Hartson's header caused a scramble in the United goamouth.
Chris Sutton tried to capitalise but Paul Gallacher was eventually able to dive on the loose ball.
Charlie Miller then came within inches of scoring at the other end, a curling left-foot shot flying just wide.
But in 14 minutes, Hartson gave Celtic the lead, heading home from Steve Guppy's cross.
Alan Thompson should have doubled the lead moments later but he prodded the ball wide with only Gallacher to beat.
Then Derek Lilley headed just wide at the other end as United sought a quick equaliser.
Celtic claimed for a penalty turned down after Momo Sylla went down under Jim Lauchlan's challenge, but the referee saw nothing amiss.
Rab Douglas did superbly to turn a Lauchlan header round the post in 29 minutes and he clutched the resultant corner confidently.
There were further penalty appeals from Celtic eight minutes before the break after Larsson was felled by Mark Wilson, but again play was waved on.
Larsson brought out a fine save from Gallacher as the half neared a close.
Hartson was in fine form and he made Gallacher work to block his effort eight minutes after the interval.
At the other end, Douglas had to be sharp to thwart Steven Thompson in the air.
In 58 minutes, Hartson almost had a second, but he just failed to reach Larsson's cutback across goal.
Sutton was pulled down 25 yards from goal but Larsson hit his free kick into the wall in one of few efforts on goal in a more and more turgid second half.
With seven minutes left, United sub Allan Smart tested Douglas with a powerful shot on the turn, but the Scotland keeper was again equal to the challenge.
But Sutton made sure of the points by heading Alan Thompson's cross past Gallacher.
Dundee Utd: Gallacher, McCunnie, Lauchlan, McCraken, Wilson, Easton, Miller, McIntyre, Paterson (Smart 72), Lilley, Thompson.
Subs Not Used: Combe, Duff, Hamilton, O'Donnell.
Booked: Lauchlan, Lilley.
Celtic: Douglas, Valgaeren, Balde, Laursen, Sylla (Agathe 69), Sutton, Lennon, Thompson, Guppy, Larsson, Hartson (Lambert 83).
Subs Not Used: Gould, Maloney, Crainey.
Booked: Balde, Sutton, Thompson.
Att: 10,664
Ref: J Underhill _