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Trivia
- Mark Burchill, on loan at Dundee from Portsmouth came back to haunt us.
While Celtic do have two games in hand, it was not the kind of result they wanted ahead of Thursday's Uefa Cup semi-final against Boavista.
Review
Dundee started brightly but found themselves behind through slack defending. They failed to clear their lines and Momo Sylla crossed to the back post, where John Hartson rose above Dave Mackay, and Lee Wilkie allowed Thompson too much space to head home from six yards.
Dundee hit back 10 minutes later when Fabian Caballero burst between two defenders and, despite losing a boot, rolled the ball into the path of Burchill, who fired low into the corner.
Julian Speroni denied Hartson at one end then Broto blocked with Burchill through on goal at the other.
Celtic missed an easier opportunity when Hartson's incisive ball found Stilian Petrov free four yards out, but the Bulgaria captain stood on the ball and the chance was lost.
Wilkie made an excellent, last-ditch intervention to deny Henrik Larsson, then Hartson headed just over.
Teams
Dundee:-
Speroni, Mackay, Wilkie, Hernandez Santos, Smith, Rae, Nemsadze, Mair, Caballero (Brady 90), Burchill (Novo 61), Lovell (Milne 76).
Subs not used:- Langfield, Robb.
Goal:- Burchill 20.
Celtic:-
Broto, Balde, Mjallby, Crainey, Sylla (Smith 52), Lambert, Lennon, Petrov, Thompson, Hartson, Larsson.
Subs not used:- Marshall, McNamara, Laursen, Maloney.
Goal:- Thompson 11.
Att:- 9,013
Ref:- W Young.
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
- Match Report (BBC)
- O'Neill says derby is key.
Pictures
Articles
Burchill title blow for Celtic
BBC
Dundee 1-1 Celtic
Mark Burchill came back to haunt Celtic as the on-loan striker's equaliser at Dens Park handed the advantage to Rangers in the Scottish title race.
But it could have been even worse for the Glasgow side but for some excellent saves from stand-in goalkeeper Javier Sanchez Broto.
Celtic had taken the lead through Alan Thompson after just 10 minutes.
But Burchill, on loan from Portsmouth, replied before half-time to leave his former club eight points behind Scottish Premier League leaders Rangers.
While Celtic do have two games in hand, it was not the kind of result they wanted ahead of Thursday's Uefa Cup semi-final against Boavista.
O'Neill says derby will be key
Celtic's last outing was a Scottish Cup quarter-final defeat by Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Martin O'Neill admitting that he made a mistake by fielding a weakened side following their Uefa Cup exertions.
He had a stronger line-up this time, although Chris Sutton and Joos Valgaeren were missing through injury.
Goalkeeper Rab Douglas was the surprise omission after picking up an injury in action for Scotland.
Dundee boss Jim Duffy was also forced to make a change, with Lee Mair coming in for Zurab Khizanishvili in defence, while Burchill was preferred to Nacho Novo up front.
The home side started brightly but found themselves behind through slack defending.
They failed to clear their lines and Momo Sylla crossed to the back post, where John Hartson rose above Dave Mackay at the back post and Lee Wilkie allowed Thompson too much space to head home from six yards.
Celtic's Alan Thompson celebrates his goal
Alan Thompson opened the scoring for Celtic at Dens Park
Dundee hit back 10 minutes later when Fabian Caballero burst between two defenders and, despite losing a boot, rolled the ball into the path of Burchill, who fired low into the corner.
Julian Speroni denied Hartson at one end then Broto blocked with Burchill through on goal at the other.
Celtic missed an easier opportunity when Hartson's incisive ball found Stilian Petrov free four yards out, but the Bulgaria captain stood on the ball and the chance was lost.
Novo came on for Burchill after the break and the Spaniard was quickly found inside the box by Georgi Nemsadze only to be denied by a superb, last-ditch challenge from Johan Mjallby.
Wilkie made an excellent, last-ditch intervention to deny Henrik Larsson in the other six yard box then Hartson headed just over.
Dundee should have taken the lead with 10 minutes remaining when Nemsadze broke clear and found Steven Milne free in the box, but the substitute striker's attempted chip over Broto was lifted well over the bar.
The Spanish goalkeeper then produced further blocks to stop powerful efforts from Gavin Rae and Milne and save a point for Celtic.
Dundee: Speroni, Mackay, Wilkie, Hernandez Santos, Smith, Rae, Nemsadze, Mair, Caballero (Brady 90), Burchill (Novo 61), Lovell (Milne 76).
Subs Not Used: Langfield, Robb.
Goal: Burchill 20.
Celtic: Broto, Balde, Mjallby, Crainey, Sylla (Smith 52), Lambert, Lennon, Petrov, Thompson, Hartson, Larsson.
Subs Not Used: Marshall, McNamara, Laursen, Maloney.
Goal: Thompson 11.
Attendance: 9,013
Referee: W Young.
O'Neill says derby is key
BBC
Martin O'Neill suffers at Dens Park
O'Neill suffered at Dens Park but says the title race is not over
Martin O'Neill refuses to concede the Scottish title to Rangers despite his Celtic side slipping eight points behind their arch rivals.
Celtic still have two matches in hand after Sunday's 1-1 draw at Dens Park, although those are both away from home, against Hearts and Motherwell.
And there is still one more Old Firm derby to come before the end of the season.
O'Neill said: "Overall, we did fine and we are far from finished.
"I still expect points to be lost in the championship race. Dundee is a difficult place to come to.
"We tried to get forward in the second half and left a number of gaps, which Dundee almost exploited.
The game was definitely there for the winning today
Dundee defender Lee Mair
"We got everyone in Dundee's penalty box and they broke on us with five men to one. "I'm not sure that is the most sensible attitude to take. But, at the end of it all, we have been positive and tried to do the right thing.
"We still have to go to Ibrox, so it is still within our reach. We still have to win all our games, which is a big task, but we are there."
O'Neill dismissed suggestions that his players had one eye on the Uefa Cup semi-final first leg against Boavista at Celtic Park.
O'Neill is confident that goalkeeper Rob Douglas and defender Joos Valgaeren, both missing against Dundee, will be fit for Thursday.
He will also assess the fitness of wing-back Didier Agathe, who has been out injured since 8 March, ahead of Monday's under-21 game against Livingston.
Burchill blow for Celtic
O'Neill said: "Rob Douglas will have a better chance of playing on Thursday because he missed out today.
"I hope that is the case and that is the same for Joos Valgaeren and Didier Agathe."
Alan Thompson gave Celtic an early lead at Dens Park, but former Celtic striker Mark Burchill equalised before Dundee missed several chances to win the game.
Dundee had been inspired with the thought that victory would ensure a place in the top six before the Scottish Premier League splits in two next weekend.
They have edged one point clear of Hibernian with one game remaining.
BBC Scotland man of the match Lee Mair said: "The game was definitely there for the winning today with the chances we had.
"I can't remember Julian Speroni having any saves to make apart from one in the first half from John Hartson, but Javier Sanchez Broto was brilliant."