2003-05-14: Celtic 6-2 Dundee, SPL

Match Pictures | Matches: 2002 – 2003 | 2002-2003 Pictures

Trivia

  • Doubles from Alan Thompson and Shaun Maloney set Celtic on their way to an emphatic victory.
  • Celtic might rue the loss of a last-minute goal by Lee Mair for Dundee.
  • Celtic wear new home strip for first time which they will wear in forthcoming UEFA cup final in Seville.

Review

Larsson beat the offside trap, in 14 minutes, to pull down Alan Thompson's chip over the defence, rounded goalkeeper Julian Speroni and blasted the ball into the roof of the net.
But the Celtic crowd were silenced after 26 minutes, when Novo left Joos Valgaeren trailing before squaring to Barry Smith, who wrong-footed Broto from 15 yards.
Larsson directed a Stilian Petrov cross into Thompson's path and the midfielder stooped to head home from five yards.
Thompson's second came three minutes later, sending Didier Agathe's cross into the back of the net with his weaker right foot.
Lee Wilkie tried to dribble out of his own penalty box and lost the ball to Maloney, who slotted the ball past Speroni.
The Scotland Under-21 striker added his second after 63 minutes, being sent clear by Thompson before side-footing the ball into the far corner of the net.
Agathe's cross was headed back across the face of the goal by Bobo Balde for Mjallby to side-foot home after 77 minutes.
Jonay Hernandez crossed for Mair to head home seconds before the end.

Teams

Celtic:-
Broto, Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren, Agathe, Lambert, Lennon, Petrov, Thompson, Larsson, Maloney (Smith 82).
Subs not used:- Douglas, McNamara, Fernandez, Crainey.
Goals:- Larsson 14, Thompson 27, 30, Maloney 52, 63, Mjallby 77.
Booked:- Thompson.

Dundee:-
Speroni, Smith, Wilkie (Brady 69), Khizanishvili (Forbes 55), Hernandez Santos, Mackay, Rae, Mair, Novo, Milne, Burchill (Carranza 72).
Subs not used:- Langfield, Nemsadze.
Goals:- Smith 26, Mair 90.

Att:- 57,542
Ref:- T Brown.

Articles

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Articles

Celtic sweep to the top

BBC
Celtic 6-2 Dundee

Doubles from Alan Thompson and Shaun Maloney set Celtic on their way to an emphatic victory that swung the pendulum back in their favour at the top of the Scottish Premier League.

Celtic not only overtook Rangers to go three points clear but turned a two-goal deficit into a two-goal advantage should the two sides be equal on points at the end of the season.

Martin O'Neill's side also now have scored more than their city rivals as they threw down the gauntlet before Rangers travel to face Hearts looking to win by the two goals they need from their game in hand.

Henrik Larsson and Johan Mjallby were the other scorers at Celtic Park as Rangers were left cursing a series of missed chances during their 4-0 defeat of Kilmarnock on Sunday.

Celtic might also rue the loss of a last-minute goal by Lee Mair for a Dundee side that appeared to have their minds on their forthcoming Scottish Cup final appearance.

No Mair misery for O'Neill
But, for now, O'Neill's side can head with a spring in their step for Seville, where goalkeeper Rab Douglas will hope to feature after returning from injury to sit on the bench against Dundee.

Javier Sanchez Broto, cup-tied for the Uefa Cup final, continued in goal and, with Chris Sutton suspended and John Hartson injured, Maloney was given a rare start up front.

Dundee rested influential midfielder Georgi Nemsadze and were missing injured striker Stuart Lovell.

His replacement, former Celtic striker Mark Burchill, was denied by Broto before Celtic's pressure produced a 14th-minute opener.

Larsson beat the offside trap to pull down Alan Thompson's chip over the defence, rounded goalkeeper Julian Speroni and blasted the ball into the roof of the net.

But the home crowd was silenced after 26 minutes, when Novo left Joos Valgaeren trailing before squaring to Barry Smith, who wrong-footed Broto from 15 yards.

The former Celtic defender looked slightly embarrassed, but the home side's blushes were spared a minute later.

Barry Smith holds off Celtic's Henrik Larsson
Barry Smith and Henrik Larsson both scored at Celtic Park
Larsson directed Stilian Petrov's cross into Thompson's path and the midfielder stooped to head home from five yards.

Thompson's second came three minutes later, sending Didier Agathe's cross into the back of the net with his weaker right foot.

Scotland defender Lee Wilkie suffered a nightmare against Rangers earlier in the month and gifted Celtic their fourth goal seven minutes after the break.

He tried to dribble out of his own penalty box and lost the ball to Maloney, who slotted the ball past Speroni.

The Scotland Under-21 striker added his second after 63 minutes, being sent clear by Thompson before side-footing the ball into the far corner of the net.

Wilkie was substituted soon after as he at least was spared further suffering.

Agathe's cross was headed back across the face of the goal by Bobo Balde for Mjallby to side-foot home after 77 minutes.

Dundee striker Nacho Novo missed his second great chance of the half before Jonay Hernandez crossed for Mair to head home seconds before the end.

Celtic: Broto, Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren, Agathe, Lambert, Lennon, Petrov, Thompson, Larsson, Maloney (Smith 82).
Subs Not Used: Douglas, McNamara, Fernandez, Crainey.

Booked: Thompson.

Goals: Larsson 14, Thompson 27, 30, Maloney 52, 63, Mjallby 77.

Dundee: Speroni, Smith, Wilkie (Brady 69), Khizanishvili (Forbes 55), Hernandez Santos, Mackay, Rae, Mair, Novo, Milne, Burchill (Carranza 72).
Subs Not Used: Langfield, Nemsadze.

Goals: Smith 26, Mair 90.

Attendance: 57,542

Referee: T Brown.

O'Neill hails super Celtic

BBC
Martin O'Neill insisted that a last-minute Lee Mair goal had not spoiled the feelings of elation at going back to the top of the Scottish Premier League.

Celtic, after their 6-2 mauling of Dundee, now have a two-goal advantage over Rangers, who now must beat Hearts on Sunday by more than one goal to regain the lead.

Mair's strike put a slight dampener on the post-match celebrations as O'Neill and his players took a bow in front of their last home crowd of the season before heading for the Uefa Cup final in Seville.

But the Celtic manager said: "The late goal was disappointing. But, if you had said before the game, I would have taken that score.

"It was an absolutely fabulous performance.

Hopefully it gives them a kick up the backside
Dundee boss Jim Duffy
"I thought the players were immense tonight.

"There was no talk about Seville and there was nothing tentative about them."

Both Alan Thompson and Shaun Maloney scored twice and were praised by O'Neill.

"I thought Alan Thompson's whole performance, from start to finish, was sensational," said the manager.

Skilful but diminutive Scotland Under-21 international Maloney was only in the side because of Chris Sutton's suspension and an injury to John Hartson.

Celtic sweep back to the top
But O'Neill suggested that it was another performance that proved that "he has a big future ahead of him".

Thompson admitted that the Mair goal was disappointing but said that simply getting three points had been Celtic's priority.

"We can now look forward to facing Porto in Seville," he said.

"It is going to be massive."

Alan Thompson puts Celtic 2-1 ahead
Alan Thompson scored twice for Celtic against Dundee
Dundee had moved the fixture forward from the weekend in order to help Celtic prepare for Wednesday's final.

Dens Park manager Jim Duffy had insisted that his side would not show similar charity on the park, even though he suggested that he would rest players if it would improve their chances of playing in the Scottish Cup final.

The experiment of using Zurab Khizanishvili in central midfield backfired as his usual defensive colleagues put in a dismal performance.

Duffy admitted: "If you defend badly against anyone, and especially Celtic and Rangers, you will be punished.

"Hopefully it gives them a kick up the backside for the cup final, but we will see on 31 May."