| Match Pictures | Matches:2007 – 2008 | 2007-2008 Pictures |
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Review
Teams
Celtic team:-
Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Scott Brown, Sno (Robson, 62), McGeady, Samaras (JVoH, 62), McDonald.
Subs not used:- Mark Brown, O'Dea, Donati, Hartley, Riordan.
Dundee Utd:
Zaluska, Kovacevic, Wilkie, Kenneth, Grainger, O'Brien, Robertson (Flood 75), Buaben, Kerr, Conway (Daly 83), De Vries (Hunt 77). Subs Not Used: McLean, Dillon, Dods, Swanson.
Booked: Kenneth, Wilkie.
Att: 45,000
Ref: M McCurry
KDS MOTM:- Hinkel (Link to MOTM Winners)
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
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Articles
Celtic fail to make up lost ground
Ewan Murray at Parkhead
The Guardian, Thursday 13 March 2008
The impact of this result will have been as keenly felt in Germany as in Glasgow. Rangers, in Bremen for tonight's Uefa Cup tie, sit three points in front of Celtic at the summit of the Premier League, and with a game in hand, after Gordon Strachan's men failed to break down Dundee United last night. It is matches like these which can and will decide championships.
United would have been forgiven for regarding this match as an inconvenience, despite their ongoing chase for a European place in the SPL, given that they will face Rangers in the CIS Cup final on Sunday. Wandering minds and six changes to the starting XI, therefore, were perhaps responsible for a lethargic start from the visitors, Shunsuke Nakamura coming within the width of a post of sending Celtic in front within three minutes.
Scott McDonald was the next to hit the woodwork, the Celtic striker rounding off the finest move of the opening period, which also included Georgios Samaras and Scott Brown. Yet United proved increasingly dangerous on the counter as the half wore on, the pace of Prince Buaben and Craig Conway posing a series of problems to the Celtic backline. Conway, in fact, passed up a glorious opportunity to send his team in front, heading over from six yards just five minutes from the interval.
Celtic heeded the warning but the closest they came to scoring was through a series of Nakamura free-kicks. Strachan called upon the services of Barry Robson and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Robson soon came perilously close to conceding a penalty after blocking a Mark De Vries shot with his hand. Vennegoor of Hesselink headed Celtic's final chance over as United remained unbowed.
Celtic 0-0 Dundee Utd
By Thomas McGuigan
Scott McDonald is thwarted by United keeper Lukasz Zaluska
United stood firm in the face of constant Celtic pressure
Celtic spurned the chance to close the gap on league leaders Rangers to one point after a frustrating goalless draw against a resolute Dundee United.
Shunsuke Nakamura and Scott McDonald both hit the post for the home side, but they failed to breach a determined United defence.
Craig Conway wasted a superb chance for the visitors when he headed over Artur Boruc's goal just before half-time.
Despite incessant late pressure, Celtic failed to find a winner.
Celtic made three changes to the side that rescued a draw against Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup.
Brown returned from suspension to replace Paul Hartley while defender Lee Naylor had recovered from illness to take over from Darren O'Dea.
Striker Georgios Samaras started for the second time since his loan move from Manchester City in January with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink dropping to the bench.
United, who play Rangers in the CIS Cup final on Sunday, made six changes to their starting line-up from the side that beat Gretna last weekend.
In came Lee Wilkie, Mark Kerr, Danny Grainger, Craig Conway, Mark De Vries and Michael Kovacevic.
Sean Dillon, Darren Dods, Willo Flood, Noel Hunt, Christian Kalvenes and Morgaro Gomis dropped out.
Nakamura almost gave Celtic the lead in the third minute, when his left-foot drive from the edge of the box beat Lukasz Zaluska but struck the post.
McDonald also found the wrong side of the post on the half-hour mark after a clever through ball from Brown.
United grew in confidence as the first half progressed and should have opened the scoring 10 minutes before the break.
Conway spurned a great chance for United when he peeled away from Stephen McManus, but headed over Kovacevic's cross from a few yards out.
The home fans grew increasingly anxious after the break as Celtic struggled to breach the United rearguard.
Vennegoor of Hesselink and Barry Robson came on for Samaras and Sno as Celtic searched for a cutting edge.
The Dutchman then headed over from two yards out with the goal at his mercy as United held on to claim a point.
The draw leaves Celtic three points behind their Old Firm rivals having played a game more.
Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Scott Brown, Sno (Robson 62), McGeady, McDonald, Samaras (Vennegoor of Hesselink 62). Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, O'Dea, Hartley, Donati, Riordan.
Booked: Scott Brown.
Dundee Utd: Zaluska, Kovacevic, Wilkie, Kenneth, Grainger, O'Brien, Robertson (Flood 75), Buaben, Kerr, Conway (Daly 83), De Vries (Hunt 77). Subs Not Used: McLean, Dillon, Dods, Swanson.
Booked: Kenneth, Wilkie.
Att: 45,000
Ref: M McCurry