2009-01-10: Celtic 2-1 Dundee, Scottish Cup

Match Pictures | Matches: 2008 – 2009 | 2008-2009 Pictures

Trivia

  • We won, but another bloody howler by Boruc to give Dundee the lead before we came back. "Was" a great goalkeeper, at present making too many errors.
  • McGeady scores on return from WGS imposed ban. End of the story for now.
  • Rab Douglas returns to Parkhead with Dundee.

Review

Aiden McGeady returned from his club ban to help Celtic come from behind and earn a Scottish Cup win over Dundee. Other talking point is another howler by Boruc.

Teams

Celtic:
Boruc, Caddis, Loovens, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Scott Brown, Crosas (Robson 64), McGeady, Vennegoor of Hesselink (Samaras 70), McDonald.
Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, Caldwell, Mizuno
Booked: Scott Brown
Goals: Scott Brown 37, McGeady 44

Dundee:
Douglas, Paton, Lauchlan, McKeown, Malone, Shinnie (Antoine-Curier 78), Cowan (Benedictus 90), Posniak (McHale 68), O'Brien, Daquin, McMenamin.
Subs Not Used: Roy, Williams
Goal: McMenamin 14

Att: 23,070
Ref: C Murray

Articles

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan:
"We made enough chances and we're annoyed we didn't score more – our finishing was not at its best.

"What we didn't expect was the first goal, that was for sure, but the players sorted it out and got in front.
"We tried to get McGeady wider today because that's where he's most potent. But, if we want him out there, we must give him the ball.
"We're asking him to open up teams three or four times in a game and others can take advantage.
"There were a lot of things we were pleased with and the guys who came in needed a game."
Dundee manager Jocky Scott:
"When you consider who we were playing and where we were playing, we've done well.

"The only criticism I have is that we gave the ball away far too often.
"But the work-rate and attitude was great and we can take a lot of positives from today and hopefully learn something from the way Celtic played as well."

Pictures

KStreet

MOTM v Dundee, Scott Brown

Stats

CELTIC – DUNDEE

Possession

70% 30%

Shots on target

11 2

Shots off target

9 1

Corners

11 1

Fouls

7 9

McGeady's winner but boss only has eyes for Brown

12 January 2009

Provided by: Irish Independent
AIDEN McGeady showed the Celtic fans just what they were missing when he curled home the winner against Dundee on Saturday, but Gordon Strachan was instead quick to lavish praise on Scott Brown in the aftermath.
While the post-match focus was mainly on the return of McGeady, and yet another Artur Boruc mistake, the Celtic boss underlined Brown as the outstanding player of their 2-1 win in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.
"Scott has become a big player and better player,'' Strachan said.
"He has come to understand the position better, but we must give him license to roam with the power that he has got.
"Last week he broke into the corner, took the ball off Lee Wilkie and made a chance and we got a goal.
"He did the same thing against Dundee and tried to cut it back and then the ball came back to him.
"So, he got his goal through hard work and that is him, he has had a fantastic season.''
The Scotland international has been seen by many as the Parkhead side's best player this season, his increasing confidence summed up last week in the Premier League home draw against Dundee United when he robbed Tannadice skipper Lee Wilkie on the left of his penalty area to set up a goal for Hoops striker Georgios Samaras.
Then, against Dundee in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup at Parkhead on Saturday, another typically energetic run by the Scotland international set up Scott McDonald from the same area of the pitch.
This time, McDonald's mis-hit shot ricocheted off several Dundee defenders before landing fortuitously in front of Brown who slipped it past former Hoops goalkeeper Rab Douglas from close range.
The goal came at a crucial time for the Parkhead side, levelling, as it did, the lead gifted to the First Division side by Celtic keeper Artur Boruc, whose fresh-air swipe allowed Colin McMenamin to easily slot home into an empty goal.
On his return from his two-week club ban, McGeady tucked away the crucial goal just before the break.
With Boruc and McGeady capturing the headlines, Celtic midfielder Marc Crosas slipped back into the side almost unnoticed.
The Spanish midfielder, 21, made his first start since injuring a hamstring against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in October — and he aims to keep his place in the side.
He said: "It is not my decision, but I will be training hard for that. I was out for three months and it was difficult.
"Maybe it wasn't the best game in which to come back because of the weather.
"But I was happy to be back playing again and the team won,'' he added.
(c) 2009 Independent Newspapers Ireland Ltd
Irish Independent

Celtic 2-1 Dundee

BBC

Aiden McGeady returned from his club ban to help Celtic come from behind and earn a Scottish Cup win over Dundee.

Artur Boruc's fresh-air swipe in the 14th minute allowed Colin McMenamin to put the First Division side in front.

But Scott Brown levelled from close range after a mis-hit effort from Scott McDonald rebounded into his path.

McGeady, back for the first time since his dressing-room row with manager Gordon Strachan, curled in the winner on the stroke of half time.

With high winds and rain making life miserable, it was far from a vintage Celtic performance and there was a last-minute scare for the Scottish Premier League leaders when Boruc spilled a cross from McMenamin a yard from the line, but Glenn Loovens was on hand to clear.

It had been another blunder from the goalkeeper that handed the visitors a surprise lead early in the game.

The Poland international looked well placed to deal with David O'Brien's long pass forward, but he completely mis-timed his attempted clearance, allowing McMenamin to knock the ball into an empty net.

Celtic continued to stutter when striker McDonald drove wide of the target and Brown headed a Shunsuke Nakamura free kick into the side-netting.

McDonald had another shot that bounced off Jim Lauchlan's head before McGeady fired into the arms of former Parkhead keeper Rab Douglas from the rebound.

The home side's increasing pressure paid off when the energetic Brown drove down the left and into the Dundee box before pulling the ball back to McDonald.

Artur Boruc misses his attempted clearance to gift Dundee a goal
A mistake from Boruc allowed McMenamin to roll in the opening goal

The Australian mis-hit his shot from 14 yards, but the ball ricocheted off several Dundee defenders to land in front of Brown, who stroked it home from close range.

With the interval looming, McGeady eased the home fans' nerves when he cut in from the left and curled a wonderful shot from the edge of the box high past Douglas.

Celtic were more relaxed after the break and McGeady had another effort from 20 yards tipped over the bar by Douglas.

Dundee were seldom seen as an attacking force, but McMenamin flashed a drive from 20 yards past the post on the hour mark to indicate a threat.

Douglas was required to pull off a fine save from Vennegoor of Hesselink's drive after the Dutchman had been put through by Nakamura's incisive pass.

McDonald then messed up another chance when he chipped over the crossbar from the edge of the box after neatly turning Lauchlan.

The Australian was left frustrated again when he created space from a Nakamura pass to curl in a shot from 12 yards only to see the ball fly inches wide.

Having missed several good opportunities to increase their lead, Celtic were relieved when Boruc's late mistake went unpunished.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan:
"We made enough chances and we're annoyed we didn't score more – our finishing was not at its best.

"What we didn't expect was the first goal, that was for sure, but the players sorted it out and got in front.

"We tried to get McGeady wider today because that's where he's most potent. But, if we want him out there, we must give him the ball.

"We're asking him to open up teams three or four times in a game and others can take advantage.

"There were a lot of things we were pleased with and the guys who came in needed a game."

Dundee manager Jocky Scott:
"When you consider who we were playing and where we were playing, we've done well.

"The only criticism I have is that we gave the ball away far too often.

"But the work-rate and attitude was great and we can take a lot of positives from today and hopefully learn something from the way Celtic played as well."

Celtic: Boruc, Caddis, Loovens, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Scott Brown, Crosas (Robson 64), McGeady, Vennegoor of Hesselink (Samaras 70), McDonald.
Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, Caldwell, Mizuno.

Booked: Scott Brown.

Goals: Scott Brown 37, McGeady 44.

Dundee: Douglas, Paton, Lauchlan, McKeown, Malone, Shinnie (Antoine-Curier 78), Cowan (Benedictus 90), Posniak (McHale 68), O'Brien, Daquin, McMenamin.
Subs Not Used: Roy, Williams.

Goal: McMenamin 14.

Att: 23,070

Ref: C Murray