| Match Pictures | Matches: 2008 – 2009 | 2008-2009 Pictures |
Trivia
- Celtic 2pts in front, but Rangers have a game in hand and only two games left for us (3 for Huns)
- Another nervey affair with Dundee Utd, but this time we finally beat them!
- Dundee United boss Craig Levein has made an official complaint to the SPL match delegate about Stuart Dougal.
Review
After a shakey start, Celtic took full control of the game and a cracking goal by Loovens from a corner was the least that we deserved. Chance after chance followed with some great play by Scott Brown in particular, but Skippy in particular could not convert what was in front of him. A second goal (a deflected goal by Samaras) was the least we deserved, and all was plain sailing.
Or so we thought! This was Dundee Utd, a side who passed the ball brilliantly through their games against us and are likely the most entertaining to watch in the league this season. We've had it hard against them and drawn against them too often this season after being in the lead, and it appeared to be happening again. An admittedly glorious goal by Dundee Utd brought them back in and we were badly on the back foot. In all honestly, we were lucky not to lose 3-2 taking in the chances that Dundee Utd had, and we were squandering all that we had.
In any case, we made it to the final whistle, but another nervy affair.
Two games left, and most still feel its all over.
Teams
Celtic:
Boruc,
Hinkel, Caldwell, Loovens, Naylor,
Nakamura (Flood 85), Scott Brown, Crosas (Hartley 61), McGeady,
McDonald, Samaras (Vennegoor of Hesselink 76).
Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, O'Dea, Conroy, Maloney.
Booked: Loovens, Hartley
Goals: Loovens 22, Samaras 52
Dundee Utd
Zaluska, Kovacevic (Dillon 88), Kenneth, Wilkie, Dixon, Swanson (Shala 58), David Robertson, Buaben, Gomis, Conway, Sandaza (Goodwillie 81).
Subs Not Used: McGovern, Scott Robertson, Grainger, Dods
Booked: Wilkie, Conway.
Goals: David Robertson 57
Att: 57,407
Ref: S Dougal
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan:
"Over the last two seasons we've been 2-0 up against them a couple of times and they've come back to 2-2.
"Tonight, because of a great cross by them and some horrendous defending by us they came back to 2-1, and I think everybody in here panicked for a while.
"The performance in the first hour showed that our guys are in good spirits and feel good about themselves.
"Our new goalie Lukasz Zaluska had quite a few good saves – he obviously doesn't want to play in the Champions league this season!
"Next season we're going to have two terrific goalkeepers."
Pictures
KStreet
Stats
CELTIC v DUNDEE UTD
Possession
| 57% | 43% |
Shots on target
| 5 | 6 |
Shots off target
| 5 | 4 |
Corners
| 8 | 0 |
Fouls
| 15 | 14 |
Celtic keep title race alive. Scottish Premier League.
Provided by: Irish Times
Celtic's McDonald tackle sparks row
Provided by: AAP Bulletins
Celtic 2-1 Dundee United
By David McDaid
BBC
Glenn Loovens
Loovens put Celtic ahead with his fourth goal of the season
Celtic staved off a Dundee United fightback to secure victory and top spot in the Scottish Premier League with Rangers inactive until Wednesday.
After a bright start by the visitors, Glenn Loovens headed Celtic into the lead on 21 minutes.
Georgios Samaras doubled their advantage early in the second half with a deflected shot off Lee Wilkie.
United applied heavy pressure after David Robertson's close-range strike on 57 minutes but Celtic held out.
The reigning champions had not beaten Dundee United over 90 minutes on four previous meetings this season in league and cup action, and United boss Craig Levein had said pre-match that his team felt they could win in Glasgow.
And it was the Terrors who made the more confident and composed start with Craig Conway coming within a yard of opening the scoring with a low shot from 20 yards inside three minutes.
Conversely, Celtic struggled to find fluency, partly because of a high count of stray passes, and also because of the harrying of United duo Morgaro Gomis and Prince Buaben in midfield.
But the home side jolted into action on 13 minutes when Scott Brown, back in the Celtic line-up after a two-match suspension, drove forward energetically to release Scott McDonald, who crossed for Samaras to volley against the upright.
Minutes later Celtic had Artur Boruc to thank for a fantastic save from the head of Francisco Sandaza, who was left unchallenged by the home defence.
The favour was repaid by United in the 21st minute when Loovens rose free to glance Shunsuke Nakamura's front-post corner past Lukasz Zaluska and put Celtic 1-0 ahead.
The goal gave the home side a boost, with Aiden McGeady and McDonald striking further shots at goal.
But the Australian was fortunate not to receive at least a yellow card for a high challenge below the knee of visiting captain Wilkie.
United started the second half as they did the first and Sandaza forced Boruc to make another good stop with his foot from an acute angle.
It was Celtic, however, who doubled their lead on 52 minutes through Samaras, whose sweeping shot from 20 yards nicked off Wilkie on its way past Zaluska.
Brown was the architect for that goal and the Scotland midfielder would have headed a third but for a smart stop on the line by United's Celtic-bound keeper.
However, with the prize of European football at stake, far from sitting back, United took hold of the game and began to dominate.
Robertson pegged one back, slamming in a deep Paul Dixon cross at the far post with Lee Naylor struggling to track back to cover.
With their next foray up-field, substitute Andis Shala passed up a glorious chance with a free header from a few yards out, and Buaben was just off-target with two efforts.
As United opened up to press for an equaliser, their keeper Zaluska had to be sharp off his line to deny Nakamura.
And despite some nervy moments for the home fans, Celtic held firm to maintain the pressure on Rangers, who can restore their two-point lead in the table against Hibernian on Wednesday.
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan:
"Over the last two seasons we've been 2-0 up against them a couple of times and they've come back to 2-2.
"Tonight, because of a great cross by them and some horrendous defending by us they came back to 2-1, and I think everybody in here panicked for a while.
"The performance in the first hour showed that our guys are in good spirits and feel good about themselves.
"Our new goalie Lukasz Zaluska had quite a few good saves – he obviously doesn't want to play in the Champions league this season!
"Next season we're going to have two terrific goalkeepers."
Dundee United manager Craig Levein:
"We were five points behind Hearts after the split and I said I wanted to be within three points of them come the game at Tynecastle.
"From that point of view it's in our own hands, and I like when that's the situation.
"I just want our team to get into a European spot and to do that we have to win on Saturday.
"We're going to go to Hearts and try to put on the same performance as tonight.
"And if we play like that and they beat us then good luck to them."