| Match Pictures | Matches: 2012 – 2013 | 2012-13 Pictures |
Trivia
- Boxing day game.
- Celtic to remain top of league moving into new year, 7pts ahead with game in hand.
- First game v Dundee in many years.
- Dundee managed by ex-Celtic starlet from the early 90s, Barry Smith.
- Samaras scores with overhead kick/scissor kick; Hooper scores with a sublime chip. Two cracking goals.
- Challenge by Wilson on Dundee player saw Wilson elbow (accidentally and no malice) Dundee player. Pundits & media try to blow it up as malice, Dundee player says it was nothing and move on. Pathetic by media.
- Almost there with the top transfer window to open.
Review
(Celticjoe of KDS)
Game should have been a lot easier than we made it.
We actually made Dundee look decent in parts through sheer slackness and lapses of concentration.
Yeah, three points, but we really should be looking to put on a show against teams like that.
We should be looking to sign a "bums-on-seats" creator in January in the DiCanio/Lubo/Naka mould.
Our current team is very predictable and lacking in inspiration/entertainment.
Teams
Dundee
- 01 Douglas
- 02 Irvine
- 03 Lockwood
- 17 Benedictus Booked
- 18 Gallagher
- 04 O'Donnell (Boyle – 83' )
- 08 McBride
- 11 Conroy
- 10 Baird (Stewart – 74' )
- 20 McAlister
- 24 Nish
Substitutes
- 36 Baird
- 05 McGregor
- 26 Easton
- 23 Boyle
- 27 Stewart
- 33 Ried
Celtic
- 01 Forster
- 03 Izaguirre
- 04 Ambrose
- 06 Wilson
- 21 Mulgrew (Lustig – 46' )
- 08 Brown
- 33 Kayal (Forrest – 60' )
- 67 Wanyama
- 09 Samaras
- 32 Watt (McCourt – 79' )
- 88 Hooper Booked
Substitutes
- 24 Zaluska
- 23 Lustig
- 25 Rogne
- 20 McCourt
- 49 Forrest
- 07 Miku
- 11 Nouioui
Goals
- Samaras 16′
- Hooper 71′
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
- Audio Report: Paradise Report
Pictures
Forum
MOTM
- Voting Thread
- Result Thread
- Winner –
- 2012-13 Winners
Stats
Dundee Celtic
Possession
67% 33%
90mins
Shots
3 7
On target
1 5
Corners
7 6
Fouls
6 7
Articles
Dundee 0 – 2 Celtic: Celtic go seven points clear
By ALAN PATTULLO The Scotsman
Published on Wednesday 26 December 2012 23:35
GIVEN their respective positions at either end of the Scottish Premier League, it was asking a lot to expect Dundee to conjure up a first win against Celtic at Dens Park since 1988. So it proved, as Neil Lennon’s side hit the 40-point total after goals from Georgios Samaras and Gary Hooper.
SCORERS:
Celtic – Samaras (16), Hooper (71)
Referee: I Brines
Attendance: 9,276
However, this was a better match than anyone had the right to expect after the opening 45 minutes, when the visitors enjoyed almost complete dominance in what was a lively – if not always festive – atmosphere at Dens. Dundee were re-born in the second-half and it took Hooper’s intervention, with just under 20 minutes left, to quell their spirit.
Lennon returned to the ground where he made his Celtic debut as a peroxide blond midfield terrier 12 years ago. His affection for the old stadium can only have intensified after a win that further increased Celtic’s lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League. Sadly for Dundee, defeat leaves them further marooned at the bottom.
Perhaps surprisingly, Fraser Forster, the Celtic keeper, emerged a hero. His save from Colin Nish’s point-blank header in the 50th minute denied Dundee an equaliser, and though their play was a lot more fluid in the second-half, the hosts never got so near to scoring again.
Dundee suffered two blows in the run-up to kick-off. News that Nicky Riley, their principal creative outlet, would be absent through injury was the first set-back. This was compounded by the results that filtered back to Dens yesterday afternoon. Having begun the day just six points behind 11th place, they kicked-off last night a deflating nine points adrift after a win for Ross County at Hibs and a draw achieved by St Mirren at Inverness.
The desperation that is beginning to be sensed at Dens Park perhaps accounts for Dundee’s nervy start. Nevertheless, they did carve out of the first chance of the game on eight minutes when Stephen O’Donnell, playing his first game since August, curled a shot over the bar after Jim McAlister had harassed Emilio Izaguirre into making a poor clearance. Thereafter, Celtic took control and looked dangerous each time they won a corner. Dundee hacked clear the first two; the visitors struck with their third.
It was clearly turning out to be a busy night for Robert Douglas, the former Celtic keeper who offered the away fans a quick clap in acknowledgement as he took his place in front of them at the start of the first-half. He has been a major reason for Dundee having picked up as many points as they have in this difficult first season back in the SPL.
The keeper did well to turn a Tony Watt volley past the post, but the price was a corner, and from each one of these Celtic looked likely to score. Indeed, Efe Ambrose very nearly opened the scoring after 13 minutes when his effort from Mulgrew’s corner bashed back off the bar. Victor Wanyama hit the rebound over amid a throng of fretting Dundee defenders.
It looked only a matter of time until the opening goal and four minutes later it came. No one could be surprised by the source – another Mulgrew corner. Watt was the player on the end of it. His shot was parried out by Douglas but
some impressive acrobatics from Samaras saw the striker reposition himself in order to execute bicycle kick. It was hit with sufficient power to evade Jim McAlister on the line. He could only head it on its way into the roof of the net.
Five minutes later, Samaras might have put Celtic further ahead. After an exchange of passes with Kayal, he out-sprinted Kyle Benedictus with some ease. He attempted to place his shot into the corner of Douglas’ net, but the keeper was alert to this and tipped the ball round the post. Again, the alarm bells rang for Dundee. Remarkably, and although Dundee continued to offer precious little in attack, the threatened mis-match did not quite develop in terms of scoreline.
Whether this could be attributed to Celtic easing off or Dundee managing to catch their breath is difficult to answer. Possibly it was down to a combination of the two factors. Whatever the reason, Dundee made it to the interval just a goal down. It was a result, of sorts. It also provided them with something to build on when they re-emerged. Just five minutes after the re-start came a defining moment. Conroy did well to clip in a cross from the left and Nish rose to meet the ball from just inside the six-yard box. Forster, though, was unmoved, and simply extended his long left arm to claw the ball away.
Barry Smith’s subtle tactical change – he swapped Nish and Baird around, so the former was now the deeper-lying forward – helped bring Dundee further forward. Both strikers were now more prominent, and Baird saw a deflected effort just clear the bar. Lennon’s belief that Celtic needed a boost was made clear when he replaced Kayal with James Forrest on the hour mark.
Just 11 minutes later, Celtic sealed the points when Mikael Lustig, who had replaced Mulgrew at half-time, played in Hooper and the striker’s lob cleared Douglas and bounced high into the net.
Dundee: Douglas, Irvine, Lockwood, Benedictus, Gallagher, McAlister, O’Donnell (Boyle 83), McBride, Conroy, John Baird (Stewart 74), Nish. Subs not used: Alex Baird, McGregor, Easton, Reid.
Celtic: Forster, Ambrose, Wilson, Mulgrew (Lustig 46), Izaguirre, Wanyama, Brown, Kayal (Forrest 60), Hooper, Samaras, Watt (McCourt 79). Subs not used: Zaluska, Miku, Nouioui, Rogne
Lennon, and Baird, clear Wilson of blame
Herald
The match at Dens Park was marked by two brilliant goals from Celtic with an overhead kick from Georgios Samaras in the first half being followed by a sublime finish from Gary Hooper in the second. Celtic, though, were grateful for a superb save by Fraser Forster from a Colin Nish header when the score was 1-0.
Lennon described the goals as "two real bits of quality" but added: "I had to rely on my goalkeeper to make a fantastic save. He is a great keeper. It is another wonderful point-blank save. That could have made it 1-1 and the game could have changed."
Instead, Celtic went further ahead "through a superb individual goal" by Hooper, ensuring a sixth consecutive win by the side.
Lennon defended Wilson against charges of elbowing John Baird in the first half. Televison pictures showed contact between the players but Lennon said: "Kelvin is saying the guy was holding his arm and he pushed his arm away. The boy was nipping away at the players all night, barging into them."
No action was taken by referee Iain Brines and Lennon said: "If it does look bad, it is not deliberate."
Baird had no complaints.
"To be fair, I have tried to pull him back, to try to get an extra yard on him. He has caught me but I think it was accidental. He was trying to get his arm out of the road," said the Dundee forward.
Asked why he was so animated at the time of the incident, he said: "I thought I had lost my teeth."
He believed the SFA compliance officer should not look at the incident, saying: "It is not going to change anything. It was just one of these things."
Scott Brown, the Celtic captain, said the goal by Hooper and save by Forster showed both were capable of playing for England, describing the finish by the striker as "ridiculous".
He said he was now looking forward to the chance of a rest with the winter break coming after matches against Hibernian and Motherwell.
BBC
By Kenny Crawford BBC Sport Scotland
Celtic increased their lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League to seven points with a win at Dens Park.
The visitors' first-half domination only resulted in one goal, an excellent Georgios Samaras overhead kick from 10 yards.
Dundee were lively after the break, with Fraser Forster clawing Colin Nish's header off the line.
But a classy bit of control and lob by Gary Hooper, after Lustig's long ball, sealed victory over bottom club Dundee.
Celtic went into this one looking to extend the gap between themselves and nearest challengers Inverness and Motherwell and get their fifth league win on the trot.
Dundee's aim was to narrow the concerning nine point gap between themselves at the foot of the table and Ross County in 11th.
It was an encouraging start for the home support at Dens Park, then, to see Stephen O'Donnell fire in the first real shot on target.
The midfielder benefited from poor control by Victor Wanyama on the edge of the box, but his effort went over the bar.
After 10 minutes Celtic began to assert their authority and Charlie Mulgrew's corner kicks were their weapon of choice.
Efe Ambrose got his knee on the first of Mulgrew's left-footed deliveries, but the unorthodox attempt came back off the bar and Wanyama drove the rebound over.
However, another one of Mulgrew's set-pieces was the catalyst in the visitors taking a 16th minute lead.
Again, it was hit left-footed from the right side and Tony Watt's side-foot volley from a tight angle at the back post forced Rab Douglas into a close-range save.
Play media
But that block saw the ball loop to Samaras, whose expert overhead kick from 10 yards found the roof of the net despite a desperate attempt by Jim McAlister to head off the line – a fine way for the Greek to score his eighth goal of the season.
The striker could have made it nine for the season shortly after when Beram Kayal put him through at the corner of the box, but Douglas touched his curling shot round the far post to prevent Celtic doubling their lead.
Dundee struggled to gain a foot-hold in the game throughout the rest of the first half and manager Barry Smith would have been pleased the deficit remained at one goal.
Ambrose did threaten once more just before referee Iain Brines blew for the interval, surging from midfield to arrow a right-footed shot Douglas's way from 25 yards, but the keeper was equal to it.
Celtic re-emerged for the second half with Lustig replacing Mulgrew, who had damaged a rib.
Play media
Perhaps it was the relief at Mulgrew's absence that boosted Dundee at the beginning of the second half.
McAlister linked intelligently with Nish on the right before sending in a shot which Wanyama deflected wide.
Ryan Conroy could not force anything from the resultant corner, but he was soon scampering down the left creating havoc.
His excellent cross was met by Nish, whose near-post header seemed destined to ripple the back of the net before the hand of Forster clawed it away – easily the home side's best chance.
Spurred on, John Baird then went very close again with a shot from the edge of the box on 55 minutes which Emilio Izaguirre slid in desperately to divert away from goal.
Lustig soon showed his attacking prowess by swinging in a low ball which came off Kyle Benedictus and required excellent reactions from Douglas.
The Swedish right-back then set-up Hooper to double Celtic's lead on 71 minutes.
Lustig's long-ball should have been dealt with, but Hooper raced clear of Benedictus and Declan Gallagher to show an exquisite first touch and lob over Douglas from just inside the box.
Almost immediately, another Nish header forced Forster to tip over to deny Dundee a quick reply.
Scott Brown, ever lively, angled a pass to set Hooper up again on 80 minutes, but the Englishman narrowly missed the target.
Douglas did well to deny Hooper again late-on and despite a couple of Dundee corners causing some confusion in the box, Celtic made it to the final whistle with a clean sheet.
Live Text Commentary
90:00 +2:02 Full time
Full Time The referee ends the match.
90:00 +1:06
Corner taken short by Georgios Samaras.
90:00 +0:03
Gary Hooper takes a shot. Fantastic save by Rab Douglas.
87:42
Ryan Conroy takes a inswinging corner to the near post, clearance by Mikael Lustig.
84:59
The assistant referee flags for offside against Mark Stewart. Fraser Forster restarts play with the free kick.
81:26 Substitution
Substitution Stephen O'Donnell leaves the field to be replaced by Martin Boyle.
81:26
James McAlister challenges Patrick McCourt unfairly and gives away a free kick. Patrick McCourt delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel.
79:58
Mikael Lustig challenges Mark Stewart unfairly and gives away a free kick. Matthew Lockwood takes the free kick.
78:08 Substitution
Substitution Patrick McCourt joins the action as a substitute, replacing Tony Watt.
75:52
Centre by Mikael Lustig.
72:06
Direct free kick taken by Fraser Forster.
72:06 Substitution
Substitution Mark Stewart replaces John Baird.
72:06
Inswinging corner taken by Ryan Conroy from the right by-line, clearance made by Kelvin Wilson. Inswinging corner taken by James McAlister, Kyle Benedictus concedes a free kick for a foul on Fraser Forster.
70:36
Assist by Mikael Lustig.
70:36 Goal scored
Goal – Gary Hooper – Dundee 0 – 2 Celtic Goal scored by Gary Hooper from inside the box low into the middle of the goal. Dundee 0-2 Celtic.
68:54
Free kick crossed right-footed by Scott Brown, clearance by Stephen O'Donnell.
68:19
Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gary Hooper by Kyle Benedictus.
68:54
Scott Brown delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel, clearance made by Stephen O'Donnell.
68:54 Booking
Booking Gary Hooper receives a yellow card.
68:48 Booking
Booking Booking for Kyle Benedictus.
68:19
Kyle Benedictus challenges Gary Hooper unfairly and gives away a free kick.
65:00
Unfair challenge on Stephen O'Donnell by Gary Hooper results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Kyle Benedictus.
61:29
Unfair challenge on Stephen O'Donnell by Emilio Izaguirre results in a free kick. Stephen O'Donnell takes the direct free kick.
59:50 Substitution
Substitution James Forrest replaces Beram Kayal.
58:43
Corner taken right-footed by James McAlister to the near post, Mikael Lustig makes a clearance.
56:14
The assistant referee flags for offside against Ryan Conroy. Indirect free kick taken by Kelvin Wilson.
54:08
Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Ryan Conroy.
52:21
John Baird fouled by Efe Ambrose, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed by Ryan Conroy, Efe Ambrose manages to make a clearance. Kevin McBride has an effort at goal from long distance that goes wide left of the target.
49:39
Colin Nish takes a shot. Fantastic save by Fraser Forster.
48:05
Corner taken by Ryan Conroy from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Efe Ambrose.
47:20
Foul by Scott Brown on Matthew Lockwood, free kick awarded. Rab Douglas takes the free kick.
45:01
The game restarts for the second half.
45:01 Substitution
Substitution (Celtic) makes a substitution, with Mikael Lustig coming on for Charlie Mulgrew.
45:00 +1:06 Half time
Half Time The match has reached half-time.
44:40
Efe Ambrose takes a shot. Brilliant save by Rab Douglas.
40:34
Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ryan Conroy by Tony Watt. Direct free kick taken by Matthew Lockwood.
39:37
Tony Watt concedes a free kick for a foul on Matthew Lockwood. Matthew Lockwood takes the direct free kick.
37:47
Stephen O'Donnell challenges Victor Wanyama unfairly and gives away a free kick. Kelvin Wilson restarts play with the free kick.
34:05
The ball is sent over by Emilio Izaguirre.
30:32
Ryan Conroy takes a corner.
28:46
The ball is delivered by Emilio Izaguirre, clearance by Matthew Lockwood.
25:47
Matthew Lockwood challenges Tony Watt unfairly and gives away a free kick. Charlie Mulgrew takes the direct free kick. The referee blows for offside against Victor Wanyama. Rab Douglas restarts play with the free kick.
25:47
Free kick awarded for a foul by Matthew Lockwood on Tony Watt. Free kick taken by Charlie Mulgrew. The assistant referee flags for offside against Victor Wanyama. Rab Douglas takes the indirect free kick.
24:48
Emilio Izaguirre produces a cross.
24:48
The ball is sent over by Emilio Izaguirre.
21:20
Georgios Samaras takes a shot. Save by Fraser Forster. Corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew from the right by-line to the near post, Declan Gallagher manages to make a clearance.
19:24
Corner taken left-footed by Charlie Mulgrew to the near post.
15:58
Tony Watt provided the assist for the goal. Tony Watt takes a shot. Rab Douglas makes a save.
15:58 Goal scored
Goal – Georgios Samaras – Dundee 0 – 1 Celtic Georgios Samaras finds the net with a goal from deep inside the penalty box high into the middle of the goal. Dundee 0-1 Celtic.
14:57
Inswinging corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew from the right by-line, James McAlister makes a clearance. Corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew from the right by-line,
17:23
Gary Irvine concedes a free kick for a foul on Tony Watt. Free kick crossed left-footed by Charlie Mulgrew, Matthew Lockwood makes a clearance.
15:58
Assist by Gary Hooper.
15:58 Goal scored
Goal – Georgios Samaras – Dundee 0 – 1 Celtic Georgios Samaras grabs a goal from inside the penalty box high into the middle of the goal. Dundee 0-1 Celtic.
14:57
Corner taken left-footed by Charlie Mulgrew from the right by-line, James McAlister manages to make a clearance. Corner taken left-footed by Charlie Mulgrew,
13:48
Long range shot from Gary Hooper misses to the left of the target.
11:27
Corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
7:52
Shot by Stephen O'Donnell from outside the area goes high over the crossbar.
0:00
The referee gets the game started.
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