2014-11-22: Celtic 2-1 Dundee, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 2014 – 2015 | 2014-15 Pictures

Trivia

• Internationals: Scotland 1-0 Ireland at Celtic Park (Hampden refitting after the Commonwealth Games). Notably, both managers were Celts (MoN & WGS), the scorer was an ex-Celt (Maloney), and the most important players were the Celts (Mulgrew, Brown, ex-Celt Marshall). Great days.
• Helsingborg appoint Henrik Larsson as manager.
• Ex-Celt Sammy Wilson passed away on 8th Nov. The last one the great league cup winning side of 1957. Scorer of the first goal in the game. RIP
• Great news coming out of Amsterdam. Celtic fan arrested last year in Amsterdam after the Ajax match who has just had his first appearance in court has been totally acquitted.
• Stefan Johansen awarded Norwegian player of the year award! Bit early but I'm, sure he'd not complaining.
• Lustig injured again, this time whilst on international duty.
• Police investigating old Rangers stalwarts involved in their takeover by Craig Whyte. It never ends.
• Glasgow City Council, Celtic and the Scottish Government have been told in by the European Commission that it would not be proceeding any further with complaints that the club had benefitted from "state aid".
• "You allege that the Celtic Glasgow Football Club (sic) has benefitted from unlawful State Aid, mainly in the form of advantageous land transfers. The commission has raised the issue with UK authorities. Based on the observations received from them, the services of the commission have not been able to identify any issue regarding unlawful State Aid. In light of that assessment the commission services do not envisage to pursue the matter any further."
• The complaints focused on a series of land purchases around the east end of Glasgow by Celtic from the city council, primarily during the last decade, with the accusation the Scottish champions secured the plots at a knock-down rate. Last year, the council agreed to sell land valued at more than £750,000 to Celtic. The claim was that this had put Celtic at a competitive advantage over other clubs.
• Scott Brown signs new three year deal. Welcomed by all.
• Celtic AGM done & dusted; Celtic accept to match the Living Wage rate for employees.

Review

(CaltonBhoy of KDS forum)
We were poor and at times feckin' horrible to watch – I know Ronny is on a run of positive results and nobody can complain about that but I still don't see this plan of his whatever it is taking shape – Wee glimpses of something good here and there but even then he is let down by the players he uses and tbf has at his disposal and yet today Dundee players had more appetite for it.

Matthews is still regressing and I am no longer so sure it is game time that is lacking – Nice run and pass for the second though – As far as I am concerned Mulgrew,Commons and Stokes should now be being looked at to be replaced – I think Commons will be away – Somebody has to be prepared to buy the other two and pay their wages – Efe is a bombscare and could have cost us today – Ronny by the looks of it doesn't rate Bitton but if Brown is missing he should then play Kayal who at least is putting in a shift unlike some (see Commons). We get overrun in midfield because Commons wasn't interested and won't track back and Chico is Chico.

For once Stokes attacks a ball into the box and scores then drifts back to the wing to his hiding in plain sight role.

The Dundee players lost but put in better shifts and looked fitter than Celtic's – Given Deila's propensity towards and desire for fitness in his squad I can't figure that out.

Play like that on Thursday and next Sunday and we will come unstuck – Hopefully Brown will get the drive going again.

Teams

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• Audio Report: Paradise Report

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Stats

Celtic Dundee
Match Stats
Possession
47% 53%
90mins

Shots
14 10

On target
6 4

Corners
5 5

Fouls
12 12

Articles

Celtic 2-1 Dundee: Stokes, Guidetti earn Hoops win
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/latest/celtic-2-1-dundee-stokes-guidetti-earn-hoops-win-1-3613289
by PAUL FORSYTH

Published 22/11/2014 17:09
Print this

JOHN Guidetti’s bargaining position strengthens by the week. As efforts continue to secure him on a permanent basis, the player on loan from Manchester City underlined his value to the Scottish champions yesterday with a goal that put the game out of Dundee’s reach.

Not only did the Swede’s strike, his tenth in ten starts, add a few more pounds to the salary demanded by his representatives, it papered over the cracks of a Celtic performance that will have to be improved upon if they are to have any chance of beating Salzburg in the Europa League this week.

They were more than a little relieved by the Anthony Stokes goal that gave them a half-time lead, and when Guidetti, right, added a second shortly after the interval, they still contrived to let their opponents back into it. David Clarkson set up a nervy finish for the home side by becoming the first player in Dundee’s history to score in each of his first seven matches.

Ronny Deila, the Celtic manager, admitted that it had been a poor show by his players. Kris Commons made his first appearance since early October and it was another valuable step in the rehabilitation of James Forrest, but they missed the energy of Scott Brown, their suspended captain.

“Of course, he is very important for the team, but that’s no excuse,” said Deila. “We have national team players all over the pitch. We have good competition in the team. It’s hard to criticise when you are winning, but you also need to see behind it. We need to improve on Thursday.

“It’s about mentality. When we go 2-0 up, we should just attack them and go at them for three or four. I can’t understand why we are dropping. It should give us energy to push on.”

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It was Celtic’s fifth successive league victory, but Dundee emerged with all the credit. Paul Hartley, returning to his former club for the first time as a manager, was frustrated that his team did not earn a point to go with the one they secured against Celtic in August.

“We kept the Celtic crowd quiet and we played some good football,” said Hartley. “We know they will probably win the league, but we have shown in our two games against them that we are not a bad team to watch.”

Dundee came here to play. With Paul McGowan and Greg Stewart on either side of him, and Clarkson ahead, Gary Harkins was at the centre of a fluid front four who zipped the ball about with confidence.

Not only did they help themselves to a glut of chances in a refreshingly open first half, they played most of the football, nicking it behind their opponents in neat triangles that really ought to have produced a goal, if not two, in the first five minutes.

When McGowan stabbed a loose ball into the box, Stewart should have done better than slap it over the bar. Then, when Craig Gordon advanced to stop a low shot with his legs, Clarkson chipped it over the stranded goalkeeper. Only Virgil van Dijk’s header kept it out of the net.

Only Forrest, in his second start since returning from injury, was dangerous for the hosts. His threaded ball through the middle set up Guidetti, but Scott Bain was out quickly to block.

The Dees stuck to their principles and came again. When Clarkson returned Harkins’ corner across the face of goal, Thomas Konrad was unable to keep his header down. Gary Irvine hooked one over from close range, and Stewart – after an ambitious run from deep – saw his shot deflected wide.

Had Dundee reached the interval on level terms, Hartley would have been frustrated, so you can imagine how he felt when they fell behind on the stroke of half-time. Forrest earned the free kick, Commons whipped it in and Stokes flashed a header inside the near post.

Efe Ambrose replaced the injured Jason Denayer at the start of the second half. The defender, on loan from Manchester City, later underwent a precautionary X-ray, but was expected to be fit for the Salzburg match. “I don’t think it’s more than a hard tackle, no twisting,” said Deila.

Nine minutes later Celtic were two up. Forrest skidded a ball through to the overlapping Adam Matthews, whose low cross was swept across the line by Guidetti.

It said a lot about Dundee that even this second setback failed to stop them playing. James McPake appeared to have pulled one back when he headed in Harkins’ free kick, but the assistant linesman signalled for offside. Then they did halve the deficit. When Matthews appeared to handle in the box, there were claims for a penalty, but Clarkson had the presence of mind to take advantage by forcing his shot into the net from 12 yards.

Hartley is delighted that, while other clubs hesitated, Dundee pushed the boat out to sign Clarkson, a free agent, in September. “He has been a terrific find for us. He keeps scoring goals which is a hard thing to come by. We have got him till the end of the season, but I want to keep him longer.”

Celtic: Gordon, Matthews, Denayer (Ambrose 45), van Dijk, Izaguirre, Mulgrew, Johansen, Forrest (McGregor 78), Commons (Kayal 59), Stokes, Guidetti. Subs not used: Zaluska, Biton, Scepovic, Berget. Booked: van Dijk, Kayal. Goals: Stokes 45; Guidetti 54.

Dundee: Bain, McGinn, Konrad, McPake, Irvine, McAlister, Thomson (Ferry 73), McGowan, Harkins (Tankulic 81), Stewart (Boyle 69), Clarkson. Subs not used: Schenk, McBride, Dyer, Roberts. Booked: McGowan. Goals: Clarkson 58.

BBC
By Alasdair Lamont BBC Scotland at Celtic Park

Celtic claim fith straight league win
Stokes and Guidetti keep Ronny Deila's side top
Clarkson replied for Dundee
Celtic lead Premiership on goal difference

Celtic recorded a fifth successive Scottish Premiership win but were made to work hard for the points by Dundee.

Anthony Stokes headed the hosts in front before the break and John Guidetti continued his fine scoring form in the second half.

But Dundee pulled a goal back through David Clarkson, who scored for a seventh consecutive game.

It gave the visitors hope but leaders Celtic saw the game out.

The result keeps them ahead of nearest challengers Inverness Caledonian Thistle on goal difference.

It was far from convincing from Ronny Deila's men, though much of that was due to Dundee's desire to take the game to the home side.

Nonetheless, Celtic ground out the win and go into Thursday's match against Salzburg knowing another victory will guarantee them Europa League football beyond Christmas.
Celtic striker Anthony Stokes scores against Dundee

Stokes nodded Celtic into the lead

James Forrest had looked Celtic's liveliest player and when his strength and persistence coaxed Kevin Thomson into a foul by the corner flag, the opening goal followed.

Kris Commons drove in the free-kick and Stokes powered in at the near post to nod past Scott Bain from close range.

That was harsh on the excellent Bain and his Dundee team-mates, who had been the more enterprising side until that point.

With Gary Harkins pulling the strings, the visitors created numerous opportunities, with Virgil van Dijk heading a Clarkson chip off the line in the opening minutes and both Greg Stewart and Thomas Konrad missing the target when they should have scored.

Celtic had threatened on occasion, with Bain blocking bravely from Guidetti and Forrest just failing to end a jinking run with a finish to match.

But it was the winger who again played a pivotal role in Celtic extending their lead. He released Adam Matthews down the right and, after the full-back lifted his head to pick out Guidetti, the rest was a formality.

Dundee thought they had found an immediate response when James McPake glanced a header past Craig Gordon, only to be flagged offside, but moments later they did reduce the deficit.

The impressive Stewart tried to carve out an opening and when the ball eventually fell to Clarkson, the striker buried the ball past Gordon with the aid of a deflection.

But though that set up the prospect of a nervy finish for the home side, Dundee could not muster any more chances, meaning Celtic's winning run continues.

Live Text Commentary
Full time

Full Time Match ends, Celtic 2, Dundee 1.
90:00 +4:00 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Celtic 2, Dundee 1.
90:00 +1:11 Booking

Booking Beram Kayal (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.
90:00 +1:05

Foul by Beram Kayal (Celtic).
90:00 +1:05

Jim McAlister (Dundee) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
89:37

Attempt saved. Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
86:40

John Guidetti (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
86:40

Foul by Paul McGowan (Dundee).
86:17

Attempt missed. John Guidetti (Celtic) header from the right side of the box is high and wide to the left.
81:08

Foul by Beram Kayal (Celtic).
81:08

Luka Tankulic (Dundee) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
80:25 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Dundee. Luka Tankulic replaces Gary Harkins.
80:06

Attempt saved. Callum McGregor (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
78:00

Beram Kayal (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
77:56

Foul by David Clarkson (Dundee).
77:20 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Callum McGregor replaces James Forrest.
76:11

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Paul McGinn.
76:02

Attempt blocked. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
74:55

Attempt missed. John Guidetti (Celtic) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is high and wide to the right.
73:41 Booking

Booking Paul McGowan (Dundee) is shown the yellow card.
73:35

Stefan Johansen (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
73:35

Foul by Paul McGowan (Dundee).
72:44 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Dundee. Simon Ferry replaces Kevin Thomson.
72:23

Foul by Virgil van Dijk (Celtic).
72:23

Gary Harkins (Dundee) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
68:30 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Dundee. Martin Boyle replaces Greg Stewart.
64:00

Greg Stewart (Dundee) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
63:45

Foul by Beram Kayal (Celtic).
62:00

James McPake (Dundee) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
61:59

Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
60:59

Attempt missed. Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.
60:17

Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
60:17

Foul by Paul McGinn (Dundee).
58:40 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Beram Kayal replaces Kris Commons.
57:44 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 2, Dundee 1. David Clarkson (Dundee) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Greg Stewart.
56:37

Corner, Dundee. Conceded by Craig Gordon.
56:24

Attempt saved. Greg Stewart (Dundee) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
54:37

Foul by Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic).
54:37

Paul McGowan (Dundee) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
53:18 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 2, Dundee 0. John Guidetti (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Adam Matthews.
51:14

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jim McAlister.
49:42

Foul by John Guidetti (Celtic).
49:42

Kevin Thomson (Dundee) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
48:49

Attempt missed. Paul McGinn (Dundee) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
45:00

Second Half begins Celtic 1, Dundee 0.
45:00 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Efe Ambrose replaces Jason Denayer because of an injury.
45:00 +1:09 Half time

Half Time First Half ends, Celtic 1, Dundee 0.
45:00 +0:51

Corner, Dundee. Conceded by Charlie Mulgrew.
44:20 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 1, Dundee 0. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) header from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Kris Commons.
43:34

James Forrest (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
43:34

Foul by Kevin Thomson (Dundee).
39:39

Delay over. They are ready to continue.
39:04

Delay in match Jason Denayer (Celtic) because of an injury.
37:34

Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
37:34

Foul by Gary Harkins (Dundee).
36:57

Attempt blocked. James Forrest (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
35:47

Corner, Dundee. Conceded by Virgil van Dijk.
35:29

Attempt saved. Greg Stewart (Dundee) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
33:50

Corner, Dundee. Conceded by Virgil van Dijk.
32:24

Attempt missed. Gary Irvine (Dundee) header from the centre of the box is too high.
31:42

Corner, Dundee. Conceded by Adam Matthews.
31:15

Attempt saved. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
30:57

Attempt blocked. Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
30:32

Stefan Johansen (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
30:32

Foul by Gary Harkins (Dundee).
29:39

Hand ball by Greg Stewart (Dundee).
28:43

Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
26:38 Booking

Booking Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.
26:29

Foul by Virgil van Dijk (Celtic).
26:29

Jim McAlister (Dundee) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
26:07

Attempt blocked. John Guidetti (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
23:14

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Paul McGinn.
20:19

Attempt missed. Paul McGowan (Dundee) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the left.
17:39

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by James McPake.
14:56

Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
14:56

Jim McAlister (Dundee) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
11:00

Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
10:59

Foul by Paul McGowan (Dundee).
9:12

Attempt missed. Gary Harkins (Dundee) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
8:20

Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) header from the left side of the six yard box misses to the left.
7:52

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Paul McGinn.
7:13

Foul by Kevin Thomson (Dundee).
7:13

Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
5:42

Foul by Kevin Thomson (Dundee).
5:42

John Guidetti (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
5:09

Attempt missed. Paul McGowan (Dundee) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
4:21

Jim McAlister (Dundee) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
4:21

Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
4:10

Attempt saved. David Clarkson (Dundee) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
3:27

Gary Harkins (Dundee) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
3:27

Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
3:15

Greg Stewart (Dundee) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
3:15

Foul by Anthony Stokes (Celtic).
1:28

Foul by Gary Harkins (Dundee).
1:28

Stefan Johansen (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
0:59

Attempt missed. Greg Stewart (Dundee) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
0:00

First Half begins.
0:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

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