2014-12-21: Dundee United 2-1 Celtic, SP

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

Trivia

• D Utd's first victory over Celtic in 2.5 years. D Utd go second in the league.
• Celtic on 28pts 4 points ahead of D Utd.
• Scepovic goal rulled offside when clearly was onside by a good margin.
• United fans to Celtic "Are you Rangers in disguise ". Bravo.
• Celtic lose appeal in Alexsandar Tonev case. 7 match ban for racially abusing Shay Logan stands, 1 match already served. Bizarre outcome.
• Tonev rumored to be heading out to Werder Bremen in January.
• Tonev loses appeal despite no evidence that he made a racist remark. Farcical.
• UEFA Cup draw for next round done: Celtic draw Inter Milan. Cue moans of not another trip to Milan and others happy as Larry going on again about Lisbon 67. We enjoy it all amd welcome it all.
• Rangers announcement that Manager McCoist has resigned and the will work out an amicable agreement as McCoist gave 12mth notice and so requesting £750k salary (doubling his salary!). Next announced McCoist is not resigning….. All laughable.

Review

(SweetLeftPeg of KDS)
Really enjoyed the game.We were unfortunate to lose.The wind made controlling the ball
difficult for both teams.United were certainly better organised than last time we played them.
~Terrible decision by Asst.Ref to chalk off our goal.DU wasted as much time as poss.with slowest
ballboys in the country.

United are a good side and got a few breaks in the match.
Individually ,there were no stand-outs—Brown,Johansen and sub Griffiths were a cut above.
Guidetti looks as if he could do with a wee rest and Scepovic could be a good player for us in
the future.Wasn't convinced we should have had a pen.Even with a strong wind it was an entertaining
match and the foul count reflected that(7-7).

New firm of DU and Aberdeen could be making a comeback :pray:
Kiftci(sp)was a handful for them,though he may have a temperament problem.Although Forrest wasn't
particularly prominent today,he's still miles better than McGregor.Matthews looks as if he's lost his burst of pace.

Teams

Articles

• Match Report (see end of page below)
• Audio Report: Paradise Report

Pictures

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MOTM

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• Winner –

Stats

Dundee United Celtic

Possession
53% 47%
90mins
Shots
6 17
On target
6 7
Corners
6 5
Fouls
10 9

Articles

Dundee United 2-1 Celtic: United close gap
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/dundee-united-2-1-celtic-united-close-gap-1-3640463
Published on the 21 December
2014
14:17
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62 comments Have your say!

DUNDEE United boss Jackie McNamara masterminded his first victory over former club Celtic as a 2-1 Tannadice win fired the Tangerines back into the Scottish Premiership title race.

Scorers: Dundee United – Ciftci (5), Armstrong (65); Celtic – Griffiths (87)

Celtic were going for nine league wins in a row but goals from Nadir Ciftci and Stuart Armstrong moved United up to second, just four points behind the leaders.

Stefan Scepovic had a goal wrongly disallowed for the visitors late on before fellow substitute Leigh Griffiths pulled one back. The former Hibernian striker also hit the post in injury time but United held on for their first win against the Glasgow giants since May 2012 as they became just the third side after Hamilton and Inverness to beat Ronny Deila’s team in league action this term.

United started without Paul Paton as the midfielder started the first of his controversial two-match ban for spitting at Jonny Hayes – a punishment issued despite the Aberdeen man backing Paton’s claim he had done no wrong.

The standard for a frenetic encounter was set after just 30 seconds when Ciftci was booked for clattering into Scott Brown, and the hosts went ahead after four minutes. Sean Dillon was allowed to attack down the right before cutting the ball inside for Armstrong. The United playmaker tried to find Ciftci but saw Nir Bitton divert his pass into the box, while Efe Ambrose swiped at fresh air to put Celtic in trouble.

Ciftci had continued his run and made the most of the Nigerian’s blunder as he turned and fired past the helpless Craig Gordon.

Celtic upped the tempo further but first they saw Callum Morris make a goal-saving interception after Stefan Johansen knocked a header down for John Guidetti, and were then denied by Rado Cierzniak as the Polish stopper raced from his line to block at Johansen’s feet.

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United were dangerous on the break though and Gordon denied them a second goal with a great one-handed stop from Conor Townsend’s drive.

Celtic claimed for a penalty on the half-hour mark after Dillon barged into Guidetti but referee Stevie McLean ruled it a fair challenge. Bitton then hit the crossbar just before the break – but the Israeli did not know much about it. Johansen’s near-post corner was punched by Cierzniak onto Bitton’s head and it ricocheted onto the woodwork. Virgil van Dijk followed up but Dillon was well placed to clear off the line.

The crossbar rattled again eight minutes into the second half. Johansen showed his bravery as he won the ball in midfield before sweeping it out left to Anthony Stokes. The Irishman’s cross was poor but Dillon could only watch with horror as his miscue bounced up against the frame of the goal before James Forrest put the rebound into the side-netting.

Deila hoped to gee up his attack as he replaced Stokes and Guidetti with Scepovic and Kris Commons after an hour.

But five minutes later it was United celebrating again. Emilio Izaguirre allowed Ciftci to collect Dillon’s throw down in the right corner and did nothing to prevent the Turk rolling into the box.

There did not appear to be much on but the United striker stood up a magnificent cross to the far post where Armstrong lay unmarked to squeeze home a header.

Commons hit a weak effort straight at Cierzniak while Scepovic saw his close-range strike wrongly ruled out. Izaguirre had chested the ball down for the Serbian from Johansen’s cross-field pass but television replays showed Blair Spittal was playing Scepovic onside as he turned the ball home.

United nearly had a third as Izaguirre had to block Chris Erskine’s header from underneath his own crossbar.

Griffiths, who had replaced Bitton, gave Celtic hope as he poked through Cierzniak’s legs from Scepovic’s pass before smashing a 20-yard strike against the base of the post in stoppage time as United held on.

BBC
By Andy Campbell BBC Sport Scotland
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30467735
United win to go second in Premiership
Ciftci and Armstrong score goals for hosts
Griffiths nets for Celtic
Leaders' third league defeat of campaign

Dundee United beat Celtic to go second in the Premiership and move to within four points of the league leaders.

Nadir Ciftci held off the challenge of Efe Ambrose to fire United into an early lead.

Celtic hit the frame of the goal twice before Stuart Armstrong got the hosts' second by nodding in Ciftci's cross.

Leigh Griffiths finished well to reduce the visitors' deficit and came very close to an equaliser when his low strike came back off the post.

Jackie McNamara's side went ahead of Aberdeen on goal difference, while Ronny Deila's team, who had won their previous eight league games, suffered their first top-flight defeat since early October and their third overall this season.

Ciftci had an eventful opening to the match, getting booked in the first minute for a clumsy tackle on Scott Brown before finding the net.

Armstrong's deflected pass evaded Ambrose and Ciftci's close control and strength allowed him to brush off the Nigerian defender's attempt at a recovery and lift the ball past goalkeeper Craig Gordon.
Nadir Ciftci celebrates after scoring for Dundee United against Celtic

Ciftci scored his eighth goal of the season to give United the lead

Celtic's response was to stretch United on the flanks and both James Forrest and Stefan Johansen troubled the home defence without achieving a telling delivery.

However, Johansen was in on goal after playing a one-two with John Guidetti and goalkeeper Radoslaw Cierzniak was quick off his line to make the block.

United remained dangerous in attack, though, and Conor Townsend drew a save from Gordon after venturing forward from left-back.

Guidetti went down in the box after being closed down by Sean Dillon – prompting loud shouts for a penalty from the travelling fans – but referee Steven McLean said Dillon's challenge was a legitimate shoulder charge.

United's resistance was further tested when Cierzniak's attempted clearance from a Johansen corner ricocheted on to the crossbar off Nir Bitton's head and Virgil van Dijk's rebound header was cleared off the line by Jaroslaw Fojut.

Ambrose continued to struggle with the threat of Ciftci in the second half and conceded possession too easily on one occasion, leading to the striker testing Gordon with a low shot.

Dillon almost scored an own goal when his header from Anthony Stokes's cross looped up and bounced off the right-hand post, Forrest unable to convert the rebound.

Stokes then headed off target moments before he and Guidetti were replaced by Kris Commons and Stefan Scepovic.

However, it was United's attackers who made the most impact in the wake of the double change with Ciftci's perseverance again proving crucial.

This time, the Turkish forward held off Emilio Izaguirre on the right and dinked the ball to the back post for the unmarked Armstrong to head off Gordon and into the net.

Scepovic thought he had reduced Celtic's deficit when he finished crisply from Izaguirre's chested pass, but the offside flag cut short the substitute's celebrations. However, television replays showed the Serbian had been onside.

Izaguirre cleared Chris Erskine's header off the line moments later and the end-to-end nature of the contest continued when Bitton's replacement, Griffiths, ran on to Commons' pass and placed the ball firmly past Cierzniak for Celtic's goal.

The visitors hit the woodwork for a third time when Griffiths' effort from around 20 yards struck Cierzniak's left-hand post in stoppage time.

Live Text Commentary
Full time

Full Time Match ends, Dundee United 2, Celtic 1.
90:00 +3:09 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Dundee United 2, Celtic 1.
90:00 +2:58

Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Emilio Izaguirre.
90:00 +2:39

Blair Spittal (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90:00 +2:39

Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
90:00 +1:14

Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) hits the right post with a left footed shot from outside the box.
90:00 +0:03

Attempt saved. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
89:26

Foul by Ryan Dow (Dundee United).
89:26

Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
86:58 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Dundee United 2, Celtic 1. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kris Commons.
86:06

Calum Butcher (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
86:06

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
84:50

Attempt missed. Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right following a set piece situation.
84:24

Foul by Jaroslaw Fojut (Dundee United).
84:24

Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
83:16

Attempt blocked. Chris Erskine (Dundee United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
82:54

Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Stefan Johansen.
81:44 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Dundee United. Ryan Dow replaces Nadir Ciftci.
79:42 Booking

Booking Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.
79:23

Nadir Ciftci (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
79:23

Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
77:43 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Leigh Griffiths replaces Nir Bitton.
77:11

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Callum Morris.
76:14

Nadir Ciftci (Dundee United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
76:14

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
71:26

Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
69:00

James Forrest (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
68:56

Foul by Chris Erskine (Dundee United).
66:00

Kris Commons (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
65:56

Foul by Sean Dillon (Dundee United).
64:15 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Dundee United 2, Celtic 0. Stuart Armstrong (Dundee United) header from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Nadir Ciftci.
63:43

Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Efe Ambrose.
62:44

Attempt missed. Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left following a corner.
62:07

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Sean Dillon.
61:46

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Stuart Armstrong.
59:28 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Kris Commons replaces Anthony Stokes.
59:18 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Stefan Scepovic replaces John Guidetti.
58:49

Attempt missed. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is too high.
55:03

Foul by Chris Erskine (Dundee United).
55:03

Adam Matthews (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
53:55

Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Emilio Izaguirre.
52:50

Attempt missed. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
46:56

Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Craig Gordon.
46:38

Attempt saved. Nadir Ciftci (Dundee United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
45:00

Second Half begins Dundee United 1, Celtic 0.
45:00 +1:03 Half time

Half Time First Half ends, Dundee United 1, Celtic 0.
45:00 +0:34

Attempt saved. John Guidetti (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
41:12

Conor Townsend (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
41:12

Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
39:04

Efe Ambrose (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
39:04

Foul by Nadir Ciftci (Dundee United).
38:10

Attempt blocked. Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is blocked.
37:57

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Calum Butcher.
37:02

Foul by John Rankin (Dundee United).
37:02

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
35:19

Attempt missed. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right.
32:16

Foul by Stuart Armstrong (Dundee United).
32:16

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
30:52

Attempt missed. Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
29:32

Attempt blocked. John Guidetti (Celtic) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is blocked.
28:39

Foul by Calum Butcher (Dundee United).
28:39

Nir Bitton (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
23:07

Attempt saved. Conor Townsend (Dundee United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
21:44

Attempt missed. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is just a bit too high.
17:31

Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
17:31

Calum Butcher (Dundee United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
16:10

Attempt saved. Jaroslaw Fojut (Dundee United) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
15:34

Hand ball by Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic).
14:40

Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Adam Matthews.
13:29

Attempt saved. Stefan Johansen (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
9:46

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Callum Morris.
9:02

Attempt saved. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
8:04

Attempt missed. Stefan Johansen (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high.
4:02 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Dundee United 1, Celtic 0. Nadir Ciftci (Dundee United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
2:21

Foul by Adam Matthews (Celtic).
2:21

Conor Townsend (Dundee United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
2:03

John Guidetti (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
2:03

Foul by Calum Butcher (Dundee United).
0:38 Booking

Booking Nadir Ciftci (Dundee United) is shown the yellow card.
0:24

Nadir Ciftci (Dundee United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
0:24

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
0:00

First Half begins.
0:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

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