2015-04-26: Dundee United 0-3 Celtic, SP

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

Trivia

• First match post league split.
• First match since the multiple set of cup and league matches a few weeks back between our two sides.
• Griffiths hat trick. Really grown as a player. Being nicknamed as the Tunnock Teacake Kid.
• Rumours growing of interest in players over the summer including a new centre half from Belgium.
• Noises rise over the headache from the Scottish Cup Semi-Final following the penalty not given. Outsiders stepping in, SFA undefire for poor match one game ban of Meekin for his handball to stop Griffiths goal (later rescinded). Lots of people giving Celtic stick even though the club has done nothing wrong and only asked for clarification of the incidents in question.
• Ex Hun John Brown tries to make digs at Celtic for not winning the treble. His wit is so blunt we just all laugh at him, he just howls at the moon as one commentator said of him once before.
• Johansen, van Dijk and Denayer nominated for SP player of the year awards. Sadly Gordon not nominated but still a wonderful season for him.
• Ex-Celt Andre Blackman in trouble getting community service order to escape jail after stealing £1k jacket from store. Played only three times for Celtic and then cut. By age 24 he'd been involved and cut from around 11 teams.
• After today, 17% of all games Dundee United will have played this season will have been against Celtic.

Review

(columbo of KDS)
Glossing over the first half……

We were great.
United couldn't live with us – Griffiths proving what an asset he is to us.
Bitton tremendous again.

From my ( very poor ) viewpoint at the other end of the ground I couldn't tell if the tackle for the penalty was inside the box but it looked like a malicious hack by a limited grunter on a talented footballer.

United fans turn out was poor but I was surprised by the number of empty seats in our sections of the main stand.

There were so few in our area ,just above the tunnel ,that we never even got a full Ronny Roar – he gave us a mini version – he looked as if he was knocking on a door.

(joebhoy of KDS)
Armstrong is no use on either wing…it just isn't his position. Surely Johansen is first choice for the middle spot, and Ronny clearly thinks he's fit enough to play 95% of the games.

Must admit to ignorance regarding Armstrong's favoured position whilst at DU, but could he not be better used to add some strength in depth to the sitting midfield position? Brown and Bitton are great just now but may suffer a dose of the non-competition fever suffered by Izaguirre in the last couple of years. Brown was certainly slack today, although that's an exception to the rule.

Another option in their cannot do any harm, there are plenty in the front 4, which will not doubt be added to in the summer.

On a side note, I think GMS is a tremendously talented player, quick, excellent balance, can beat a man with ease and has the final finish to back it all up. He'll be a real asset moving forward.

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Stats

Dundee United Celtic
Possession
65%
35%
90mins
Shots
5 8
On target
3 5
Corners
3 11
Fouls
4 8

Articles

Dundee Utd 0 – 3 Celtic: Griffiths gets hat-trick

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/dundee-utd-0-3-celtic-griffiths-gets-hat-trick-1-3754887

14:35Sunday 26 April 2015

CELTIC striker Leigh Griffiths grabbed a second-half hat-trick against Dundee United to take the Hoops eight points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a 3-0 win at Tannadice.

Goalkeeper Craig Gordon made a fine save from United’s 19-year-old striker Robbie Muirhead in the goalless first half before the former Wolves player struck.

Two minutes after the restart he took a pass from Stefan Johansen before drilling an angled drive past Radoslaw Cierzniak and then beat the United man from much closer range in the 65th minute to effectively seal the win.

With eight minutes remaining referee William Collum adjudged that United skipper John Rankin brought down substitute Gary Mackay-Steven inside the box – there were some suggestions he made the wrong call – which allowed Griffiths to slam in his third and re-establish Celtic’s advantage over Aberdeen at the top of the table with four games remaining.

There might be some focus on the penalty award given the furore which followed the spot-kick the Hoops were denied in last week’s William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Inverness at Hampden, but this time it had no bearing on the outcome with Ronny Deila’s men deserving to win the seventh meeting of the season between the clubs.

Deila brought back midfielders Johansen and Kris Commons and right-back Adam Matthews as James Forrest, Mackay-Steven and Efe Ambrose dropped to the bench.

With Nadir Ciftci suspended and Calum Butcher and Mario Bilate joining Paul Paton and Ryan Dow on the injury list, United also showed three changes.

Muirhead made his first start since signing from Kilmarnock in February while midfielders Rankin and Blair Spittal returned.

The visitors started the better of the two teams but the game took a while to warm up.

Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk headed a corner from former United midfielder Stuart Armstrong over the crossbar in the 16th minute which appeared to jolt the home side into life.

United midfielder Charlie Telfer swung in a dangerous cross from the right, which evaded everyone before running out the other side of the penalty box, seconds before Tannadice defender Ryan McGowan glanced a Telfer corner wide of the far post.

The Taysiders slowly grew in confidence as the game unfolded

In the 21st minute a speculative 20-yard drive from Muirhead drew a fine fingertip save from Gordon at the expense of a corner which came to nothing before the Parkhead men responded.

In another spell of pressure Armstrong set up Van Dijk with a cut-back but his drive from 10 yards was half-blocked by Dundee United stopper Callum Morris with Cierzniak making the save.

Celtic skipper Scott Brown picked up a booking for a challenge on United counterpart Rankin but referee Collum was winning his battle to keep control.

Brown was involved in Griffiths’ goal just after the start of the second half when he slipped the ball to Johansen who, in turn, quickly put in the unmarked Griffiths who confidently drilled the ball past Cierzniak and into the far corner of the net.

Whatever anxieties had been expressed in the Hoops dressing room at the break evaporated.

A brilliant cross from Johansen in the 51st minute found Commons whose close-range header was brilliantly saved by Cierzniak, the goalkeeper following it up with further saves from the former Derby player and Johansen, before Van Dijk came close with a free-kick.

Mackay-Steven replaced former United team-mate Armstrong to help the Parkhead men strengthen their grip on the game and the second goal came soon afterwards from a Commons corner, although it was rather messy.

Van Dijk and Morris competed for the header and when it came off the post Griffiths eventually got the ball over the line before taking the acclaim of the travelling fans behind the goal.

United kept on going but without much conviction and Celtic came close in the 81st minute when Mackay-Steven rattled the crossbar with a drive from the edge of the box.

The destination of the points were settled but Collum pointed to the spot after Mackay-Steven was pulled down by Rankin and after a delay, Griffiths drove in the penalty to take his tally for the season to 18 and the Parkhead men a little closer to their fourth successive title.

BBC
By Clive Lindsay BBC Sport Scotland

Leaders Celtic back to eight points clear
Celtic could win title next weekend
Leigh Griffiths' second hat-trick in 11 days
Dundee United remain in fifth place

Leigh Griffiths' second-half hat-trick handed Celtic a victory over Dundee United that gives them the chance to win the Premiership title next weekend.

A depleted and youthful home side had competed bravely until Griffiths' clinical low finish two minutes after the break at Tannadice.

The striker added a close-range finish and a third from the penalty spot.

Celtic can secure the title on Saturday should they defeat Dundee on Friday and Aberdeen fail to beat Dundee United.

Griffiths completed the scoring after Gary Mackay-Steven was felled by John Rankin.

Referee Willie Collum appeared to have erred as the offence looked a yard outside the penalty box, but by then it mattered little with Celtic cruising to a victory that puts them within touching distance of their fourth consecutive title with four games remaining.

United end the weekend in fifth, their season having gone downhill since Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong were sold to Celtic in January and being overtaken by St Johnstone after the Perth side's win over Dundee on Saturday.

That run of six defeats in seven outings included three at the hands of the Glasgow side in three different competitions.

Their chances of reversing that trend were hampered further by injuries that have ended the season early for Paul Paton, Ryan Dow and Mario Bilate, while top striker Nadir Ciftci was also sidelined through suspension.
Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths shakes hands with Dundee Utd keeper Radoslaw Cierzniak after collecting the match ball at full-time

Leigh Griffiths collected the match ball at the final whistle

It meant a first start up front for their January arrival from Kilmarnock, Robbie Muirhead, one of four teenagers lining up against a side that could afford to drop internationals James Forrest, Efe Ambrose and Mackay-Steven to the bench.

The bulk of traffic was predictably flowing towards the United goal, but it was Muirhead who forced the first save of the match after 20 minutes, his 22-yard snap shot forcing Craig Gordon to warm his international-quality fingertips.

Stung by that, Celtic responded by upping the pressure, but the only time they managed to evade the brave blocks and lunges in the United defence, a controlled Virgil van Dijk side-foot flew straight at goalkeeper Radoslaw Cierzniak.

United were dangerous breaking forward and their youthful line-up was giving the reigning champions the kind of test they had failed to deliver in the League Cup final, the Scottish Cup quarter-final and the league game that followed.

Yet, after all that hard work, the home side left their vigilance in the dressing-room shortly after the break when Stefan Johansen picked out Griffiths unmarked wide inside a crowded penalty area and the striker fired low into the far corner.

Celtic had a fresh spring in their step and Cierzniak did well to push away a Kris Commons diving header and then a powerful drive from Johansen.

United's confidence once more crumbling, their chances of recovery were effectively extinguished when Griffiths forced the ball over the line from close range after it crashed off the inside of the post and across the face of goal when Van Dijk rose to challenge Callum Morris.

Mackay-Steven had already fired a thunderbolt off the post before the substitute's powerful run pierced his former side's defence only to be cut down by Rankin and hand Griffiths a match ball-winning finale – his second hat-trick within 11 days.

Live Text Commentary
Full time

Full Time Match ends, Dundee United 0, Celtic 3.
90:00 +3:10 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Dundee United 0, Celtic 3.
90:00 +3:02

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by John Rankin.
90:00 +2:33

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jaroslaw Fojut.
90:00

Aidan Connolly (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
89:48

Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
84:21 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Dundee United. Henri Anier replaces Chris Erskine.
83:39 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Dundee United 0, Celtic 3. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
82:18 Booking

Booking John Rankin (Dundee United) is shown the yellow card.
82:04

Penalty Celtic. Gary Mackay-Steven draws a foul in the penalty area.
82:04

Penalty conceded by John Rankin (Dundee United) after a foul in the penalty area.
81:13

Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) hits the bar with a left footed shot from the centre of the box.
80:44

Foul by John Souttar (Dundee United).
80:44

Kris Commons (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
77:42 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Dundee United. Aidan Connolly replaces Blair Spittal.
74:22

Foul by Nir Bitton (Celtic).
74:22

John Souttar (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
71:11 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. James Forrest replaces Stefan Johansen because of an injury.
68:39 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Dundee United. Alistair Coote replaces Charlie Telfer.
68:27 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Efe Ambrose replaces Adam Matthews.
64:34 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Dundee United 0, Celtic 2. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner following a corner.
64:05

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jaroslaw Fojut.
63:21

Blair Spittal (Dundee United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
63:21

Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
62:20

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jaroslaw Fojut.
62:01

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jaroslaw Fojut.
59:54 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Gary Mackay-Steven replaces Stuart Armstrong.
59:33

Attempt missed. Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left from a direct free kick.
58:40

Foul by John Rankin (Dundee United).
58:40

Kris Commons (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
58:10

Attempt saved. Stefan Johansen (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
55:38

Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
52:27

Attempt saved. Robbie Muirhead (Dundee United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
50:01

John Rankin (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
50:01

Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
46:38 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Dundee United 0, Celtic 1. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Stefan Johansen.
45:00

Second Half begins Dundee United 0, Celtic 0.
45:00 +1:33 Half time

Half Time First Half ends, Dundee United 0, Celtic 0.
44:41

Attempt missed. Chris Erskine (Dundee United) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
44:23

Blair Spittal (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
44:23

Foul by Nir Bitton (Celtic).
41:51

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jaroslaw Fojut.
36:31

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ryan McGowan.
34:57

Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Jason Denayer.
30:53 Booking

Booking Scott Brown (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.
30:50

John Rankin (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
30:50

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
27:40

Attempt saved. Robbie Muirhead (Dundee United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
25:35

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Paul Dixon.
25:17

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Paul Dixon.
20:40

Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Craig Gordon.
20:24

Attempt saved. Robbie Muirhead (Dundee United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
19:17

(Dundee United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
19:17

Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
19:04

Attempt missed. Ryan McGowan (Dundee United) header from the centre of the box misses to the right following a corner.
18:52

Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Virgil van Dijk.
14:15

Attempt missed. Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) header from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses the top left corner following a corner.
14:00

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jaroslaw Fojut.
6:15

Foul by Callum Morris (Dundee United).
6:15

Jason Denayer (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
5:33

Charlie Telfer (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
5:33

Foul by Nir Bitton (Celtic).
0:00

First Half begins.
0:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

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