2020-08-22: Dundee Utd 0-1 Celtic, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 2021 – 2022

Trivia

KO: Saturday 5.30pm kick-off on Sky TV
Back to the league after Europe
Return to the top tier for Dundee Utd; first game between the two in years.
Ajeti debut goal in his debut domestic match.
No crowds due to Covid-19 ; reports that first sports attendance test event will be at Murrayfield. What a non-surprise to see the self-styled ‘establishment’ picking that ground & game for the first one! Sham! Pencilled in Sep 14th for fans to return to stadia (limited numbers).
Bayern beat Lyon in the European Cup to make the finals v PSG (Celtic faced both teams two seasons ago). Lyon team had ex-Celts Denayer & Dembele in the side.
Ex-Celt Henrik Larsson has joined Barcelona in the tech staff under new manager Ronald Koeman.
Comedy: Castore have issued apologies to Sevco supporters over complaints regarding new club merchandise.

Fans found out that there were two different locations (India & Turkey) where home strips were made, while one was noticeably poorer than the other (both shoddy quality). Cheap stuff, with even £5 school gear amended with a badge added and sold for £50-70 etc to fans!

Tony Stokes signs for Livvie! Good luck to him.

Transfers

Tom Rogic: SMSM report of 4m bid to move to Qatar; but reports Celtic willing to include Tom Rogic in deal to land Brighton’s Shane Duffy.
Celtic are in a battle with West Ham for Brighton centre-back Shane Duffy. The Republic of Ireland international is wanted on loan by Neil Lennon who is keen to bolster his backline and could cost £2m.
Reports: Celtic are once again tracking Motherwell ace David Turnbull. Replacement for Rogic?
Ex-Celt Tony Stokes to move to Livvie? Would be a good move
Rumours: Griffiths to Aberdeen on Loan?

Summary

(JBC of TheCelticWiki)

Stressful! Dundee Utd didn’t play like a team just arrived from the Championship. They defended well and had some good counterattacks. A very good performance.

Celtic dominated but couldn’t make the breakthrough, and there were too many individuals on the day. Up steps the surprising winner from Ajeti in his debut domestic match. A scrambled goal. Most had written off the points up to this point they way things were going.

Can’t go without saying: Andrew Dallas the referee. We can all go on about conspiracies BUT in this case, there’s no doubts about it in this match he was a disgrace, unwilling to book Dundee Utd players despite the repeat fouls by some of their players in particular Connelly, some of which were clear straight yellow cards. Three fouls on Eddy by same player. But not one due a card apparently.

(Bobby P of Twitter)

Despite what a lot of folk were saying I thought that was totally different from Rugby Park. Lack of composure & poor decision in the box made it harder than it should have been. Great to see Ajeti get such a big goal early on. Overall not great but an early goal & we win easily

(HC of KDS)

Goal papered over the cracks. Selection and formation baffling.

5 Centre Mids in for us (eff Tapatalk no facepalm emoji). 1 at centre half whose distribution was woeful. Christie cutting inside did ok with a few shots. Other 3 were terrible. Flabbergasted N’tcham getting nominations in the MOTM thread.

Elyounoussi either scores or is anonymous. Yesterday anonymous.

Eddy so isolated but has to be told every goal doesn’t have to be a work of art… sometimes just blast the ball towards goal.

Lennon’s tactic of having our full backs as primary creative forces was bad.

Lennon has to pick his first team, stick to it and only change it when injuries/fatigue/suspensions happen. Oh it has to be 2 up front against SPFL shampoo.

Need 2 proper full/wing backs, a centre half and another winger.

Teams

Dundee Utd

1Siegrist
30NeilsonSubstituted forFreemanat 60’minutesBooked at 90mins
5Connolly
6Reynolds
17Robson
18ButcherBooked at 80mins
20BoltonSubstituted forMcMullanat 74’minutes
23Harkes
8Pawlett
15ChalmersSubstituted forSporleat 65’minutes
10ClarkSubstituted forAppéréat 74’minutes

Substitutes

3Sporle
4Powers
7McMullan
11Smith
16King
19Mehmet
21Glass
22Freeman
27Appéré

Celtic

1Barkas
30Frimpong
2Jullien
6Bitton
3TaylorSubstituted forAjetiat 73’minutes
8BrownBooked at 83mins
42McGregorBooked at 26mins
17Christie
21NtchamSubstituted forAjerat 74’minutes
27Elyounoussi
Substituted forForrestat 62’minutes
22EdouardSubstituted forKlimalaat 86’minutes

Substitutes

10Ajeti
11Klimala
12Soro
29Bain
35Ajer
44Elhamed
49Forrest
53Harper
55McInroy

Goals

Ajeti (83′ minutes)

Referee:Andrew Dallas

Att: Zero (COVID)

Articles

Match Report (see below)

Pictures

Match Pictures

Match Links

Stats

Dundee UtdAway TeamCeltic

Possession

Home36%

Away64%

Shots

Home7

Away23

Shots on Target

Home1

Away9

Corners

Home6

Away10

Fouls

Home18

Away10

Articles

Albian Ajeti rescues Celtic as Dundee United resistance finally broken

New arrival’s first goal since £4m move from West Ham seals late win for champions

By Moira Gordon

Saturday, 22nd August 2020, 10:01 pm

Celtic’s Albian Ajeti celebrates scoring his side’s first goal of the game during the Scottish Premiership match at Tannadice Park, Dundee.
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/albian-ajeti-rescues-celtic-dundee-united-resistance-finally-broken-2950301

Celtic prevented title rivals Rangers from opening up a bigger gap at the top of the table but Dundee United did not make it easy for them.

Last season’s Championship winners did well to contain Neil Lennon’s men for long periods of the match so it was with some relief that the away side inside Tannadice celebrated substitute Albian Ajeti’s 84th-minute goal.

Celtic: Get the latest team news, match previews and reports

It was the Swiss international’s first goal for the club following his £4 million move from West Ham United.

It could have been a more straightforward outcome had United keeper Benji Siegrist not pulled off a hat-trick of superb saves from Ryan Christie and proved alert enough to thwart both Odsonne Edouard and Mohamed Elyounoussi.

He was assisted by a well-organised, hard-working and brave United side, who tried to throw their guests off rhythm and happily took the game to them at times.

Unlike their opponents, in the absence of their main goalscorer Lawrence Shankland, United lacked the killer instinct in the final third as inviting build-up play fizzled out and crosses into the danger area were not pounced on.

But there was plenty for the home side to be proud of and rivals will find them hard to break down this season and an even tougher proposition to deal with if they find a cutting edge.

Before kick-off Celtic will already have been aware of scores elsewhere and the fact that rivals Rangers had engineered a win over Kilmarnock, taking them nine points clear of the defending champions at the top of the table.

Back in domestic action for the first time since their slip up against Kilmarnock and their two-game enforced coronavirus lay-off, Celtic had been buoyed by their 6-0 spanking of Reykjavik in their midweek Champions League qualifier. But United had been paying attention to the way Kilmarnock benefitted from having a go at Celtic and getting in their faces, and they set out with the same gameplan.

In the very first minute Christopher Jullien had to be at full stretch to cut out a dangerous, low cross from United’s right flank and Peter Pawlett was down moments later, appealing for a penalty and that was followed by a few corners that ultimately amounted to nothing but gave their guests little chance to settle easily into the game or set the tempo.

Edouard did pounce on a clearance that fell for him but he failed to find the net.

As expected, the Glasgow side did get a handle on proceedings but by then, United had grown in confidence and stature, playing out from the back and picking passes forward. What they lacked at one end, in terms of a finish, they made up for at the other, defending doggedly, offering the men who had shone so brightly midweek, little chance to do likewise in an empty Tannadice.

Swarming anyone in hoops who ventured too close to goal,they restricted Celtic to long-range drives, usually from Christie and the midfielder’s frustration was evident as Siegrist pulled off one athletic save after another.

Moving the ball around, seeking a chink in the United back line, he slipped a pass into Elyounoussi, who moved it on to Greg Taylor, who switched it back to Christie for the shot but Siegrist was alert. That was in the 38th minute and the goalkeeper had to react just as quickly a couple of minutes later to rush out and block at Edouard’s feet.

Celtic continued to pile on pressure in the second half but United stood firm and the keeper foiled another rasping drive from Christie.

While many teams faced with Celtic on a charge sit deeper and deeper, the well-marshalled home side continued to push out and limit the options.

That led to a change in personnel and system as Lennon sent on Ajeti to partner Edouard and, switching to three at the back, used the width offered by the full-backs further upfield.

The breakthrough eventually came in the 84th minute when Christie again had a dig, and as he held his head in his hands as the keeper parried once more, Edouard tried to dig his way through a sea of bodies and did well to instead find Ajeti, whose shot sliced through the melee and into the net.

The shout from the United bench summed up the spirit that will make them testing competitors this term. “We go again!” screamed manager Micky Mellon as the Celtic players celebrated.

The away side will have been
wary of their hosts doing just that as they showed them the utmost respect, taking the ball for a walk into the corner for the final minutes as they worked hard to see out their victory.

BBC

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53788428

Striker Albian Ajeti’s first Celtic goal will “do his confidence the world of good,” says manager Neil Lennon.

Ajeti, on as a substitute for his league debut, hit the winner seven minutes from time at Dundee United to spare the champions from a second consecutive Scottish Premiership draw.

The 23-year-old Swiss international recently arrived in a £4.5m deal after an unhappy year at West Ham United.

“He’s had an early impact already and that’s great for us,” said Lennon.

“He’s not match fit, he’s not had a lot of football in the last 12 months. But he did great to keep the ball alive for the goal and his link-up play was good as well. It’s brilliant for him.”

Reaction & as it happened

Who was your man of the match?

United had impressively subdued Lennon’s side, who were playing their first league fixture in 13 days after having two games postponed for defender Boli Bolingoli’s quarantine transgression.

But Celtic’s pressure finally told as they found a way past inspired goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist.

United – with four players aged 22 or under – energetically harassed the visitors, who hit the post through Odsonne Edouard in the first half.

Siegrist was kept increasingly busy, with the pick of his saves a leap to turn away a Christie effort bound for the top corner.

Celtic kept pushing and substitute James Forrest fired inches over, Callum McGregor drilled wide and Edouard grazed the bar with a free-kick.

Their perseverance finally paid off when Siegrist could only palm a Christie drive into the air and Ajeti collected the rebound to fire past three despairing United players on the goal line.

Man of the match – Benjamin Siegrist

Defeat was cruel on the Dundee United goalkeeper, whose heroics looked to have secured a point for his side

What did we learn?

Celtic looked better suited to a front two. Ajeti’s introduction off the bench gave sole striker Edouard a partner up front and led to the crucial breakthrough. Ajeti didn’t come cheap at £4.5m from West Ham United, but the 23-year-old’s contribution in this tight Tannadice tussle could prove priceless months down the line.

United, meanwhile, already look an accomplished Premiership side just five games in. Micky Mellon has them well drilled and disciplined, with a blend of youth and experience that should keep them clear of any relegation worries.

What did they say?

Dundee Utd boss Mellon ‘pleased but frustrated’

Dundee Utd manager Micky Mellon: “I’m pleased with my players and very frustrated at not getting something from the game. It gives us something to work from. We have a lot of talented young players with great desire.”

Celtic manager Neil Lennon: “The players’ attitude was tremendous, they didn’t get frustrated and kept going. We got the goal we thoroughly deserved – we were outstanding at times. I think 1-0 flattered Dundee United.”

‘We were outstanding at times’

What’s next?

Celtic switch focus to Europe on Wednesday with a Champions League second-round qualifier at home to Ferencvaros, before returning to Premiership business at home to Motherwell next Saturday.

United are also in Saturday action as they look to bounce back from a second successive home defeat when they travel to Kilmarnock.

Match ends, Dundee United 0, Celtic 1.
90’+4′
Full Time
Second Half ends, Dundee United 0, Celtic 1.
90’+3′
Booking
Kieran Freeman (Dundee United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90’+3′
Post update
Patryk Klimala (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90’+3′
Post update
Foul by Kieran Freeman (Dundee United).
90’+2′
Post update
Attempt saved. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jeremie Frimpong with a cross.
90’+1′
Post update
Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by James Forrest.
90′
Post update
Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90′
Post update
Foul by Calum Butcher (Dundee United).
87′
Post update
Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
87′
Post update
Foul by Louis Appéré (Dundee United).
86′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Patryk Klimala replaces Odsonne Edouard.
84′
Post update
Ryan Christie (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
84′
Post update
Foul by Jamie Robson (Dundee United).
83′
Booking
Scott Brown (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.
83′
Goal!
Goal! Dundee United 0, Celtic 1. Albian Ajeti (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.
82′
Post update
Attempt saved. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Scott Brown.
81′
Post update
Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) hits the bar with a right footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.
80′
Booking
Calum Butcher (Dundee United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
80′
Post update
Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
80′
Post update
Foul by Calum Butcher (Dundee United).
78′
Post update
Attempt missed. Callum McGregor (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Albian Ajeti.
78′
Post update
Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
78′
Post update
Foul by Calum Butcher (Dundee United).
77′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jamie Robson.
76′
Post update
Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
76′
Post update
Foul by Adrián Sporle (Dundee United).
75′
Post update
Callum McGregor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
75′
Post update
Foul by Adrián Sporle (Dundee United).
74′
Substitution
Substitution, Dundee United. Louis Appéré replaces Nicky Clark.
74′
Substitution
Substitution, Dundee United. Paul McMullan replaces Luke Bolton.
74′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Kristoffer Ajer replaces Olivier Ntcham.
73′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Albian Ajeti replaces Greg Taylor.
73′
Post update
Attempt missed. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Odsonne Edouard.
71′
Post update
Foul by Callum McGregor (Celtic).
71′
Post update
Luke Bolton (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
71′
Post update
Greg Taylor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
71′
Post update
Foul by Nicky Clark (Dundee United).
69′
Post update
Foul by Olivier Ntcham (Celtic).
69′
Post update
Luke Bolton (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
68′
Post update
Attempt saved. Jamie Robson (Dundee United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Nicky Clark.
65′
Substitution
Substitution, Dundee United. Adrián Sporle replaces Logan Chalmers.
63′
Post update
Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
63′
Post update
Foul by Ian Harkes (Dundee United).
62′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. James Forrest replaces Mohamed Elyounoussi.
61′
Post update
Foul by Olivier Ntcham (Celtic).
61′
Post update
Kieran Freeman (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
60′
Post update
Foul by Christopher Jullien (Celtic).
60′
Post update
Mark Connolly (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
60′
Substitution
Substitution, Dundee United. Kieran Freeman replaces Lewis Neilson.
59′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Mark Reynolds.
57′
Post update
Attempt missed. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Scott Brown.
55′
Post update
Attempt missed. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Olivier Ntcham.
54′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jamie Robson.
53′
Post update
Offside, Dundee United. Logan Chalmers tries a through ball, but Mark Connolly is caught offside.
53′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Logan Chalmers (Dundee United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
52′
Post update
Foul by Nir Bitton (Celtic).
52′
Post update
Luke Bolton (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
48′
Post update
Attempt saved. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Greg Taylor.
47′
Post update
Attempt missed. Christopher Jullien (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Ryan Christie with a cross following a corner.
46′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Benjamin Siegrist.
46′
Post update
Attempt saved. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Callum McGregor.
Second Half
Second Half begins Dundee United 0, Celtic 0.
45’+2′
Half Time
First Half ends, Dundee United 0, Celtic 0.
45’+1′
Post update
Olivier Ntcham (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
45’+1′
Post update
Foul by Mark Connolly (Dundee United).
44′
Post update
Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Scott Brown.
43′
Post update
Hand ball by Olivier Ntcham (Celtic).
43′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Peter Pawlett.
42′
Post update
Attempt missed. Ryan Christie (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Callum McGregor.
42′
Post update
Greg Taylor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
42′
Post update
Foul by Luke Bolton (Dundee United).
41′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Mark Connolly.
40′
Post update
Attempt missed. Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic) left footed shot from very close range misses to the left.
40′
Post update
Attempt saved. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mohamed Elyounoussi.
38′
Post update
Foul by Jeremie Frimpong (Celtic).
38′
Post update
Mark Connolly (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
38′
Post update
Attempt saved. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Callum McGregor.
36′
Post update
Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
36′
Post update
Foul by Mark Connolly (Dundee United).
35′
Post update
Attempt saved. Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Nir Bitton.
34′
Post update
Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Jeremie Frimpong.
33′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Olivier Ntcham (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Greg Taylor.
33′
Post update
Attempt missed. Luke Bolton (Dundee United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Ian Harkes.
31′
Post update
Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
31′
Post update
Mark Connolly (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
31′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jamie Robson.
31′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mohamed Elyounoussi.
30′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Greg Taylor.
28′
Post update
Attempt missed. Nir Bitton (Celtic) with an attempt from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Ryan Christie with a cross following a set piece situation.
28′
Post update
Jeremie Frimpong (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
28′
Post update
Foul by Logan Chalmers (Dundee United).
27′
Post update
Attempt missed. Nicky Clark (Dundee United) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Luke Bolton.
26′
Booking
Callum McGregor (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
25′
Post update
Foul by Callum McGregor (Celtic).
25′
Post update
Luke Bolton (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
24′
Post update
Ryan Christie (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
24′
Post update
Foul by Jamie Robson (Dundee United).
23′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Mark Reynolds.
21′
Post update
Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Scott Brown.
21′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Mark Reynolds (Dundee United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Peter Pawlett with a cross.
20′
Post update
Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Greg Taylor.
19′
Post update
Foul by Nir Bitton (Celtic).
19′
Post update
Nicky Clark (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
18′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jamie Robson.
16′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jamie Robson.
14′
Post update
Attempt saved. Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Callum McGregor.
13′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Nicky Clark (Dundee United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ian Harkes.
13′
Post update
Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the centre of the box.
12′
Post update
Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
12′
Post update
Foul by Mark Reynolds (Dundee United).
11′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
10′
Post update
Olivier Ntcham (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
10′
Post update
Foul by Mark Connolly (Dundee United).
7′
Post update
Jeremie Frimpong (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
7′
Post update
Foul by Peter Pawlett (Dundee United).
2′
Post update
Attempt missed. Lewis Neilson (Dundee United) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Peter Pawlett with a cross following a corner.
1′
Post update
Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Christopher Jullien.
Kick Off
First Half begins.
Posted at 18:36 22 Aug18:36 22 Aug
Post update
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

From <https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53788428>

…