2015-08-22: Dundee United 1-3 Celtic, SP

Trivia

• Celtic second on 13pts, Hearts with maximum 15pts after 5 games played.
  
• Debut for Thompson and Scott Allan.
• Mainly a reserve side today cover for important game on Tuesday coming.
• Irn-Bru ending 30p returnable glass bottles after more than 100 years, A.G. Barr has announced. A major part of youth for so many over so many years gone by, collecting the leftover bottles on the streets and work sites, or leftover at home to buy sweeties at the corner shop! Carrying the big bottle under your arm then running down to the shops. Ah blessed days.
• Tuesday's upcoming game v Malmo is the most important 90 mins of the whole season, winner gets into the
• Champions League Group stages. Celtic ballsed up a bit with two goals conceded, but still leading 3-2 from first leg.
• Transfers in: Dedryk Boyata (Man City), Saidy Jonka (Man U free) ; Ciftci (Dundee Utd £1.5m), Scott Allan (Hibs £250k)
• Transfers out: Joe Chalmers (to Motherwell) ; Tonev (end loan); Guidetti (end loan); Wakaso (end loan); Zaluska (free); John Herron (free), Amido Balde (free) ; Fridjonsson (free to Reykjavik) ; Adam Matthews (£2m to Sunderland); Paul McMullan (loan to St Mirren), Michael Duffy (Alloa season long loan), Connor McManus (Alloa season long loan) ; Jackson Irvine (to Ross County); Liam Henderson (Hibs loan)

Review

(JTheGreen on KDS)
was expecting a harder game when i saw that line up but it was easy.
really enjoyed the first half..Commons should have had a hat trick alone.

Rogic was great..looks better deeper…Janko had a good first half then held back 2nd.
O'Connell if he had pace would be really good player, uses the ball well..Allan looked good when he came on.

funny that players that were starters for us in the CL a few seasons ago aren't seen as good enough to start for us now.
Stokes, Commons, Mulgrew, Ambrose.

got a feeling that Mulgrew might start at LB on Tuesday.

Teams

Articles

• Match Report (see end of page below)

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MOTM

• Voting Thread
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• Winner –

Stats

Dundee UnitedCeltic
Possession
64% 36%
90mins
Shots
6 15
On target
3 6
Corners
6 8
Fouls
10 11

Articles

Dundee United 1-3 Celtic: Ronny Deila's selection gamble pays off
STV
22 August 2015 14:45 BST

http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/celtic/1327151-dundee-united-1-3-celtic-ronny-deilas-selection-gamble-pays-off/Leigh Griffiths, Celtic, Dundee United
Form: Leigh Griffiths continued his scoring streak by netting the opener.SNS Group

Ronny Delia saw his selection gamble pay off as Celtic beat Dundee United 3-1 despite making nine changes.

Deila rested most of his team following Wednesday's 3-2 victory over Malmo, with the second leg of the Champions League play-off to come on Tuesday in Sweden.

Celtic lost 1-0 at Inverness at this stage last year after Delia made 10 changes in between their unsuccessful qualifiers against Maribor, but a United side fresh from a 4-0 drubbing at Hamilton offered little threat.

Leigh Griffiths opened the scoring in the 17th minute at Tannadice and Celtic should have been out of sight before half-time.

An own goal from Mark Durnan a minute before the break appeared to have killed the game off but Chris Erskine pulled one back from the spot with the last kick of the half.

The second period was a tighter affair but Callum McGregor sealed three Ladbroke Premiership points with a deflected strike in the 74th minute.

Young defenders Saidy Janko and Eoghan O'Connell were among those coming in but Delia still fielded an experienced side with eight internationals.

It was the only two players to retain their places who combined for the opener as Emilio Izaguirre's ball found its way through for Griffiths, who rounded Luis Zwick and rolled the ball home.

United claimed offside but Durnan could have removed any debate by making a better attempt to cut the pass out.

The goal was no surprise as Celtic had dominated the opening stages and Durnan had made an excellent goal-line clearance from Kris Commons before Charlie Mulgrew curled a free-kick just over.

Celtic continued to carve out chances after the opener. Commons alone had four more decent penalty-box opportunities in the first half and forced three good saves from Zwick.

Commons also set up Griffiths on the break but Zwick saved with his foot and Celtic peppered several long-range shots not far wide.

In among the wave of Celtic pressure, United had a strong penalty claim rejected midway through the half when goalkeeper Logan Bailly recklessly went through the back of Robbie Muirhead after being caught in possession by the United forward. Referee Willie Collum waved play on.

The hosts should have levelled with their first decent attack five minutes before the break when good skill from Blair Spittal set up Ryan McGowan but the unmarked midfielder shot wide from 18 yards.

United kept the pressure on but were caught on the break when Griffiths released Commons and Durnan knocked the ball past Zwick as he cut out the midfielder's return pass.

But United immediately got back in the game after Efe Ambrose tripped Scott Fraser as the United midfielder ran towards goal and Erskine sent Bailly the wrong way from the spot.

Ryan Dow came on for the injured Fraser early in the second half for his first appearance since being hit by hamstring problems in March.

The creative midfielder could not spark United into life, although they looked a lot more solid in the second half.

Scott Allan came on for his Celtic debut on the left of midfield midway through the half following his move from Hibernian and almost notched within seconds, but Zwick caught his chip following a poor clearance from the goalkeeper.

The Celtic fans regaled the former Rangers fan and target with songs about his shift in allegiances, but it was another sub who stole the limelight when McGregor's 20-yard strike spun past Zwick after deflecting off Coll Donaldson.

United refused to fold and Bailly made a decent stop from Erskine before theatrically stopping two free-kicks from Aidan Connolly.

BBC
By Colin Moffat BBC Scotland

Celtic eased to a comfortable victory despite resting a host of key players for their visit to Dundee United.

Leigh Griffiths raced away to slot in the opening goal and home goalkeeper Luis Zwick was kept busy in a one-sided first half.

United's Mark Durnan turned the ball into his own net before the break but Chris Erskine replied with a penalty.

A deflected shot from Callum McGregor gave Celtic breathing space in a scrappy second half.
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Interviews – McNamara and Deila

With an eye firmly on Tuesday's Champions League play-off second leg with Malmo, Celtic boss Ronny Deila made nine changes to his starting line-up.

With their opponents so drastically altered, United may have thought they could improve on a record of three home wins against Celtic in a decade.

But the contest could have been over in the first 20 minutes, with Celtic regularly slicing the home defence open with their high-tempo approach and slick passing.

Griffiths headed wide before Durnan cleared a Commons shot off the goal-line and a Charlie Mulgrew free-kick whistled narrowly over the top.
Mark Durnan (left) scored an own goal

Durnan (left) scored an own goal just before half-time

The deadlock was broken on 17 minutes when Durnan failed to cut out a pass from Anthony Stokes, allowing Griffiths to race clear and round Zwick to slot in his seventh goal of the season.

Zwick was then called upon to make a hat-trick of good saves from Commons and stuck out a foot to stop a Griffiths shot.

While the 21-year-old German was bailing out his shaky defence, Logan Bailly, making his Celtic debut, did not look too clever dealing with a routine back-pass and his clumsy challenge on Robbie Muirhead had the home fans calling for a penalty to no avail.

There were more anguished cries from the Terrors support as Ryan McGowan slid a shot wide from near the penalty spot following a purposeful surge from Blair Spittal.

And that misery was compounded as Celtic broke from defending a corner, with the unfortunate Zwick wrong-footed by Durnan's interception on a slack pass from Commons as the ball trundled into the centre of the net on 44 minutes.
Scott Allan picked up a booking on his Celtic debut

Scott Allan picked up a booking on his Celtic debut

There was time for United to reduce the deficit before the interval as Scott Fraser was upended by the lunging Efe Ambrose and Erskine slammed in an assured spot-kick.

Celtic's intensity dipped in the second half, with United more aggressive, and Paul Dixon hammered a shot into the side-netting.

Scott Allan replaced Griffiths to make his Celtic debut and a misplaced kick from Zwick came his way within seconds of arrival but the midfielder could not beat the back-pedalling keeper with his first-time effort.

McGregor, another Celtic replacement, did find a way past the keeper, although Zwick was again unlucky as defender Coll Donaldson deflected the shot from 18 yards low into the corner of the net.

With the game growing increasingly scrappy, Bailly made sure Celtic did not concede two goals for the fourth game running, stretching to stop an Erskine shot and flamboyantly pushing away two free-kicks from Aidan Connolly.

Live Text Commentary
Full time

Full Time Match ends, Dundee United 1, Celtic 3.
90:00 +3:03 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Dundee United 1, Celtic 3.
88:52

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Mark Durnan.
85:30

Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Logan Bailly.
85:16

Attempt saved. Aidan Connolly (Dundee United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
84:34 Booking

Booking Eoghan O'Connell (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
84:28

Simon Murray (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
84:28

Foul by Eoghan O'Connell (Celtic).
83:30

Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Logan Bailly.
83:11

Attempt saved. Aidan Connolly (Dundee United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
82:17 Booking

Booking Scott Allan (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
82:10

Aidan Connolly (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82:10

Foul by Scott Allan (Celtic).
80:14

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Aidan Connolly.
80:14

Corner, Dundee United.
79:57

Attempt blocked. Aidan Connolly (Dundee United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
79:13

Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Saidy Janko.
78:29 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Joseph Thomson replaces Tomas Rogic.
77:53

Aidan Connolly (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
77:53

Foul by Tomas Rogic (Celtic).
76:23 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Dundee United. Aidan Connolly replaces Chris Erskine.
73:34 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Dundee United 1, Celtic 3. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Gary Mackay-Steven.
72:43

Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Efe Ambrose.
71:08 Booking

Booking Ryan Dow (Dundee United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
70:12

Mark Durnan (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
70:12

Foul by Scott Allan (Celtic).
68:03

Attempt missed. Saidy Janko (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
67:14 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Scott Allan replaces Leigh Griffiths.
66:33 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Dundee United. Simon Murray replaces Robbie Muirhead.
62:25 Booking

Booking Ryan McGowan (Dundee United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
62:19

Foul by Ryan McGowan (Dundee United).
62:19

Eoghan O'Connell (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
60:22 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Callum McGregor replaces Charlie Mulgrew.
59:59

Attempt missed. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
58:18

Ryan McGowan (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
58:18

Foul by Anthony Stokes (Celtic).
57:18

Foul by John Souttar (Dundee United).
57:18

Tomas Rogic (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
57:00

Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
56:58

Foul by Robbie Muirhead (Dundee United).
53:56 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Dundee United. Ryan Dow replaces Scott Fraser because of an injury.
50:17

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by John Souttar.
48:38

Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
48:35

Foul by Blair Spittal (Dundee United).
47:59

Attempt missed. Paul Dixon (Dundee United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
46:26

Foul by Ryan McGowan (Dundee United).
46:26

Tomas Rogic (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
45:00

Second Half begins Dundee United 1, Celtic 2.
45:00 +2:04 Half time

Half Time First Half ends, Dundee United 1, Celtic 2.
45:00 +0:34 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Dundee United 1, Celtic 2. Chris Erskine (Dundee United) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner.
45:00 +0:11 Booking

Booking Efe Ambrose (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
45:00 +0:02

Penalty Dundee United. Scott Fraser draws a foul in the penalty area.
45:00 +0:02

Penalty conceded by Efe Ambrose (Celtic) after a foul in the penalty area.
43:40 Goal scored

Goal! Own Goal by Mark Durnan, Dundee United. Dundee United 0, Celtic 2.
43:10

Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Efe Ambrose.
41:51

Attempt missed. Blair Spittal (Dundee United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
37:17

Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
35:19 Booking

Booking Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
35:14

Foul by Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic).
35:14

Ryan McGowan (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
31:49

Attempt missed. Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) left footed shot from more than 35 yards is high and wide to the right.
31:17

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by John Souttar.
31:03

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Luis Maria Zwick.
30:41

Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner.
29:53

Attempt missed. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
29:30

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by John Souttar.
29:19

Attempt blocked. Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
27:37

Foul by Saidy Janko (Celtic).
27:37

Blair Spittal (Dundee United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
25:45

Foul by Saidy Janko (Celtic).
25:45

Scott Fraser (Dundee United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
25:00

Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
24:58

Foul by Ryan McGowan (Dundee United).
23:20

Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high.
21:09

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Luis Maria Zwick.
20:49

Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
20:21

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Paul Dixon.
18:32

Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
16:28 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Dundee United 0, Celtic 1. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Emilio Izaguirre.
12:00

Ryan McGowan (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
12:00

Foul by Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic).
11:20

Foul by Anthony Stokes (Celtic).
11:20

Scott Fraser (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
10:30

Attempt missed. Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) left footed shot from long range on the right is just a bit too high following a set piece situation.
9:43 Booking

Booking Paul Dixon (Dundee United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
9:35

Saidy Janko (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
9:35

Foul by Paul Dixon (Dundee United).
9:01

Kris Commons (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
9:01

Foul by John Souttar (Dundee United).
7:38

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Mark Durnan.
7:02

Saidy Janko (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
7:02

Foul by Paul Dixon (Dundee United).
4:56

Attempt blocked. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
2:19

Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
2:19

Foul by Ryan McGowan (Dundee United).
1:53

Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
0:00

First Half begins.
0:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

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