2016-01-15: Dundee Utd 1-4 Celtic, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 2015 – 2016 | 2015-16 Pictures

Trivia

• Friday night league match. A novelty but is it a possible regular feature moving forward?
• Griffith scores his 50th goal for Celtic, reveals a t-shirt under his top stating 50 to celebrate the moment and gets booked. He is now a hero at Celtic (quite a turnaround).
• Week been dominated by the furore over flares thrown at last match. Four arrested for throwing flares or sectarian singing. Club comes out and bans some supporters for flares at the match, most of the support behind th board on this one.
• Ironically it's Dundee Utd fans' who set off the flares at this game. NOTE: press little criticised them as strenuously as Celtic.
• East Kilbride aim to host Celtic at tiny K-Park stadium if they get past fellow non-league side Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale in the Scottish Cup.
• Ex Celtic starlet Islam Feruz's loan at Hibs cancelled & he's been sent back to Chelsea. He must regret turning his back on Celtic every day now. Career's down the pan.
  Transfer window is open.
• Rumours: Tyler Blackett to be recalled to Man U. Ambrose to China?
• Celtic want Aiden McGeady – but can't afford wages, says Ronny Deila
• Darren O'Dea (ex-Celt) joins Dundee.
• Stokes expected to go out on loan acc to assistant manager John Collins. Signs for Hibs on loan two days after this game
• Celtic close to signing player:Sviatchenko

Review

(Norwegian p of KDS)

– Brilliant goals again from Griffiths (just wish he didn´t try to score EVERY time he has the ball).

– For that goal, I´ll forgive Commons all the other pish.

– I´ll ship a couple of linesmen and referees over from Norway as first aid.

– Better second half from Johansen and McGregor

– Alan is not the answer (one good pass every match does not do it for me).

– Rogic is.

– Ambrose. I f… love you.

– Gordon is shaky at set-pieces.

– Consistent from Jozo. Boyata, get used to the bench.

Overall, a really entertaining match. Upwards upwards upwards!

(glenbhoy of KDS)
Friday night football – check
4 goals away – check
win away – check
Efe MoM – check
fans retro songbook- check
top of the league – check
flares – check (even although they are not ours)
a wee bit of positivity on the post match thread – maybe
bring it on – check

(nnl of KDS)
DU are good going forward but terrible at the back, they're not going to avoid the drop unless they tighten up at the back and even then it might already be too late for them.
I'll miss them if they go down, Tannadice is a great wee ground and they've been an asset to the top division for years.

It might just be that DU are really shampooe but I did see the shoots of recovery for us tonight, it's been a tough few months but the spark seemed to be back, time will tell tho…..drop McGregor, keep playing Efe and things would be better still.

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• Winner –

Stats

Dundee UnitedCeltic
Possession
56% 44%
90mins
Shots
7 18
On target
2 7
Corners
7 9
Fouls
8 13

Articles

Dundee United 1 – 4 Celtic: Leigh Griffiths bags a double
Celtic's Jozo Simunovic (left) celebrates with his team-mates after putting his side 2-0 up. Picture: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/dundee-united-1-4-celtic-leigh-griffiths-bags-a-double-1-4002597ALAN PATTULLO

Despite a brief show of resistance Dundee United were unable to prevent last night turning into the Leigh Griffiths show with the Celtic striker piling on the problems for the home side.

The once unruly Griffiths might at one time have preferred to spend Friday nights engaged in less wholesome pursuits. But just two years on from making his debut for Celtic, he sealed his place among the club’s great goalscorers by scoring his 50th goal for the club, before adding a 51st for good measure.

While he couldn’t match the hat-trick he collected here last season he has every reason to be more than content with his efforts. As for United, this was a familiar take of looking bright in spells before surrendering via almost all-out collapse.

Teams deposited at the bottom of the table rarely get the breaks and so it was with United last night.

They could reasonably point to three potential penalty kicks that referee Bobby Madden failed to award. Simon Murray, who got United back into the game when making it 2-1 on the half-hour mark, twice went down in the box under suspect-looking challenges while Celtic substitute James Forrest also handled in the penalty area in the second half.

But it was obvious who deserved to take all three points. When able to rely on a goalscorer like Griffiths the winning of matches becomes a lot more straightforward.

Jozo Simunovic and Kris Commons got in on the act as well, the latter scoring an acrobatic fourth goal with a volley. Celtic have now stretched their lead at the top over Aberdeen, who play Ross County tomorrow, to six points.

It is a far different story for United, who remain 11 points adrift at the bottom. Their situation could worsen later today. Billy Mckay’s absence because of a family bereavement had to be stoically endured by United, who don’t have their troubles to seek. Having struck nine times since his loan move in September, the striker is responsible for the majority of United’s goals this season.

But then summing up the home side’s problems, Leigh Griffiths’ pre-match total of 22 was equal to the number of goals United had scored between them all season. Former Dundee striker Griffiths had extra motivation last night. On 49 goals for Celtic in only 59 starts, this clash against the league’s basement dwellers represented a huge opportunity for the striker.

Griffiths needed only 21 minutes to become Celtic’s most prolific striker of the modern era, picking up a booking in the process after revealing a tee-shirt with a giant 50 printed on it as he celebrated. He had clearly decided before kick-off to risk a caution by advertising such an impressive achievement.

The goal was the least Celtic deserved up to that point. Contrary to Mixu Paatelainen’s promise on the eve of the match, United had not started the game with great energy and desire. Rather, they looked cowed by the challenge ahead. Hardly helping matters was the number of changes the manager was forced to make due to injury, suspension and the aforementioned bereavement. These circumstances meant Paatelainen was forced into handing new signing Riku Riski a first start perhaps earlier than the manager might have liked. Riski, who looked a little lightweight, was paired up front with Murray, whose last start was as long ago as August. His only goal prior to last night was against Motherwell in the same month.

So the sinking feeling among the United fans when Griffiths gave Celtic such an early lead was understandable. The visitors should already have been ahead by this point, with Stuart Armstrong, the former United favourite, going close on a couple of occasions with curling efforts.

As is so often the case with United, it was an avoidable goal, sourced from a mistake at the back. Gavin Gunning’s slip allowed Griffiths to latch on to a Tom Rogic pass, and with only the goalkeeper to beat, the odds were staked in the striker’s favour. He did as was expected, drilling the ball through Eiji Kawashima’s legs for a goal of undeniable significance.

The likes of Charlie Nicholas, Henrik Larsson and Brian McClair all needed more starts to reach 50 goals for Celtic. Griffiths has required only 60 to hit this magic total. Ronny Deila is likely to forgive him the booking he subsequently picked up.

It didn’t augur well for United when Celtic stretched their lead six minutes later. The celebrations among the visiting fans had barely died down when Simunovic bulleted a header into the net under little or no opposition pressure after Armstrong was fouled on the edge of the box.

Simunovic was given far too much room to meet Kris Commons’ free-kick, with questions being asked not only of Kawashima, who missed the cross, but also Gunning, the nearest defender to the goalscorer.

United had every reason to be downhearted but they summoned a response. It was impressive resilience by a side who do not make it easy for themselves. Souttar, a physically heavy-looking presence in midfield given his tender years, looked sprightly as he ran at the Celtic defence before exchanging passes with Riski and slipping a perfect pass through to Murray.

Once a prolific scorer in the lower divisions with Arbroath, the flame-haired striker looked every inch a marksman when clipping the ball past Craig Gordon with a first-time shot.

With the deficit now cut to one, United passed their first test by reaching half-time without conceding again. But they failed the second test when allowing Celtic to score early in the second half.

It was another significant goal for Griffiths since it more or less secured the points for the visitors. United, whose powers of recovery were to the fore in the first half, looked the sort of broken team we have come to recognise thereafter.

With no 51 T-shirt to parade to the fans, Griffiths avoided the booking that would have earned him a red card. But such a fine finish with his less preferred right foot, after Mikael Lustig’s cross was missed by Commons, was still worth celebrating.

Commons’ brilliant volley from Armstrong’s chip to the back post, with still more than half an hour left, meant the Celtic fans spent the rest of the game in carefree weekend mode.

The home supporters, meanwhile, were simply relieved the almost weekly dose of agony was out of the way earlier than usual.

DUNDEE UTD: Kawashima, McGowan, Dillon, Gunning, Spittal, Souttar (Paton 82), Fraser, Rankin, Dixon, Murray (Erskine 73), Riski (Dow 64). Subs Not Used: Telfer, Spark, Donaldson, Zwick.

CELTIC: Gordon, Lustig, Ambrose, Simunovic, Tierney (Izaguirre 78), McGregor, Johansen, Commons, Rogic (Forrest 60), Armstrong (Allan 69), Griffiths. Subs Not Used: Ciftci, Cole, Bailly, O’Connell.

Read more: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/dundee-united-1-4-celtic-leigh-griffiths-bags-a-double-1-4002597#ixzz3xWeo1qEs
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Five things we learned from Dundee United 1-4 Celtic
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/dundee-united/five-things-we-learned-from-dundee-united-1-4-celtic-1-4002866
Craig Fowler looks back at a game which started in a back and forth manner before being dominated by the champions.

Stuart Armstrong was well up for facing his old side

The midfielder has played at Tannadice before, in a 3-0 win back in April, but he didn’t give a great account of himself and looked desperate to put that right from the off. He had two good chances in the opening exchanges before winning the free-kick that led to Celtic’s second after fighting for possession with Ryan McGowan.

This is the Armstrong that Celtic fans need to see more often. The player who undoubtedly has the talent to make his impact on matches and do so consistently. It appears all hope may be lost for Gary Mackay-Steven, but Armstrong hasn’t been written off yet. He’ll need to use this as a springboard for a better second half to the season. Otherwise his manager may search for an upgrade in the summer.

Tom Rogic has the quickest feet in all of the land

United started in their preferred formation of late: three centre backs and two holding midfielders with another two attacking midfielders in front of that. You cannot get any more narrow as a football team. Playing in the midst of all those tangerine bodies was Rogic. He should have had little chance of making an impact. He would be crowded out every time he touched the ball, surely? And yet, as usual in Scottish football this season, he was terrific.
Quick feet: Tom Rogic. Picture: SNS Group
Quick feet: Tom Rogic. Picture: SNS Group

The Australian is not the kind of flashy player you would associate with the No.10 position and he lacks the vision of some other players. What he does possess, however, are outrageous quick feet and close control, which make it just a nightmare for anyone to get the ball from him, even when he’s playing in a packed midfield area.

• Dundee United 1-4 Celtic: Leigh Griffiths bags a double

Gavin Gunning is a weak link in the United defence

There’s a soft touch, there’s Kevin McKidd’s character in The Acid House, and then there’s Dundee United. The ease in which the hosts give away goals is incredible, but Gunning is usually a common denominator.

His slip for the first may have been unfortunate, but all game long his positioning and general play was erratic. He was caught up field at Celtic’s third, which ultimately killed the game, when there was no need to be. United had attacked through a quick ball forward before their opponents broke. It wasn’t a corner or a set-piece.

Even when he’s not doing anything wrong he can still negatively affect the team, as evidenced by the second goal where Ryan McGowan became too concerned with who Gunning was trying to mark that he let Jozo Simunovic have a free run at goal.

Commentators still bleat about bookings for shirt removal

Yes, it’s a dreadful rule. There’s little reasoning behind why a footballer feels the need to remove an item of clothing after scoring a goal – this writer was always more a kiss-the-badge kind of guy – but they should be allowed to do it. If someone crosses the line and puts on a political slogan or whatever, which is why the rules are in place, then hit them with a retrospective ban and fine them heavily. This will allow guys like Leigh Griffiths to have a ‘50’ on his shirt without incurring a yellow card.

However, these rules have been around for years and everyone knows they incur an automatic yellow card. By the nature of football, referees have to make so many split-second tough calls where they are asked to interpret events rather than just following black and white guidance. This one rule that’s pretty easy to implement. And yet, that’s not good enough for Chris Sutton, who feels Bobby Madden should have used some common sense because Griffiths was “excited”.

Is this the “new” Efe Ambrose?

The Nigerian defender claimed that this was a new beginning for him at Celtic and that he’d learned to cut out the mistakes by concentrating on the simple things.

Celtic fans, quite rightly, would have rolled their eyes at such promises. It’s the usual kind of thing you hear from footballers before they immediate fall back into bad habits.

It was, therefore, quite refreshing to see Ambrose put in a highly encouraging performance against United. He still looked shaky when passing the ball back to Gordon. This is hardly surprising.

New leaf or not, you can’t just erase history. But overall his defending was top notch as he showed great anticipation to always arrive at the right moment to snuff out potential attacks.

If Ambrose can stay mistake-free for Celtic then this should improve their back four. Because Ambrose playing at his best is a better defender than Dedryck Boyata.

Read more: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/dundee-united/five-things-we-learned-from-dundee-united-1-4-celtic-1-4002866#ixzz3xWebLEou
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BBC
y Tom English BBC Scotland at Tannadice

Leigh Griffiths scored his 50th and 51st goal for Celtic in a rout of beleaguered Dundee United at Tannadice.

The striker opened the scoring with a low drive midway through the first half.

Jozo Simunovic made it two soon after from a close-range header.

United threatened to make a game of it when Simon Murray made it 2-1 before half-time, but Griffiths scored the third before Kris Commons volleyed home a stunning fourth.

The win puts the champions six points clear of Aberdeen at the top, while United remain 11 points adrift at the bottom.

To make matters worse for United, some home supporters set off smoke bombs early in the evening, a mind-bending act of stupidity given that pyrotechnics have been such a talking point during the week.

Celtic were in the mood for this, no question. Even before Griffiths scored his first, they had chances.

When the striker took advantage of a slip from Gavin Gunning and rifled his shot under Eiji Kawashima you could have written off United there and then.
Kris Commons scored Celtic's fourth

Kris Commons volleys in a fourth goal for Celtic

Mixu Paatelainen's team don't have a reputation for clawing themselves out of adversity. That was Griffiths' 50th for his club, a feat he marked by whipping off his jersey to reveal the magic number of goals he's scored for Celtic.

He got booked for his troubles. It hardly mattered because seven minutes later, Celtic's night got even better, and United's ever more desperate, when Kawashima came flying off his line to deal with a Celtic corner only to miss the ball by a veritable mile.

From his spot, roughly a yard from goal, Simunovic nodded Celtic into a handsome lead.

United rallied and created a fine team goal, which Murray finished off from John Souttar's through ball. The visitors became a little ragged in its aftermath, but as soon as the new half kicked-off they restored themselves to total dominance.

Griffiths' back-post effort beat an unconvincing Kawashima for the third only a few minutes into the second half. United were being over-run and when the fourth came it was swift and sweet.

Scott Fraser lost possession and Tom Rogic clipped his cross into Commons' air-space. The midfielder's finish was something special, a flying hitch-kick that sent the ball whizzing past Kawashima in a yellow blur.

United were denied a penalty when James Forrest handled in the box, but by then their players didn't even have the heart to raise much of a protest.

Celtic should have scored again, but it would have been mere decoration. They had long since played United out of the contest. Soon, you have to say, United will be played out of the league.

Live Text Commentary
Full time

Full Time Match ends, Dundee United 1, Celtic 4.
90:00 +3:07 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Dundee United 1, Celtic 4.
90:00 +2:49

Scott Fraser (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90:00 +2:49

Foul by Callum McGregor (Celtic).
90:00 +2:35

Foul by Jozo Simunovic (Celtic).
90:00 +2:35

Scott Fraser (Dundee United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
90:00 +1:39

Attempt saved. Scott Fraser (Dundee United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
90:00 +0:27

Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
88:27

Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Jozo Simunovic.
87:26

Scott Allan (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
87:26

Foul by John Rankin (Dundee United).
86:09

Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
85:28

Foul by Mikael Lustig (Celtic).
85:28

Paul Dixon (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
84:38

Attempt missed. Blair Spittal (Dundee United) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the right.
84:13

Foul by James Forrest (Celtic).
84:13

Ryan McGowan (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82:55

Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Mikael Lustig.
82:19

Foul by Mikael Lustig (Celtic).
82:19

Gavin Gunning (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
81:07 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Dundee United. Paul Paton replaces John Souttar because of an injury.
80:27

Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Callum McGregor.
79:26

Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
77:14 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Emilio Izaguirre replaces Kieran Tierney because of an injury.
75:27

Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Kieran Tierney.
75:10

Foul by Scott Allan (Celtic).
75:10

Scott Fraser (Dundee United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
73:52

Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
72:56 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Dundee United. Chris Erskine replaces Simon Murray because of an injury.
69:15

Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high following a corner.
68:41 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Scott Allan replaces Stuart Armstrong.
68:18

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Gavin Gunning.
66:42

Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
63:23 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Dundee United. Ryan Dow replaces Riku Riski.
63:04

Foul by Kieran Tierney (Celtic).
63:04

Scott Fraser (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
62:26

Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
60:00

John Souttar (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
59:59

Foul by Stuart Armstrong (Celtic).
59:25 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. James Forrest replaces Tomas Rogic.
55:55 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Dundee United 1, Celtic 4. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the top left corner. Assisted by Stuart Armstrong.
54:30

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by John Souttar.
54:13

Attempt missed. Callum McGregor (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is just a bit too high.
52:58

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Eiji Kawashima.
52:42

Attempt saved. Callum McGregor (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
50:38

Attempt missed. Gavin Gunning (Dundee United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
47:57 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Dundee United 1, Celtic 3. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mikael Lustig.
47:10

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Eiji Kawashima.
46:44

Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
46:18 Booking

Booking Gavin Gunning (Dundee United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
46:12

Stefan Johansen (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
46:12

Foul by Gavin Gunning (Dundee United).
45:42

Attempt blocked. Gavin Gunning (Dundee United) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is blocked.
45:14

Foul by Jozo Simunovic (Celtic).
45:14

Scott Fraser (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
45:00

Second Half begins Dundee United 1, Celtic 2.
45:00 +1:05 Half time

Half Time First Half ends, Dundee United 1, Celtic 2.
45:00 +0:37

Kieran Tierney (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
45:00 +0:37

Foul by Blair Spittal (Dundee United).
43:59

Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Efe Ambrose.
41:31

Tomas Rogic (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
41:31

Foul by John Souttar (Dundee United).
38:27

Foul by Stuart Armstrong (Celtic).
38:27

Scott Fraser (Dundee United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
37:42

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Gavin Gunning.
37:27

Attempt blocked. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
36:45

Tomas Rogic (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
36:45

Foul by John Rankin (Dundee United).
36:13

Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Callum McGregor.
32:56

Attempt missed. Simon Murray (Dundee United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
31:33

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Gavin Gunning.
31:11

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Gavin Gunning.
30:11 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Dundee United 1, Celtic 2. Simon Murray (Dundee United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by John Souttar.
26:18 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Dundee United 0, Celtic 2. Jozo Simunovic (Celtic) header from very close range to the top right corner. Assisted by Kris Commons with a cross following a set piece situation.
25:50

Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
25:50

Foul by Ryan McGowan (Dundee United).
25:17

Foul by Kieran Tierney (Celtic).
25:17

Scott Fraser (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
23:10

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by John Souttar.
22:00 Booking

Booking Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.
20:29 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Dundee United 0, Celtic 1. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Stefan Johansen.
16:06

Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Kieran Tierney.
14:55

Attempt missed. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
13:24

Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
13:24

Ryan McGowan (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
12:37

Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
12:37

John Rankin (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
10:32

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Paul Dixon.
8:03

Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
6:41

Attempt missed. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
5:48

Foul by Blair Spittal (Dundee United).
5:48

Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
4:53

Attempt missed. Scott Fraser (Dundee United) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
0:43

Mikael Lustig (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
0:43

Foul by Riku Riski (Dundee United).
0:00

First Half begins.
0:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

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