Match Pictures | Matches: 2025 – 2026
Trivia
- KO: 19:45; Wednesday, Celtic TV, league match 14
- Celtic go joint top as Hearts drop points 1-1 v Kilmarnock. Hearts top though on GD. Sevco drew 2-2 getting a 97th minute soft penalty! Celtic the only side to win tonight. Five games concurrently played.
- Martin O’Neill: Final game as interim manager and expected to be his last ever in the frontline. Emotional evening.
- A great way for MoN to leave taking us back to the top of the league (albeit joint on points). Leaves undefeated domestically plus one excellent victory in Europe. His name rings across the stadium during & after the final whistle.
- The gap was eight points when MoN made his surprise return.
- Celtic confirmed the appointment of Wilfried Nancy as their new manager must before kick off!
- Ahead of his final game in the dugout, interim manager Martin O’Neill named Manager of the Month.
- The latest delay to bringing Wilfried Nancy from Columbus Crew to be Celtic manager is visa-related.
- Green Brigade section closed off due to their current ban.
- Celtic have extended their ban on the Green Brigade due to “safety incidents” involving the fans’ group, which they say include threats against the club’s head of security.
- Hampden Park being sponsored & to be renamed as Barclays Hampden Park! They will also partner with the men’s and women’s Scottish Cup, which are currently sponsored by Scottish Gas, and become the main sponsor for the Next Gen Girls’ Performance Programme.
- Callum McGregor has refused to be drawn on the prospect of returning to the Scotland fold for next summer’s World Cup, having retired from international duty after Euro 2024.
- Reports:
- Celtic may struggle to sign Wessam Abou Ali in January due to Columbus Crew’s reluctance to part with the Palestine striker, who cost the Major League Soccer club £5.7m in the summer, after losing head coach Wilfried Nancy to Celtic.
- A report in the Daily Mail suggesting goalkeeper Stefan Ortega is considering an exit from Manchester City in January is likely to ignite speculation about interest from Celtic that was reported in November.
- Celtic are set to receive 10% of Brighton & Hove Albion’s sale of Matt O’Riley to Marseille should a permanent deal for the midfielder be completed in January.
Summary
“These players have been absolutely fantastic,” are the first words out of Martin O’Neill’s mouth in a brief on-pitch interview. “It’s been a privilege. I’ve had the time of my life.”
Martin O’Neill
“To get a reception like that was pretty special.” He adds: “The bottom line is not only have the players done it, they’ve made me feel very young, which I’m not. Restoration of confidence was most important and they really stepped up. “I’m relieved to win. I thought we could have put the game to bed earlier and it got a bit nervy at the end, but we’ve won, which keeps the club going.”
Martin O’Neill
Chairman Peter Lawwell says: “Martin has shown the kind of leadership he was always renowned for and together with Shaun [Maloney] and the others in our backroom team they have given us that level of quality which has been so important to us in recent weeks. Everyone at the club offers our appreciation for the job they have done.”
Principal shareholder Dermot Desmond adds: “I want to add my heartfelt thanks to Martin for all he has done in recent weeks. He was the man we hoped could bring us through these last few weeks positively and together with Shaun and our other coaches and our players, they have done a wonderful job.
“I will always hold Martin in such high regard for what he has done for Celtic and for what he is as a man – a man of such professionalism and integrity and someone who undoubtedly will always have the best interests of Celtic in his heart.”
interim Celtic boss Martin O’Neill prematch: “It’s good, it brings clarity to everyone which is great. From my own point of view, it’s been a genuine privilege to come back. I was concerned about it.
“Selfishly, I wouldn’t have minded wrapping up at Easter Road. The new manager I’m sure will be watching the videos of the games before he takes over which is great for him.
“I’m not really bothered about [going out on a high]. I’m bothered about winning the game. And the players are bothered about winning. Tonight is about them rather than anybody else.
“No matter how good you are, if you lose a couple of games, regardless of how many championships you’ve won, players can lose confidence. The more you win, the more the manager’s words seem not only relevant, but real. I just want us to turn up and play as strongly as we can and try and win the game.”
Steven Pressley (Dundee mgr): “A word that you have to use when you come to Celtic Park is bravery. You will not win a game here without outworking them and showing that bravery.”
————————————
RHY of KDS:
Started really well then fell of a cliff far too many touches at times and trying to over complicate everything felt more of Rodger’s game than M.O.N.
Dundee sat in and hit it long so was never going to free flowing but too many players were off it tonight.
Fair play to Maeda for playing on, Yang had a very decent 50ish minutes and it’s 3 points in the bag. 9 clear of Sevco and joint top with a game in hand a very decent night.
Hellas67 of KDS:
Job done again, but we made very hard work of that,
Felt that a lot of our attacking intent ended with saracchi going off, unfortunately KT is well and truely a downgrade on him and shows almost no attacking intent, he’s lost his pace and his confidence apparently, perhaps yet another ex-EPl who thought the SPFL would be a lot easier than it is (yeah I know he started his career here but he’s been away a long time, and has really struggled since he’s came back). Then we took off Donovan, fair enough towards the end of the game, but that meant we now had two FB’s who’s first thought when the pitch is opening up in front of them is to turn back and play safe.
All in all MON has came in and more than steadied the ship, in fact if we had gotten an early second goal I reckon we could’ve blown Dundee away and could’ve been sitting top tonight. What he has done in such a short space of time for a squad clearly lacking the ability of recent squads and bereft of belief is nothing short of miraculous especially considering how long he has been out of the game.
I totally get that neither Nancy nor MON may want to work together, but I feel it would be very beneficial if MON lurked a few weeks longer in the shadows to give the new manager a hand.
Still feel that MON should’ve been given the Hearts game as I reckon we’d win it comfortably with him at the helm but it’s now over to the new man and hopefully our rising confidence and the mini’s poor run of form will see us go top on Sunday evening.
Gerry Braiden @BraidenGB · 16m Six weeks:
– thumps Rangers in Cup Semi Final
– first European away win in whatever years
– claws back eight points to bring us top of the league.
Fairytale stuff. GRMA, Martin. And Merry Christmas when it comes
Inside The SPFL @AgentScotland · 1h Ever since Martin O’Neill returned to Celtic everything that could’ve went right has went right, destroyed an 8 point deficit at the top of the league, increased their lead over Rangers from 5 points to 9 points, and the only two goals they’ve conceded domestically were penalties Martin O’Neill has now passed the 500-point barrier as manager of Celtic Football Club. The win over Dundee means he’s won 502 points from the 585 abailable, 85.81% win rate in top flight football, an astonishing run of consistency that will never be matched over so many games.
E-Tims @ETimsNet · 37m We were pish tonight but won. Pish against Hibs but won., Pish at St Mirren but won. A lot of pish with quite a pish squad but we won. Thanks MON I hope Wilf gets a tune!
roythebhoy @roythebhoy.bsky.social · 20s Seeing how the game finished tonight, it’s obvious that despite the shortcomings of a few players, the squad is running on fumes amid the busiest spell of the season. The recruitment team need to think very carefully and likewise the board, as we need players ready to come in and play in January.
Teams
Celtic
Manager: Martin O’Neill
Formation: 4 – 3 – 3
01 K. Schmeichel
36 M. Saracchi, subbed for K. Tierney at 44mins
05 L. Scales
06 A. Trusty
51 C. Donovan, subbed for A. Ralston at 81mins
41 R. Hatate, subbed for Paulo Bernardo at 81mins
42 C. McGregor (c), Captain83′, Yellow Card at 83mins
27 A. Engels
13 Yang Hyun-Jun, subbed for S. Tounekti at 58mins
38 D. Maeda
14 L. McCowan 80′, Yellow Card at 80mins, subbed for B. Nygren at 81mins
Subs:
10 M. Balikwisha
28 Paulo Bernardo
24 J. Kenny
47 D. Murray
08 B. Nygren 90’+1, Yellow Card at 90mins plus 1
56 A. Ralston
12 V. Sinisalo
63 K. Tierney
23 S. Tounekti
Goals:
D. Maeda (11′)
Assists:
Dundee
Manager: Steven Pressley
Formation: 4 – 5 – 1
01 J. McCracken
12 I. Samuels
03 C. Robertson, subbed for R. Astley at 40mins
22 L. Graham
07 D. Wright
10 F. Robertson
19 J. Westley, subbed for T. Yogane at 74mins
48 E. Hamilton
21 Y. Dhanda, subbed for C. Jones at 58mins
20 C. Congreve, subbed for B. Koumetio at 58mins
15 S. Murray (c), Captain, subbed for A. Hay at 58mins
Subs:
09 E. Acquah
04 R. Astley
05 B. Koumetio
08 P. Digby
11 A. Hay
02 E. Ingram
28 C. Jones
13 K. O’Hara
17 T. Yogane
Goals:
Assists:
Referee Duncan Nicolson
Video Assistant Referee Andrew Dallas
Assistant Referee 1 David McGeachie
Assistant Referee 2 Alastair Taylor
Fourth Official Colin Steven
Assistant VAR Official Peter Stuart
Att:
Venue:Celtic Park
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
- Prior https://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/celtic-v-dundee-spfl-wed-3rd-dec-7-45pm-pre-match–t144018.html
- Match https://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/celtic-v-dundee-live-match-thread-ft-1-0-maeda-t144028.html
- Post https://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/celtic-v-dundee-post-match-thread-ft-1-0-maeda-t144030.html
- MoTM https://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/motm-v-dundee-t144029.html
Stats
Basic Stats
Overall possession
Celtic 70.8% Dundee 29.2%
Shots
Celtic 17 Dundee 4
Shots on target
Celtic 6 Dundee 3
Total touches inside the opposition box
Celtic 46 Dundee 5
Goalkeeper saves
Celtic 3 Dundee 5
Aerial duels won
Celtic 13 Dundee 1
Fouls committed
Celtic 13 Dundee 4
Corners
Celtic 6 Dundee 0
In-depth match stats
Attack
Shots
Celtic 17 Dundee 4
Shots on target
Celtic 6 Dundee 3
Shots off target
Celtic 7 Dundee 1
Attempts out of box
Celtic 7 Dundee 2
Hit woodwork
Celtic 1 Dundee 0
One-on-one attempts
Celtic 2 Dundee 0
Total offsides
Celtic 4 Dundee 4
Distribution
Total passes
Celtic 687 Dundee 283
Pass accuracy %
Celtic 92.7 Dundee 74.6
Backward passes
Celtic 108 Dundee 40
Forward passes
Celtic 165 Dundee 102
Forward passes
Total long balls
Celtic 37 Dundee 63
Successful final third passes
Celtic 203 Dundee 18
Total crosses
Celtic 22 Dundee 4
Defence
Total tackles
Celtic 14 Dundee 15
Won tackle %
Celtic 50 Dundee 60
Won tackle %
Fouls committed
Celtic 13 Dundee 4
Total yellow cards
Celtic 3 Dundee 0
Total clearances
Celtic 17 Dundee 29
Total clearances
Pre Match Facts
Celtic have won 21 of their last 23 home games against Dundee in all competitions (D2) since a 0-2 league defeat in May 2001 during Martin O’Neill’s first spell in charge.
Dundee’s 2-0 win in October was just their second win in their last 69 league meetings with Celtic (D13 L54). The Dark Blues last won back-to-back league matches versus the Hoops in October 1988.
Celtic have lost just one of their last 79 home league games against sides other than Old Firm rivals Rangers (W68 D10), a 0-2 defeat to Hearts in December 2023.
Dundee have lost each of their last five away league outings, while they last lost more in a row on the road in the top-flight in January 2005 (7).
Celtic have won each of their last 28 home league games played in midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) by an aggregate score of 86-7 since a 0-0 draw with Kilmarnock in May 2018. The Hoops are unbeaten in 43 home midweek league games (W39 D4) since a 0-1 defeat to St. Johnstone in March 2015.
Articles
Martin O’Neill bows out with another Celtic victory
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/december/03/martin-o-neill-bows-out-with-another-celtic-victory/
First Team
By Matthew Campbell
Share
03 Dec 2025, 9:57 pm
Scottish Premiership
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Celtic Park
CELTIC…1
(Daizen 11)
DUNDEE…0
Martin O’Neill’s stint as interim manager of Celtic ended in the best possible way as the Hoops secured all three points with a 1-0 win over Dundee tonight to put themselves level on points at the top of the table.
Celtic started with real pace and energy and within the first five minutes, the Dundee defence had been put under pressure on a couple of occasions, with Jon McCracken forced in to a diving save to stop a Daizen Maeda effort from creeping in to the bottom corner.
The Hoops didn’t have to wait long for the opener, which came with just over 10 minutes gone. A brilliant through ball from Reo Hatate was picked up by Yang, who burst in to the box and saw a shot on goal saved, but Daizen Maeda was on hand to header home from close range.
Daizen picked up a head-knock in the process of giving Celtic the lead and it looked like he would have to be replaced, but, in his typically irrepressible style, he emerged from the tunnel with his head bandaged 10 minutes later, ready to continue, much to the Celtic Park faithful’s delight.
Marcelo Saracchi came close to doubling Celtic’s lead just after the half hour mark, with the Uruguayan picking up on another excellent ball from Reo Hatate, but the left back was denied by the Dundee keeper.
Yang was the next Celt to find himself with a big opportunity when Saracchi cushioned a header down towards him in the box, but the winger’s volleyed effort from just inside the box sailed over the crossbar.
Martin O’Neill was forced in to a change near the end of the first half when Marcelo Saracchi went down in some discomfort. He was replaced by Kieran Tierney and it remains to be seen how bad Saracchi’s injury is.
The visitors went close to equalising just before half time when Simon Murray rattled the crossbar with an effort from close range. From the rebound, Cameron Congreve also went close, but Kasper Schmeichel was alert and was able to produce a good stop.
71%
Possession
29%
17
Shots
4
6
Shots On Target
3
6
Corners
0
13
Fouls
4
3
0
Cards
0
0
Early in the second half, Daizen Maeda almost grabbed his second goal of the night when he was the first to react to the ball after a good save from McCracken denied Luke McCowan. Daizen slid in and directed the ball towards goal, but his effort went just wide of the target.
For all Celtic’s dominance, as the minutes ticked on the feeling that a second goal was required to provide a bit of breathing space began to grow within the stadium, and Martin O’Neill made his second change of the night, swapping Yang for Sebastian Tounekti on the left wing.
Reo Hatate went close on the hour mark with a shot from the edge of the box after some excellent passing play in the build-up from the Celts, but once again Dundee’s goalkeeper produced a save to keep his side in the match.
At the other end, Kasper Schmeichel was called in to action and he made a smart save down to his left to prevent Ethan Hay from grabbing an equaliser for Dundee after a swift counter-attack from the visitors.
With 10 minutes left to play, there were a further three changes for the Hoops with Reo Hatate, Luke McCowan and Colby Donovan all making way for Paulo Bernardo, Benjamin Nygren and Anthony Ralston.
The Bhoys continued to hunt for a second goal, but with Dundee sensing that a point might be on the cards, Celtic were forced to defend resolutely towards the end and make the points safe.
For the Celtic supporters who were lucky enough to be around in the early 2000s during Martin O’Neill’s first tenure, the memories of those years still glisten and bring a smile to many faces. For those who are too young to remember those days, the stories and the highlights have served to amply convey the triumphs and emotions.
It was fitting then, that with the match drawing to a close tonight, Martin O’Neill’s name rang around Paradise as Celtic supporters of all ages showed their appreciation for the legendary manager’s contributions during his two spells in the dugout.
When the full-time whistle went, it was a familiar old story – Martin O’Neill had guided Celtic to another victory at Paradise, a victory which now puts Celtic level on points at the top of the table going in to Sunday’s match against Hearts.
Celtic: Schmeichel, Donovan (Ralston 81′), Trusty, Scales, Saracchi (Tierney 44′), Engels, McGregor, Hatate (Paulo Bernardo 81′), McCowan (Nygren 81′), Maeda, Hyunjun Yang (Tounekti 58′)
Subs: Nygren, Balikwisha, Sinisalo, Tounekti, Kenny, Paulo Bernardo, Murray, Ralston, Tierney
Dundee: McCracken, Wright, Graham, Clark Robertson (Astley 40′), Samuels, Congreve (Koumetio 58′), Dhanda (Jones 58′), Hamilton, Westley (Yogane 74′), Finlay Robertson, Murray (Hay 58′)
Subs: Ingram, Astley, Koumetio, Digby, Acquah, Hay, O’Hara, Yogane, Jones
BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cg5myg0zm31t#Report
ByMartin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park
Celtic delivered a victorious send-off for Martin O’Neill to maintain the interim manager’s 100% domestic record and move them level on points with Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts before the sides meet on Sunday.
Daizen Maeda’s early header proved decisive, and turned out to be even more valuable when Hearts conceded late to spill points against Kilmarnock.
It means new manager Wilfried Nancy can take Celtic top of the table should he win his debut match, his appointment having been confirmed just before kick-off.
Dundee were unable to replicate their recent victory over their opponents at Dens Park, with Simon Murray’s effort off the crossbar the closest they came to an equaliser.
There was an energy around the stadium in anticipation of heralding O’Neill after a run of results that ensured his legacy was enhanced.
Celtic started brightly and got the early opener from wonderful, flowing move.
Reo Hatate produced an excellent first time pass to release Hyun-jun Yang. Goalkeeper Jon McCracken did well to block but Maeda rose highest to nod home the opener, sustaining a whack on the head for his trouble.
However, having failed to gain a two-goal cushion, Celtic almost let Dundee level shortly before the interval.
Liam Scales was woefully short with a header back towards Kasper Schmeichel and Murray nipped in and struck the bar. Schmeichel did well to save a deflected Cameron Congreve strike on the follow up. It was a close as Dundee got.
After the break, Maeda raced on to Luke McCowan’s saved shot but bundled wide. Hatate was then denied well by McCracken low down at his post. Ashley Hay had one effort on the break from Dundee but the angle was too tight.
Maeda’s goal proved enough but far from vintage Celtic. Vintage O’Neill, though. A final win to cap his triumphant return.
As far as impact goes, O’Neill has absolutely risen to the challenge.
Celtic were in something of disarray after Brendan Rodgers departed, eight points behind Hearts with a clear fracture between supporters and the board.
To say he has steadied the ship is an understatement. A 100% record in the Premiership has closed right up on Hearts and now Nancy will have the chance to move into top spot this weekend.
What a turnaround in fortunes, with a cup final to follow and a real shot at Europa League progression.
It will be quite the task for Nancy to follow that, particularly with a run of Hearts, Roma and then the League Cup final against St Mirren to come. Quite the opening week.
For Dundee, getting anything was always unlikely
They had a significant boost by beating St Mirren in their previous fixture and that gave them a small cushion above the bottom placed sides. No damage done here.
They were attacking and their goals came from players taking responsibility and delivering. They’ll need to lean on that more often.
All three of their league wins have come at home and that is something they need to build on starting with their upcoming fixture at Dens Park.
O’Neill takes applause after final game in interim charge at Celtic
Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill: “To get a reception like that was pretty special. The bottom line is not only have the players done it, they’ve made me feel very young, which I’m not.
“Restoration of confidence was most important and they really stepped up.
“I’m relieved to win. I thought we could have put the game to bed earlier and it got a bit nervy at the end, but we’ve won, which keeps the club going.”
Callum McGregor: We wanted to give Martin the send off he deserved
First Team
By Matthew Campbell
Share
03 Dec 2025, 10:43 pm
Celtic produced another winning performance under the lights at Celtic Park tonight, with the Hoops running out 1-0 winners against Dundee to go level on points at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.
Daizen Maeda got the all-important goal early in the first half, though he ended up battered and bruised after being clattered Luke Graham in the process of scoring.
His bravery was enough to give Celtic maximum points on a night when results elsewhere fell favourably for Glasgow’s green and white and, speaking to Celtic TV after the match, captain Callum McGregor spoke about the importance of keeping the winning run going.
“Obviously it was a good three points.” McGregor said. “That’s what you come here for.
“Midweek games off the back of a really busy week, it can be difficult to go again but we started the game well.
‘We should have been out of sight by half time, but a couple of moments didn’t quite drop for us.’
“The second half we made a little bit more difficult than what it should be but at this point of the season it’s all about winning and keeping the momentum going.
“It was a good three points but in terms of the performance, we can be better and we’ll always demand better.”
Tonight was also Martin O’Neill’s final match in the Celtic dugout, with new Hoops boss Wilfried Nancy set to take over tomorrow (Thursday, December 4).
The 1-0 win over Dundee means that Martin O’Neill bows out having won every domestic match he has taken charge of in the last five weeks, and McGregor says that the Bhoys were determined to make it a night to remember for Martin.
He added: “Martin deserved that. We spoke before the game about trying to send him off in the right manner.
“He’s come in when the club was in need, he answered the call and along with his coaches, they’ve been first class.
“The players have responded ever so well and it was important to give him a good send off.
“The fans stayed right to the end to quite rightly recognise the job that he’s done.”
Celtic’s Very Good Thing comes to end – but Martin O’Neill will always be welcome back
Alan Pattullo
By Alan Pattullo
Chief Football Writer
0Comments
Published 3rd Dec 2025, 22:32 GMT
Keep Watching
Premiership round-up
Champions move level with Hearts at top of league
Even good things must come to an end. And Martin O’Neill’s return to Celtic has been A Very Good Thing. He signed off with what, though, was a very close thing. It was still enough to ensure he leaves by delivering one of the greatest gifts he could after this narrow and at times nervy victory over Dundee: joint leadership of the Premiership.
Celtic can take sole ownership on Sunday when they welcome title rivals Hearts in what is a titanic first assignment for new manager Wilfried Nancy, whose appointment was confirmed 50 minutes before kick-off here. Daizen Maeda went in where it hurt after 11 minutes to give Celtic a precious three points and maintain O’Neill’s 100 per cent domestic record.
Has the legendary manager been able to quell the insurrectionary vibes around Parkhead? Well, no, not exactly.
It’s going to take someone with more than some experience of studying law, something O’Neill has prior to becoming a professional footballer. A diplomatic relations qualification would be a start. “Sack the board!” rang out as soon as the game kicked-off.
Although it seems a long time ago, this was Celtic’s first home game since an eventful and quickly abandoned agm. With the Green Brigade’s ban from the front rows of their section extended, the noise came from elsewhere. As did the messages. “Parasites” read one banner in the corner of the Lisbon Lions Stand.
Not even the announcement of a new manager could bring any relief for the under-fire board members. A statement released in the countdown to kick off included some pointed sentences from principal shareholder Dermot Desmond. “I will always hold Martin in such high regard for what he has done for Celtic and for what he is as a man,” the Irish financer wrote. “A man of such professionalism and integrity and someone who will undoubtedly always have the interests of Celtic in his heart.”
Another shot towards Rodgers
If was hard not to read this as being another barb sent Brendan Rodgers’ way. One thing is for sure, whatever the supporters’ feelings are towards Rodgers, O’Neill will always be welcome back at Parkhead.
It hasn’t always been a straightforward shift back at the helm at a place where he revered. There was the uncertainty over how long he would be needed for starters. Unusually, the match programme for this game had no manager’s notes page. It just went straight into some observations from captain Callum McGregor. Clearly, it had been expected Nancy would be in place but the longer that process dragged on, the editor made the wise decision to drop the column rather than attribute it to A.N. Other.
It turned out O’Neill was needed of course. He made a typically low-key entrance, slipping out of the tunnel as both teams were lining up and taking his seat in the dugout as if he was entering school assembly late and trying to do so as unobtrusively as possible.
He did consent to a short interview in front of the fans at the end. In between times, he watched Celtic make heavy weather of seeing off Dundee, whose win against Celtic at Dens Park seemed to set in motion events leading to Rodgers’ departure. Here again Dundee proved troublesome despite Maeda giving Celtic a dream start on what was meant to be a night spent serenading O’Neill.
It looked likely that Dundee might be submerged in the emotion of the occasion. Instead, the hosts seemed to be most affected.
Things started brightly with that early Maeda opener. Reo Hatate’s pass was intelligent but Yang’s sublime touch made it and when Jon McCracken blocked the South Korean’s shot and when the ball looped up in the air, Meada outjumped the far loftier Luke Graham to nod Celtic into the lead. Both players required treatment, with Maeda forced off for eight or so minutes to get his head bandaged up.
Dundee endured their own injury misfortune. Skipper Clark Robertson pulled up after making a pass shortly before the break and was replaced by Ryan Astley. Although left-back Imari Samuels had to clear off the line, Celtic were certainly not overwhelming the visitors, who had their own glimmer of hope when Simon Murray’s shot crashed off the bar. An offside flag might have robbed him of the goal had it gone in but it looked tight.
Say what you like about Steven Pressley, but there’s evidence that he knows how to set up a team. Dundee hung on in the second half. A triple substitution, which included Murray’s exit, gave them the fresh legs they needed. A late header from Graham flashed past. Maeda scampered away at the other end and cracked a shot off the post. He’d already done enough.
Celtic extend ban on Green Brigade after ‘threats’
Fans in the standing section at Celtic ParkImage source, SNS
Image caption,
The standing section at Celtic Park accommodates around 2,600 fans
Published
2 December 2025
Celtic have extended their ban on the Green Brigade due to “safety incidents” involving the fans’ group, which they say include threats against the club’s head of security.
The club also indicate that any evasion of the suspension could threaten the continued use of rail seating / safe-standing which has been in place at Celtic Park since the summer of 2016.
An initial six-game ban was imposed on around 200 people in early November following “violent and threatening behaviour” at a home match against Falkirk on 29 October.
Now Celtic say the block on the group’s season tickets will continue until they are “satisfied that the Green Brigade will engage in the safe operation of the stadium, which is critical for the continued operation of the entire rail seating section.”
Celtic note that the ultras fan group circumvented the ban for a home game against Kilmarnock on 9 November.
The club also state that two members of the Green Brigade “directly threatened” and “sought to intimidate” their head of safety and security operations [Mark Hargreaves].
Celtic say they remain open to engagement with the group “when appropriate”, but “cannot accept recent conduct, in particular threats to club staff”.
The club also stress the ban is “entirely unrelated to any protests or banners”, which have been prevalent at Celtic Park this season, amid anti-board sentiment from sections of the Scottish champions’ support.
Celtic’s 37 days of Martin O’Neill: the player reaction, ‘he’s a lad’ and plan to wave until midnight
Mark Atkinson
By Mark Atkinson
Sports Editor
Published 3rd Dec 2025, 07:30 GMT
Updated 3rd Dec 2025, 07:30 GMT
Keep Watching
Hibs 1 Celtic 2 reaction
The journey is almost at an end – and it’s not a problem for interim boss
This is it. This is goodbye. “Definitely,” said Martin O’Neill, when asked if Wednesday night’s home clash with Dundee will be his last interim charge of Glasgow Celtic.
This has been a long goodbye. By close of play, O’Neill will have held the Parkhead fort for 37 days. When the 73-year-old sensationally rocked up as babysitter for an ailing Celtic team at the end of October, he suggested it could be a very short-term affair.
His efforts in the dugout and on the training pitch have given Celtic’s board time to breathe. The manager-in-waiting is Wilfried Nancy. The Frenchman was supposed to be making his bow against Dundee but paperwork issues have got in the way. In a way, it’s worked out well. O’Neill can say farewell to his adoring public at a sold-out Celtic Park rather than in front of a thousand away fans at Easter Road.
That 2-1 triumph over Hibs made it seven wins out of eight in all competitions. O’Neill has revived Celtic, to the point where some are asking if he should be given even longer to weave his magic.
“You’ll be really pleased to hear this,” O’Neill continued on his final match in typical self-deprecating fashion on his impending departure. “And I’m semi-pleased myself! It’s not a problem to me. Genuinely not a problem to me. And if you’re saying to me, ‘would you be missing a cup final?’ It doesn’t really bother me, honestly.
“And I know you might look at me as if, well, he’s not really telling the truth there. It doesn’t. The reason being, I was given a remit to come in here. It was either you could be here two weeks, you could be here two months.
“They had things in place and that was my job. I’d never even looked at what the games were anyway. And so it really does not bother me. The minute you use the word ‘really’, you might think, well, he does mean it. I don’t. I really don’t.”
Celtic award pleases O’Neill
Celtic have rediscovered some of their swagger since O’Neill came in. He has bred confidence throughout Lennoxtown. There are smiles on everyone’s faces. His personality has been infectious. One slightly fears for Dundee, with the Celtic players no doubt keen to give the Northern Irishman a proper send-off. He was named November’s manager of the month – the tenth such award across two spells in Glasgow. “I have got to tell you, I am really pleased, I am,” he smiled. “I am thankful if it was voted for, I really am.”
There is also revenge on the mind. Celtic lost 2-0 to Dundee in mid-October. It was the last match they failed to score a goal in.
O’Neill has tried to play down the sentimentality of it all. Will he soak it all up, given it is more than likely his last game on the sidelines in a glittering managerial career and his family plan to attend? “Certainly not before the game,” he fired back. “I have only one thing on my mind, to try and beat Dundee. They beat us a number of weeks ago. They had a great result at the weekend and they’ll be flying. So that is the only thing I am thinking about.”
What about afterwards? “It will depend on the result. If we win I’ll be waving until midnight. Yeah, they’ll be putting the lights out. But we have to win the game.”
O’Neill is right; Celtic do have to win the game against Dundee. The gap between them and leaders Hearts has been whittled down to just two points. The duo meet on Sunday, Nancy’s first match in charge. O’Neill wants to leave the club in the best shape possible for the new boss.
O’Neill has spoken fondly of the squad that he inherited. “The little Uruguayan, he’s a lad,” was a lovely line from him on impressive left-back Marcelo Saracchi. The 3-1 Europa League defeat by Midtjylland was a sobering reminder of Celtic’s recent fall from grace but it is so far the only blot on the copybook. They have responded to his cajoling and the coaching of assistant Shaun Maloney, whose part in all of this cannot be underplayed.
“You don’t really know players until you’re working with them,” explained O’Neill. “But the best way for me to have picked it up is in the training field. Somebody does something, I think, well, that’s nice.
“For instance, [Hyun-jun] Yang’s come in and he definitely has ability. I think confidence was a bit low, like everything else. And then sometimes if you’re a wide player and you don’t beat players immediately, maybe you lose it twice – I know this from playing wide right – the next thing you do is you’ll just lay it back.
A message for Nancy and board
“It takes brave players, but if you encourage the player to keep going and try and beat the players… I’m talking about in the final third. I don’t want them to start dribbling outside my own box, which you might have a habit of doing!
“But overall, come on, encourage players to go and do it. Give them their will to go and do it and express themselves, particularly creative players.”
But there was a message to Nancy – and perhaps the board – when asked if he has seen enough from the squad to suggest they can kick on to achieve their goals this season. “I think with the injuries that they’ve sustained, the injuries to big players as well which we’ve not had at their disposal for us, then I think that obviously recruitment in January to supplement the squad would be pretty important,” added O’Neill.
A lot of building work to be done at Celtic. O’Neill plans to lay one last foundation.
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