DUFC

UNITED UNLUCKY TO LEAVE CELTIC PARK EMPTY HANDED

14th February 2004

The journey to Celtic Park today resulted in a narrow 2-1 win for the home side after United had taken the lead on the hour mark.

In an evenly balanced, if flat first half, there was little goal mouth action. It was level at half time with nothing to choose between the sides and in the early stages of the second half the pattern was repeated.

United went in front when Barry Robson flighted in a good free-kick and Alan Archibald got his foot to the ball to turn it past Douglas in the Celtic goal. Not long after that, United had a great chance to go further ahead after first Balde and then Douglas made mistakes which allowed Billy Dodds to set up Jim McIntyre but the keeper repositioned in time to turn the striker's effort away.

Celtic went all out for a goal in the latter stages and Gallacher made two excellent stops before Maloney slotted in the equaliser from a cut back nine minutes from the end. A minute later Petrov went down when Duff challenged him in the box and Sutton scored the winner from the spot.

It was a good performance from the Tangerines and Ian McCall and his players will be disappointed to have left Celtic Park with nothing, after putting so much into the game.


Celtic: Douglas, Varga, Balde, McNamara, Agathe, Lennon, Petrov, Pearson, Thompson, Larsson, Sutton.

Subs: Marshall, Sylla, Valgaeren, Lambert, Maloney.

United: Gallacher, Wilson, McCracken, Archibald, Duff, Kerr, Miller, McInnes, Robson, Dodds, McIntyre.

Subs: Jarvie, J Paterson, Samuel, Easton, Scotland.