DUTV
STORY OF THE MATCH | RANGERS (A)
25th November 2024
A goal from Gary Hooper with only minutes remaining handed Celtic a narrow 2-1 victory over a battling United side on a controversial afternoon at Tannadice.
Hooper had the visitors ahead early on only for Goodwillie to equalise for United. The game really sprung to life in the second half when the linesman overruled the referee after he had awarded the visitors a penalty however in the end Hooper was on hand to bundle the ball over the line and win the visitors the points.
United's only change from the team that started two weeks ago against Kilmarnock was Craig Conway, returning after injury, replacing Darren Dods.
First Half:
The visitors started extremely brightly and early on Samaras and Stokes both went close with shots. With 12 minutes gone their early pressure paid off when a Mark Wilson cross was fired home from close range by Hooper. Minutes later it could have been worse for United when Samaras rounded Pernis only for Kenneth to clear the ball off the line. With 20 minutes on the clock United had a period of sustained pressure that twice saw Samaras block shots from Severin. Celtic were looking dangerous on the break but United were coming back into it and with 27 minutes gone Conway found Robertson at the back post who headed against the side of the post. Ten minutes later the game was back on level terms when Goodwilie fired in a low shot that deflected off Loovens and completely wrong footed Fraser Forster. In the dying minutes of the half Majstrovic just failed to find Samaras with a header and then Pernis brilliantly saved from a stinging shot from Ledley.
Second Half
After the break United came out with all guns blazing and after pressuring the visitors defence they almost took the lead when Goodwillie laid off to Buaben who fired in a great shot that Forster did well to save. At the other end Maloney then went close with a free kick that just missed the target. With 20 minutes left the game sprung into life when firstly Hooper lofted a ball over the head of Pernis only for the ball to land on the roof of the net and then seconds later the referee awarded a penalty kick for a foul on Hooper by Pernis. However after consulting his linesman the referee correctly changed his mind and allowed play to move on. With the Celtic support fuming play was flowing towards the United goal and with 10 minutes left United looked like their luck was in when firstly Pernis brilliantly saved from Stokes and the rebound fell to Ledley who slammed the ball against the post. However with only a couple of minutes left the pressure paid off when McCourt swung in a cross that Samaras headed down, the ball deflected off Sean Dillon and Hooper hooked the ball home.
Summing Up: A great game that United will feel unlucky to have lost in the dying minutes. Celtic had more of the game and the better chances but United put in a fine battling performance.
Man of the match: A lot of great performances all over the park but on the afternoon Prince Buaben put in a stylish display in the middle of the park.
Dundee Utd: Pernis, Dillon, Kenneth, Dixon, Robertson (Douglas, 86), Gomis, Severin, Conway (Cadamarteri, 74), Buaben, Goodwillie, Daly (Russell, 89)
Subs not used: Banks,Robertson,Watson,Shala,
Celtic: Forster, Loovens, Wilson, Majstorovic, Izaguirre, Ledley, Ki, Samaras, Stokes, Hooper, Maloney (McCourt, 89 )
Subs not used: Cha Du-Ri, Zaluska, Juarez, McGinn, Twardzik, Towell,
Bookings: Daly , Dixon , Douglas , Kenneth (Dundee Utd) Loovens , Majstorovic , Samaras , Stokes (Celtic)
Attendance: 11790
Referee: Douglas McDonald (Scotland)
Hooper had the visitors ahead early on only for Goodwillie to equalise for United. The game really sprung to life in the second half when the linesman overruled the referee after he had awarded the visitors a penalty however in the end Hooper was on hand to bundle the ball over the line and win the visitors the points.
United's only change from the team that started two weeks ago against Kilmarnock was Craig Conway, returning after injury, replacing Darren Dods.
First Half:
The visitors started extremely brightly and early on Samaras and Stokes both went close with shots. With 12 minutes gone their early pressure paid off when a Mark Wilson cross was fired home from close range by Hooper. Minutes later it could have been worse for United when Samaras rounded Pernis only for Kenneth to clear the ball off the line. With 20 minutes on the clock United had a period of sustained pressure that twice saw Samaras block shots from Severin. Celtic were looking dangerous on the break but United were coming back into it and with 27 minutes gone Conway found Robertson at the back post who headed against the side of the post. Ten minutes later the game was back on level terms when Goodwilie fired in a low shot that deflected off Loovens and completely wrong footed Fraser Forster. In the dying minutes of the half Majstrovic just failed to find Samaras with a header and then Pernis brilliantly saved from a stinging shot from Ledley.
Second Half
After the break United came out with all guns blazing and after pressuring the visitors defence they almost took the lead when Goodwillie laid off to Buaben who fired in a great shot that Forster did well to save. At the other end Maloney then went close with a free kick that just missed the target. With 20 minutes left the game sprung into life when firstly Hooper lofted a ball over the head of Pernis only for the ball to land on the roof of the net and then seconds later the referee awarded a penalty kick for a foul on Hooper by Pernis. However after consulting his linesman the referee correctly changed his mind and allowed play to move on. With the Celtic support fuming play was flowing towards the United goal and with 10 minutes left United looked like their luck was in when firstly Pernis brilliantly saved from Stokes and the rebound fell to Ledley who slammed the ball against the post. However with only a couple of minutes left the pressure paid off when McCourt swung in a cross that Samaras headed down, the ball deflected off Sean Dillon and Hooper hooked the ball home.
Summing Up: A great game that United will feel unlucky to have lost in the dying minutes. Celtic had more of the game and the better chances but United put in a fine battling performance.
Man of the match: A lot of great performances all over the park but on the afternoon Prince Buaben put in a stylish display in the middle of the park.
Dundee Utd: Pernis, Dillon, Kenneth, Dixon, Robertson (Douglas, 86), Gomis, Severin, Conway (Cadamarteri, 74), Buaben, Goodwillie, Daly (Russell, 89)
Subs not used: Banks,Robertson,Watson,Shala,
Celtic: Forster, Loovens, Wilson, Majstorovic, Izaguirre, Ledley, Ki, Samaras, Stokes, Hooper, Maloney (McCourt, 89 )
Subs not used: Cha Du-Ri, Zaluska, Juarez, McGinn, Twardzik, Towell,
Bookings: Daly , Dixon , Douglas , Kenneth (Dundee Utd) Loovens , Majstorovic , Samaras , Stokes (Celtic)
Attendance: 11790
Referee: Douglas McDonald (Scotland)
