DUTV
STORY OF THE MATCH | RANGERS (A)
25th November 2024
United ultimately succumbed to a heavy defeat at Celtic Park, but the final score masks what was in fact a very competitive game for over seventy minutes. Indeed, United could themselves have scored five.
Following United's home draw against St Mirren, Scott Severin's place in midfield was filled by Scott Robertson while new signing Gavin Gunning made his first appearance as a late substitute. For Celtic, Charlie Mulgrew came in for long term absentee Izaguirre, while Scott Brown replaced the injured Kayal.
United made the worst possible start conceding a sloppy goal after four minutes. A rare lapse saw Pernis fumble an easy catch, and though the keeper recovered before Hooper could score it was at the expense of a corner.
From the set piece, Ki picked out Majstorovic whose header was stabbed over the line by Stokes. United recovered well and had three half chances before finally drawing level just after the half hour mark. Rankin released Kenneth into the box and when the big centre half cut the ball back across goal Johnny Russell was on hand to slot home from eight yards.
But the lead was restored just three minutes later - with United once again failing to deal with a Celtic corner. This time Hooper was first to react to force the ball over the line after Stoke's header had bounced down from the crossbar.
Into the second half and United survived a couple of early scares, most notably when Common's drive came back off the inside of the post. But just as United were coming back into things, Celtic did get the third. A lightening counter attack saw Ki through on goal, and the Korean blasted home from the edge of the box. Far from letting their heads go down, United pressed to get back into the game and only three fingertip saves from Zaluska - first from a Kenneth header, then a Russell header and then a Russell chip - preserved the two goal advantage. As United chased the game, Celtic were always dangerous on the counter-attack. With just under 20 minutes to play, Joe Ledley slid in ahead of his marker to divert Maloney's low cut-back into the net and bring an end to the contest.
Celtic finished the game in cruise control and to rub salt in the wounds Forrest added a fifth after neat build up play in stoppage time, completing a scoreline which tells very little of the story of the match.
Teams:
Celtic: Zaluska, Majstorovic, K Wilson, M Wilson, Mulgrew, Brown, Ledley, Ki Sung Yeung, Stokes (McCourt 78), Commons (Forrest 63), Hooper (Maloney 66).
Unused subs - Cervi, Matthews, Wanyama, Samaras.
Dundee Utd: Pernis, Dillon, Dixon, Kenneth, Watson, Flood (Gunning 78), Robertson, Rankin, Allan (Armstrong 67), Daly, Russell.
Unused subs - Banks, Douglas, Swanson, Mackay-Steven, Dow.
Referee - Craig Thomson
Attendance - 50, 589
Man of the Match - Johnny Russell. Took his goal well and was unlucky not to have one or two more.
Following United's home draw against St Mirren, Scott Severin's place in midfield was filled by Scott Robertson while new signing Gavin Gunning made his first appearance as a late substitute. For Celtic, Charlie Mulgrew came in for long term absentee Izaguirre, while Scott Brown replaced the injured Kayal.
United made the worst possible start conceding a sloppy goal after four minutes. A rare lapse saw Pernis fumble an easy catch, and though the keeper recovered before Hooper could score it was at the expense of a corner.
From the set piece, Ki picked out Majstorovic whose header was stabbed over the line by Stokes. United recovered well and had three half chances before finally drawing level just after the half hour mark. Rankin released Kenneth into the box and when the big centre half cut the ball back across goal Johnny Russell was on hand to slot home from eight yards.
But the lead was restored just three minutes later - with United once again failing to deal with a Celtic corner. This time Hooper was first to react to force the ball over the line after Stoke's header had bounced down from the crossbar.
Into the second half and United survived a couple of early scares, most notably when Common's drive came back off the inside of the post. But just as United were coming back into things, Celtic did get the third. A lightening counter attack saw Ki through on goal, and the Korean blasted home from the edge of the box. Far from letting their heads go down, United pressed to get back into the game and only three fingertip saves from Zaluska - first from a Kenneth header, then a Russell header and then a Russell chip - preserved the two goal advantage. As United chased the game, Celtic were always dangerous on the counter-attack. With just under 20 minutes to play, Joe Ledley slid in ahead of his marker to divert Maloney's low cut-back into the net and bring an end to the contest.
Celtic finished the game in cruise control and to rub salt in the wounds Forrest added a fifth after neat build up play in stoppage time, completing a scoreline which tells very little of the story of the match.
Teams:
Celtic: Zaluska, Majstorovic, K Wilson, M Wilson, Mulgrew, Brown, Ledley, Ki Sung Yeung, Stokes (McCourt 78), Commons (Forrest 63), Hooper (Maloney 66).
Unused subs - Cervi, Matthews, Wanyama, Samaras.
Dundee Utd: Pernis, Dillon, Dixon, Kenneth, Watson, Flood (Gunning 78), Robertson, Rankin, Allan (Armstrong 67), Daly, Russell.
Unused subs - Banks, Douglas, Swanson, Mackay-Steven, Dow.
Referee - Craig Thomson
Attendance - 50, 589
Man of the Match - Johnny Russell. Took his goal well and was unlucky not to have one or two more.
