Celtic leave Arabs Sand Dancing.

SPFL

Sunday 5th December 2021. K.O. 12pm

Tannadice. Dundee



DUNDEE UTD 0-3 CELTIC
Scorers: Rogic (19) Turnbull (40) Scales (81)


After an important victory against Hearts on Thursday evening we headed to Tannadice for an equally important game against Dundee United to stay hot on the heels of Rangers. Celtic had lost three players to injury in the Hearts game and they wouldn’t make it today.

Ralston, Welsh and Jota were the casualties with Postecoglou having to shuffle his deck accordingly. Juranović switched across to right back as Greg Taylor returned from injury to take his left back berth as did Starfelt. Mikey Johnston was a direct replacement for Jota. It definitely made the 3 points a bit more difficult on paper.



We shouldn’t have worried at all as Celtic set about dismantling United with guile, skill, pace and movement. The result was far from the whole story of this game as the men in Green & White were so dominant until the final whistle and it should have easily been 7 or 8 goals to the good. The three goals scored though, were all top drawer.

The first chance came in the opening minutes when a long ball over the top just got away from Kyogo who was through on goal. Joe Hart fluffed his lines a few minutes later when he lost concentration and let a soft ball stray past him. Fortunately the United striker was sleeping at the time. A minute later and Turnbull put a lovely cross in from the right that Johnston rose to flick it on. Kyogo was at the back post waiting and his header went over when it seemed easier to score.

On 17 minutes Tom Rogic then held the ball up well to lay on Juranović who saw his shot go over. His masterpiece would arrive two minutes later when he danced his way past three Tangerine shirts into the box like a ghost. Rogic then shaped himself perfectly and bent his shot around the goalie and into the left corner of the net to put the visitors ahead.



The chances came thick and fast for the Hoops as Mikey Johnston flashed wide of the right post, Starfelt shot deflected over and from the incoming corner Carter-Vickers saw his flashing header well saved by Siegrist. Next up was David Turnbull who headed wide of the post. It could easily have been three goals up by now. On 35 minutes a brilliant move saw Kyogo cross to Turnbull who used his body to control the shot but the keeper did well to kick it off him to deflect over.

It could have been two when Forrest met a cross in the centre of the box but he only managed to swipe fresh air to go on his back side. The second did arrive in 40 minutes and it was another world class goal. Callum McGregor weighted a beautiful ball over the United defence where it was caught mid air by Turnbull. He lifted the ball over an oncoming Siegrist with Kieran Freeman breathing down his neck. He spun away to run on to his own ball to sweep it home for 2-0.




The first half was totally dominant by Celtic and Captain McGregor was pulling the strings as was big Tom Rogic. He is a rejuvenated player under Big Ange and seems to be loving his football and to think he was nearly away last season. The movement again was excellent and only for missed chances we would be running away with most games. I do think there is a big win coming when we start being more decisive in front of goal.

Abada appeared for the second half replacing James Forrest who had picked up an injury. The Hoops continued their dominance and controlled the show and it was also pleasing to see that we were making great use of both wings. We have recently relied heavily on Jota up the left wing. On the hour mark Siegrist made a great save from a point blank Kyogo header and only for the United keeper Celtic would be out of sight.

Just a minute later and Referee Robertson dished out a yellow to Calum Butcher but it was easily a straight red. It was a reckless and dangerous tackle that saw Butcher slide in on Turnbull with studs up as he chopped him down. I do wonder how much space is given to this mistake in the media reporting? Not a lot I suspect.



On 68 minutes Hart had to be alert when Spörle rifled a shot at goal but Hart got down at full stretch to put it wide. Celtic went straight up the pitch in attack as the buzzing McGregor played in Kyogo. The striker was in the box and tried to lift the ball over Siegrist but he made himself big to save. Kyogo gathered for another shot but the big Keeper saved again.

Rogic was replaced in 70 minutes by Bitton and five minutes later it was Taylor who made way for Liam Scales. It took the big Irishman only five minutes to open his goal account for his new club and it was another sub, Abada, who laid it on. The ball was played across the edge of the United box from the right and Scales struck sweetly with his left foot as he placed it into the left side of the net. That was more like it.



Celtic had a few other efforts in the last ten minutes. The best chance to make it four was when Kyogo broke away on the left and an on running Abada was in space. He received the pass to lift the ball over Siegrist only to see it trickle past the post. It was a very convincing performance and the first time under Ange where we have been fluid for 90 minutes. With the right acquisitions in January we will really start to see the revolution in force.

After failing to beat Dundee United in the last two games it was a big three points to collect away. Also another clean sheet for Joe Hart which does the defence and his confidence no harm. Still second and four points behind the Rangers but we are breathing heavily down their necks.



MOTM: ROGIC all day. The big Australian was instrumental in everything and his goal was a flash of brilliance. Callum McGregor has to be happy with his performance also but Oz just sneaked it. The whole team deserves a massive shout.

LINEUPS:

CELTIC: Hart, Juranović, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Taylor, Forrest, McGregor, Johnston, Rogic, Kyogo, Turnbull. SUBS: Scales, Bitton, Ajeti, Abada, Bain, McCarthy, Montgomery. (4-3-3)

DUNDEE UTD: Siegrist, Freeman, Edwards, Mulgrew, Spörle, Niskanen, Pawlett, Harkes, Fuchs, Appéré, Clark. SUBS: Chalmers, Hoti, Carson, Butcher, Glass, Smith, Watson. (4-5-1)


POSSESSION: Dundee Utd 28% Celtic 72%

SHOTS: Dundee Utd 6 - 24 Celtic

SHOTS ON TARGET: Dundee Utd 2 - 10 Celtic

PASSES: Dundee Utd 308 - 744 Celtic

COMPLETION: Dundee Utd 65% Celtic 88%


By Packybhoy