Celtic 6
Dundee Utd 2
League (SPL)

Match Report

Dundee United made one enforced change to last weekend’s 3-1 victory at home to Hearts with Gavin Gunning’s knee injury, which United fear could put an end to his season, ruling him out. His replacement last week was Brian McLean and it was the big centre-back who took Gunning’s place in the starting eleven. Celtic made three changes from their midweek Champion’s League defeat to Juventus, Mikael Lustig and Scott Brown dropping out of the squad. James Forrest started from the bench, Adam Matthews, Joe Ledley and Anthony Stokes being the replacements.

For the third successive game United would take an early lead. Radoslaw Cierzniak’s long throw towards Gary Mackay-Steven cut out by former United player Charlie Mulgrew. However, Mackay-Steven fought hard to regain the ball. Sprinting clear of Mulgrew he released a fine through ball just inside to the onrushing Stuart Armstrong. The Scotland Under 21 Captain surged into the box and coolly slotted the ball low past Fraser Forster from 8 yards to send the travelling Arabs into raptures on 10 minutes. Unfortunately those celebrations were short lived. A minute later Celtic had a corner on the right. Kris Commons dispatched his corner towards the near post and the ball was met by Efe Ambrose. The Nigerian rose high to head the ball past Cierzniak to make it 1-1. The game appeared to be settling down until 22 minutes. Anthony Stokes picked the ball up on the left. Running at the United defence he slipped the ball to the overlapping Emilio Izaguirre, his cross evading the United back line and finding Kris Commons at the back post. The Scotland international unleashed a left foot volley which Cierzniak could only get a foot to on its way to the net. United had a fantastic opportunity to draw level shortly after the Celtic goal when Mackay-Steven was fouled by Adam Matthews on the left. Barry Douglas stepped up to deliver a long free kick into the danger area. His flighted ball was met by the head of Keith Watson. However, his fine header was parried by Forster as it looked destined to cross the line at the bottom of the Celtic keeper’s right post. It was from this passage of play that Dundee United would win a penalty and a glorious opportunity to equalise. After the ball was cleared from the Forster save, United regained possession, Armstrong and Johnny Russell linking up on the left to unleash Mackay-Steven. The winger burst into the box and was challenged once more by Matthews. The referee again adjudged the Celtic right back to have fouled Mackay-Steven and awarded the Tangerines a penalty. Captain Jon Daly would step up to take the spot kick. The big Irishman struck it to the left. Somehow Forster was there to palm it wide, denying United a much deserved equaliser. Despite almost drawing level United would fall further behind on 37 minutes. Victor Wanyama struck a shot at the edge of the box which ricocheted its way to Stokes. He fed the ball to Joe Ledley and the Welsh international dispatched the ball goalwards. With the help of a deflection his shot found its way to the back of the net to make it 3-1 to Celtic.

Ten minutes into the second half Bobby Madden would point to the spot, this time in the home side’s favour. Douglas challenged Stokes in the box and the referee blew for a penalty. Up stepped Kris Commons to send Cierzniak the wrong way and Celtic 4-1 ahead. Dundee United had the opportunity to make it 4-2 with a fine counter attack from a Celtic corner. Richie Ryan, who had replaced Willo Flood in the first half, released Mackay-Steven down the right. He motored past Kelvin Wilson to go one on one with Forster. The winger took the shot on himself which was saved by the Celtic keeper much to the consternation of Russell who was unmarked and awaiting the square pass with the goal gaping in front of him. Things went from bad to worse as the game wore on: Stokes bagging himself a brace with goals on 70 and 82 minutes. The first a well placed right foot shot from 25 yards as Anthony Stokes found acres of space at the edge of the United area. His second goal was a gift from the United defence – a Mulgrew corner flighted to the unmarked James Forrest at the back post. His header was well saved by Cierzniak but the ball fell to the feet of Anthony Stokes. With no challenge, he slotted home from 4 yards. In his exclusive post match interview with ArabZONE Manager Jackie McNamara would praise the attacking prowess and bemoan his side’s defending from set pieces. “The positive stuff is the way the lads are creating. We’re creating chances and scoring goals. But we need to be better defensively. But that’s not something I didn’t already know.” Indeed the Manager’s comments about our attacking prowess were demonstrated excellently by the final goal of the game. Picking up the ball in the centre of the park, Johnny Russell beat three Celtic players to go one on one with Forster. The on fire striker slotted the ball well past the Celtic Keeper to put a positive note to end of a not so positive afternoon for the Terrors.