Dundee Utd 2
Celtic 1
League (SPL)

Match Report

Under the John Barnes/Kenny Dalglish ticket, Celtic had steam-rollered all opposition prior to making their way to Tannadice, but a never-say-die display by the Tangerines put the breaks on the Hoops bandwagon. Positive was the only way to describe the manner in which United started the match. However, there was an early reminder of the threat Celtic carry when Larsson powered a diving header just wide. Five minutes later though, the visitors lost their previously unblemished defensive record. Billy Dodds took a ball played up to him by David Partridge and slipped it into the path of Craig Easton who sent a first time shot curling into the postage stamp right-hand corner from 20 yards. Although the threat of Larsson persisted as he twice hit efforts wide of the mark, Celtic had Jonathan Gould to thank for preventing the concession of a second goal with a brilliant double save. Firstly, he blocked a shot from Joaquim Ferraz with his feet and then did likewise to Jim Paterson as he tried to net the rebound. On the only occasion in the first half on which Celtic opened up our defence Alan Combe was out quickly to close down and deflect Viduka's shot away. The diligence which had, in the main, kept Celtic in check was rewarded four minutes from the interval with a second strike. David Partridge, starting a match for the first time, lofted the ball over the top of the visitors' defence, enabling Billy Dodds to run through and scoop the ball over Gould and watch
it bounce into the empty net. Although Celtic may have dominated territorially thereafter, they were fortunate not to concede a third goal early in the second half when Magnus Skoldmark bulletted a free header inches past. United's tenacity at the back continued to restrict Celtic to long range pops at goal. There was no better example of this than Trebily's cracking 30 yard drive which Alan Combe brilliantly tipped over. Unfortunately, when the resultant corner came over, the ball broke to Berkovic just outside the box and he swept home a volley into the top right-hand corner. The game pulsated to the finish. Billy Dodds curled a shot inches wide at one end and Celtic raced away to the other to almost equatise. Alan Combe beat down a Moravcik effort and Riseth seemed certain to score from the rebound. He didn't, however, heading the loose ball over the bar, and United went on take ail three points and equal the number of home wins recorded in the whole of last term.