Celtic 4
Dundee 2
League (Premier Division)


Celtic 

4 - 2

Dundee


League (Premier Division)
Saturday, April 17th, 1982
Celtic Park
Attendance: 14,288
3:00 PM Kick-off


Goalscorers
Mark Reid (pen.) (56)
George McCluskey (67)
Davie Provan (77)
George McCluskey (83)
Jim Smith (3)
Iain Ferguson (78)

Team Managers
Billy McNeill Donald Mackay

Starting Eleven
1. Pat Bonner
2. Danny McGrain
3. Mark Reid
4. Roy Aitken
5. Tom McAdam
6. Murdo MacLeo
7. Davie Provan
8. Dom Sullivan
9. George McCluskey
10. Tommy Burns
11. Danny Crainie
Bobby Geddes .1
Les Barr .2
Stewart McKimmie .3
Cammy Fraser .4
Jim Smith .5
Bobby Glennie .6
Iain Ferguson .7
Albert Kidd .8
Eric Sinclair .9
Brian Scrimgeour .10
Ray Stephen .11

Bench
12. Paul McStay
14. David Moyes
Peter Mackie .12
George McGeachie .14

Substitutions
None. Peter Mackie for Albert Kidd
George McGeachie for Brian Scrimgeour

Cautions
None. None.

Red Cards
None. None.

Match Officials

K. J. Hope (Clarkston) (Referee)



Photography by Celtic Wiki

Match Report


After Dundee beat Rangers on Wednesday, Dens manager Donald Mackay claimed if his side had performed similarly all season, they'd be fighting for a place in Europe instead of trying to stay in the Premier League.

Well, for an hour here, Dundee played as if this was a European tie.

They defended steadfastly, broke briskly into attack with simple, straightforward passes and caused Celtic no end of trouble.

They justified their half-time advantage, despite Celtic having more possession.

Then without wishing to take anything away from Celtic, who thoroughly deserved their win in the end, Dundee suddenly stopped playing. Their midfield, previously so adroit at winning quick possession and finding a colleague, disappeared.

You can't give Tommy Burns and Co. a free run in this department. Celtic's midfield in full flight will make life difficult for anyone. Yet, in my humble opinion, it took a dodgy penalty to set Celtic on the way to success. Les Barr was harshly adjudged to have raised his foot high going for a loose ball with Burns.

Even at that, Kenny Hope waited to see if Celtic would gain advantage before belatedly pointing to the spot. Surely you can't have it both ways.

Anyway, Mark Reid didn't hang around. He beat Geddes comprehensively from the spot. After that, Celtic ran riot. They forced a cavalcade of corners as they turned Dundee's defence inside out.

Eventually, one had to pay off. Provan floated a near-post one from the left. Aitken back-headed it and George McCluskey had the simplest of tasks to finish it off. Then, with the sands of time fast running out on gallant. Dundee, Stephen gift-wrapped a goal for Davie Provan. He gave the ball away 12 yards out and bang-3-1.

Dundee pulled one back immediately with their first concerted attack of the second half. Mackie crossed from the right and lain Ferguson confidently swept the ball past Bonner.

But there was no fairytale ending to this thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining game. MacLeod seemed to run for miles without being challenged, eventually hit the by line, and McCluskey had as straightforward a task for his second goal as he had for his first.

Yet for almost an hour it looked like Jim Smith's early goal would be enough for Dundee. He outjumped everyone to powerfully head in a Ferguson corner.

Then Cammy Fraser, in particular, ran the midfield. His use of the ball was immaculate, In 31 minutes Stephen hit the bar with a tremendous 25-yard effort.

When Celtic did threaten, young Smith was a tower of strength in the visiting defence.

Dundee lived dangerously at times with 'keeper Geddes particularly vulnerable at cross balls. However, Celtic over-elaborated in this spell.

Sure, they struck Woodwork three times through Reid, Sullivan and McCluskey, but it looked like being Dundee's day until their midfield went AWOL.

Full marks to Celtic. They showed a refreshing appetite after the interval with everyone bar Bonner threatening Geddes.

Now it seems a matter of time before the League Championship flag is unfurled at Celtic Park yet again.

Billy McNeill must be delighted with the form of McGrain, Reid, Aitken, Provan and Burns.

Although Dundee lost, they certainly are too good for Division One. They have improved a ton since last time I saw them.

Fraser, Smith, Glennie, Kidd and Stephen were their most impressive.

Match report written by The Sunday Post



Squad Statistics (as at April 17th, 1982)


1981-82 All Time
Age
Bobby Geddes (GK)21 30 - 61 -
Brian Scrimgeour22 15 - 435
Les Barr29 23 - 1261
Jim Smith20 142142
Bobby Glennie24 39 - 1902
Stewart McKimmie19 17 - 35 -
Cammy Fraser24 3257012
Ray Stephen19 2665314
Albert Kidd20 342342
Eric Sinclair28 26624986
Iain Ferguson19 34136019
George McGeachie (sub)23 3321297
Peter Mackie (sub)24 34510212






League Table (as at April 17th, 1982)


No league table has been added for this season.