Dundee 2
Celtic 3
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Eric Sinclair is still missing from the Dundee side against league leaders Celtic and the Dens line-up is unchanged.

Tommy Burns returns for Celtic in place of Mark Reid and Graeme Sinclair steps back to the left-back position.

Dundee are unhappy about being awarded the first free kick, claiming that it is of little advantage because Glennie is clear with the ball.

Ferguson's kick from 25 yards goes past the far post. Burns and McStay try to work the ball through for Celtic and when Smith steps in to win possession he is so hemmed in he has to run in a circle before finding a route to clear the ball.

The wet pitch looks greasy and slippery. When McStay tries to steady for his first shot he slips and the ball goes high over the goal. His next shot takes, the same course, so perhaps he has not got his eye in.

Big Roy Aitken is halting most of Dundee's moves well outside the penalty area.

Mackie races clear on the right but his cross goes behind goal.

13 minutes almost produces the first goal. Smith heads Dundee's first corner in the ball in and 'keeper Bonner punches it off Ferguson's head to Fraser, whose shot bounces past the far post.

A pass from Davidson on the centre line, meant for Glennie, almost puts the home side in trouble. Glennie has to chase the ball almost to the corner flag, but is able to call on help from Kelly.

A great move by Celtic in 19 minutes ends with the ball in the Dundee net, but it is no goal.

Burns splits the Dundee defence with a pass to Provan, who crosses for the unmarked McGarvey to Sweep it into the net, but from an offside position the linesman signals.

Kelly has a good save from MacLeod and sees a low shot from McStay flash past the post.

In 24 minutes Celtic go in front from a penalty kick, which does not go down well with the Dundee fans. Nicholas goes down in the corner of the box when tackled by Smith and the referee points to the spot.

NICHOLAS picks up the ball, places it on the spot and crashes an unsaveable shot past Kelly.

There is nearly a second when MacDonald allows McGarvey to whip the ball away and slide it in front of McStay, who shoots wide. Fraser and Burns are spoken to by the referee after a foul by the Dundee skipper and MacLeod's free kick is held by Kelly.

A Dundee penalty claim. which looks as convincing as that awarded Celtic is turned down when Davidson measures his length after what looks like a push.

Then McAdam slides in to send the ball for a corner and robs Mackie of a promising chance.

Dundee's Ferguson goes down hurt and after treat ment is limping badly. He indicates he can't continue and in 38 minutes is replaced by Kidd.

He has not touched the ball when Celtic go further ahead. McStay sends a great pass to Provan who teases and tantalises McKimmie all the way to the edge of the goal area before crossing to the other post for BURNS to knock it in.

Just on half-time, Celtic Scoring machine NICHOLAS takes a short pass from Burns to score a third from close range after the home defence has failed to clear.

Half-time Dundee 0, Celtic 3.

Reflections The Celts are bouncing back from failure in Europe helped greatly by the fact that Dundee have very little to offer up front but even more by the promptings of young Paul McStay which are close to soccer genius.

Dundee have Bell on for McKimmie. Scrimgeour moves to left-back.

The recast home side shows more determination, but it is soon clear the skill-packed Celtic outfit is not prepared to sit on their handsome lead.

Dundee come close when a Mackie corner is turned in by Stephen and the ball bounces off a couple of defenders on the Celtic goalline before Bonner can grab it.

From the 'keeper's clearance Kelly shows his agility and skill by diving to hold a thunderbolt from MacLeod.

The keeper brings the house down again with a superb reflex action save from McGarvey after the ball has bobbed around dangerously in the penalty area.

Dundee's luck is right out. With both subs on Scrimgeour takes a bad knock and goes off for treatment with wee Bell doing the covering job at full-back till the big defender returns holding his ribs.

McGarvey is only a whisker from scoring with an angular shot which just misses the angle of the post and crossbar.

Dundee get a goal back in 64 minutes when skipper Cammy FRASER is unmarked at the post to wallop in a long cross from Mackie.

The ball is swerving away from 'keeper Bonner as it flashes into the net.

Dundee have lifted their play and this is now glorious spectacle featuring Celtic's skill against the determination and guts of a the Dens side.

Kelly stars when he stops a tremendous shot from McStay and Provan misses the rebound. The 'keeper next pushes a Burns header round the post.

Kelly races from the penalty area to meet Nicholas but does not win the ball and there's the bizarre spectacle of the lanky 'keeper and the wee scorer shaping up to each other near the touchline.

Nicholas gets a cross on its way to the empty goal, but Glennie gets to it to head into the arms of the returning 'keeper.

Kelly misses a cross from the right and the ball bounces on the head of Nicholas and breaks away from goal. Celtic are trying to kill off the Dundee revival and a Burns shot hits the bar.

But Dundee won't lie down and in 77 minutes they score again.

Again the ball comes from the left and everyone, in cluding Bonner, misses it. Again, FRASER is at the far post to knock it in.

A couple of minutes later Fraser is booked following a foul on Sinclair, and his name, is followed into book by those of Burns and Bell after they clash.

A Dundee player crashes in the box and a penalty claim is turned down. A decision that brings manager Mackay out to the track to express his feelings.

Final-Dundee 2, Celtic 3.

Summing Up-A disastrous five minutes at the end of the first half made Dundee's cause appear hopeless, but what a fight they made of it in the second half. They matched almost everything Celtic produced and regained their scoring touch. Cammie Fraser was a captain courageous and his troops followed him to almost save a point.

Match report written by The Sporting Post