Dundee 1
Celtic 3
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Newspaper extract from The Courier .

If there was ever any doubt over John Brown's importance to Dundee, it was dismissed by events in Saturday's 3-1 defeat by Celtic.

Brown is the man who makes the Dark Blues midfield tick and in his absence (through injury) they surrendered that crucial battleground and paid the price.

Manager Archie Knox was left to rue, "The old story of failing to take chances when we were on top," but also acknowledged the fact that Brown was badly missed.

Paul McStay and Brian McClair (when switched to mid field after a first-half injury to Peter Grant) were allowed time and space to run the show for Celtic.

Through their promptings in the second-half Celtic looked more like the side that dazzled at Dens earlier in the season, but some gritty defending, poor finishing and a Bobby Geddes penalty save ensured the score line remained reasonable.

Incredibly, though, things could have been so much better for Dundee, indeed they could have won, they were well on top for the opening half-hour.

Ray Stephen put them ahead from the spot in eight minutes after O'Leary had bundled Harvey. Moments earlier, Stephen had sent a diving header just wide of the post, minutes later Latchford brilliantly saved a Harvey volley then watched with relief as another Stephen effort slipped past the far post.

Celtic's only attempt of note had been a McClair shot which struck the woodwork, but four minutes before the break they equalised, Maurice Johnston beating Jim Duffy to a McClair cross and giving Bobby Geddes no chance.

On the restart came a soft penalty award for the Parkhead men when Archdeacon went down after a challenge from Connor. Justice was done when Geddes dived to his left to grasp McStay's effort.

The young Scotland star atoned, however, diving to head number two for Celtic after fine work by Johnston and McClair. Mark McGhee created the final goal eight minutes from time with a perfect cross which McClair first-timed into the net.

Yet Dundee had chances Connor hitting the outside of a post with a curling free kick and Harvey and Mennie both seeing efforts blocked after Latchford had parried a Stephen shot.

Debutant Vince Mennie looked surprised by the hectic nature of play but showed enough in the first half to suggest that the £65,000 paid by Dundee to Cologne could be money well spent.

He linked up well with Stephen and Harvey in the first half, dispersed some great passes and did his share of defending.

"That was the lad's first game in five weeks and he felt the pace," said Archie Knox, explaining the player's second half fade-out.

Mennie operated on the right- hand side of the park prior to the interval, the left side after it and through the middle near time-up.

Much thought will be given this week to finding his best position before the match with Hearts at Tynecastle.

Reflecting on the game Archie claimed. "We could have been three up but let Celtic off the hook and paid the penalty." Celtic boss Davie Hay said, "We played some of our best football in a while against Dundee."

Midfielder Peter Grant could be sidelined for a few weeks Initial fears that his ankle was broken subsequently proved groundless but he does have badly damaged ligaments.

Best for Celtic, who had Johnston and O'Leary booked, were Tommy Burns, Johnston, Brian McClair and Paul McStay while Dundee had fine service from Stewart Forsyth, Jim Duffy, Bobby Glennie and Ray Stephen.

It was a cracking game, one that deserved to be watched by more than the 12,295 who turned up.