Celtic 2
Dundee 1
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Newspaper extract from The Courier .

Dundee's chances of playing in Europe next season took a dent at Parkhead last night when they failed to take advantage of their game in hand over nearest rivals Rangers, this defeat leaving them a point behind 'Gers with only four games left to overhaul them.

Dundee's late goal actually made the scoreline look better than it might have been had Celtic's finishing matched their approach play.

Two superb goals-one by Mo Johnston in the first half, the other by Tommy Burns just after the interval-made sure that it wasn't going to be Dundee's night on their first league visit of the season to Parkhead.

Still minus the injured John Brown and Jim Smith and the suspended Tosh McKinlay, Dundee tried hard enough but lacked. Inspiration against a Celtic team which grew in confidence as the goals went in. Johnston and Burns were the creators for Celtic as well as the scorers.

Dundee's midfield, even though Connor tried hard, could never gain control of the game and this meant little support for strikers Stephen and Harvey.

At the back, Duffy and company soaked up a lot of pressure and understandably couldn't cope with it all. It was 2-0 in goals, 3-2 in bookings-Dundee's Shannon, Campbell and Crainie; Celtic's Johnston and McGrain.

Young Steve Campbell was given a place in Dundee's starting line-up, playing an orthodox left-wing role. It took two minutes for the Celtic crowd to show their displeasure as McClair went down heavily inside the box when tackled by Glennie, "Fair challenge," said referee Waddell. Few inside the ground agreed.

Connor and Campbell set up the first Dundee attack but Campbell's cross was cleared by Aitken. A Glennie-Geddes misunderstanding when a Johnston cross was headed in by Archdeacon nearly cost Dundee dear, but the ball finally bounced past the post.

With Celtic claiming offside, Campbell ran free but his cross was weak and Bonner cleared. It was an open game, as Celtic proved in 13 minutes when Johnston burst through on to a McStay pass. For the umpteenth time this season Bobby Geddes positioned himself brilliantly to parry the shot and turn it away.

Johnston was causing problems for Dundee and when Shannon pulled him down 30 yards out, the right-back had his name taken. Worse was to follow for Dundee. In 18 minutes McGrain pounced on a ball on the right touchline and sent over a perfect outswinging cross. It drew Geddes off his line and Johnston went high to head it over the keeper and into the net.

Johnston isn't being quoted for Scotland, yet this goal, his 19th of the season, and his general linking-up work made that extremely puzzling.

Ray Stephen looked like getting clear for Dundee, but a timely tackle by Whyte stopped him just inside the box.

It was mostly Celtic, and Roy Aitken suddenly set off on one of his "Scotland" runs on the half-hour, only to be robbed cleverly by Shannon inside the box.

Another blow hit Dundee in 34 minutes. Racing through to beat the offside trap, Colin Hendry started limping. A minute later he went off with what looked like a pulled muscle and ex-Celt Danny Crainie went on.

Johnston got involved again in the 36th minute-but not in the right way! He charged into Duffy and had his name taken.

In a sudden burst, Dundee should have drawn level five minutes before the interval. The ball bobbed around the edge of the box before a half-hit Crainie shot went to Rafferty, but he failed to get his direction right and his none-too- -powerful shot was finally hooked cleared by Whyte.

A piece of Individual brilliance individual brilliance by Tommy Burns put Celtic 2-0 up and firmly in the driving seat in 48 minutes. Glennie, bursting forward on the right, tried to set up a Dundee attack but his crossfield pass was intercepted by O'Leary, who thumped the ball forward. There seemed little danger when Burns got on to it but, with a remarkable burst of speed, he cracked open Dundee's too square defence and raced on to beat Geddes from eight yards.

Dundee's cup of woe filled even further in 55 minutes when Crainie was booked for dissent after a foul had been awarded against him.

Celtic were running freely and bubbling with confidence now, and Geddes had to charge from his goal again to thwart Johnston. Then McClair had a try and the ball broke to Aitken on his own. He "scored" but was offside.

In 58 minutes McCormack went on for Rafferty. Two minutes later there was another flash of Johnston. Turning in vintage Kenny Dalglish fashion inside the box, he sent a great shot bending just past Geddes right-hand post.

More and more Celtic got on top, and they had no fewer than three players through in 65 minutes, only for the unmarked McClair to balloon the ball wildly over.

Next we had the unusual sight of Danny McGrain getting on the end of a brilliant move only eight yards out from Geddes goal. It involved McStay, McClair and Mcinally, on for Archdeacon, who crossed for the Celtic captain to test Geddes.

Celtic kept thrusting forward, and with Dundee feeling the pressure, a third Dens name went in the book when Campbell tripped McInally.

Burns almost did it again in 76 minutes. With McInally offside he went on alone and just as he seemed to be clear Duffy got in a desperate saving tackle. It was all Celtic until, suddenly-and very unexpectedly-Dundee made it 2-1. As they mounted one of their few attacks a right-wing cross was dropped by Bonner and Stephen was unmarked and on his own to guide it into the empty net

The whole Celtic team, led by McGrain, claimed a foul on Bonner and the captain was booked for protesting too much.

That Celtic weren't going to allow a real comeback was proved twice in the 88th minute. cod passed to Johnston and a great MacLeod cross was met by McClair, who headed against the post. Seconds later Geddes had another magnificent save to deny McClair from another Johnston pass.