Celtic 5
Dundee 0
League (Premier League)

Match Report

Dundee headed to Celtic Park at the end of a week which saw manager Barry Smith part company with the club.

Ray Farningham was in the dugout and made only one change from Smith's last game in charge. That change was an enforced one as Kyle Benedictus replaced Lewis Toshney, who was unable to play against his parent club.

Dundee started the game well and although little happened in the first period of the match, The Dees were able to contain Celtic and it was actually Gary Harkins who had the first effort and hit the net, although it would be ruled out. He whipped a free kick from the left into the near post and Fraser Forster couldn't keep the ball out, but the midfielder's celebrations were cut short because of an offside flag going up against John Baird running in.

It would have been a great start for the players in front of new interim manager John Brown, who watched on from the directors box, but within five minutes Celtic had taken the lead with their first really attack. A cross from the left brought Rab Douglas off his line but the keeper could only push the ball into the path of Joe Ledley, who tapped it into the net. It was a blow to Dundee who had started well, but they had to be alert not to fall two behind straight away. lain Davidson reacted first to clear after James Forrest had just missed out on turning the ball towards goal.

Dundee continued to try get forward and first Harkins, then Baird had efforts on target. At that stage Dundee were looking more likely to grab the next goal. Declan Gallagher headed wide from a corner before Brian Easton took advantage of slack defending from Efe Ambrose, but could only win a corner when the defender got back. From that corner, Harkins headed over.

Celtic then had a flurry of chances with Kayal and Izaguirre having shots either side of two Hooper efforts, one over the top from the striker and one forcing Douglas to push away. The Celtic hitman was getting closer and the best chance of the spell came when he flashed a shot across the face of goal and inches wide.

Before the break, Harkins forced Forster into a save and Nicky Riley played ball in from the left. The keeper tipped over and from the corner Harkins headed the ball down and up onto the bar. It was a let off for Celtic and soon after Neil Lennon made a point of replacing defender Ambrose with Victor Wanyama. Dundee felt hard done by to be in behind at the break and after Brian Easton had felt his hamstring during the first half, he was replaced at the break by Matt Lockwood as a precaution.

Lockwood had barely gotten into his stride when he was heading up the tunnel again. Celtic split Dundee apart with a pass through the middle and Forrest opted to square for Hooper; as he was about to tap in, Lockwood pulled him back and received a straight red card. Forrest stepped up to the spot and side footed home. From then on it was a routine win for champions Celtic as Dundee were forced to move Ryan Conroy to left back.

Stokes and Wanyama had shots before Celtic added a third with Ledley floating the ball to the back post, where Dylan McGeouch headed into the net. Douglas saved from Stokes then Hooper as Celtic went in search of a fourth. Ray Farningham replaced Harkins with Kevin McBride but soon after Celtic did get that next goal. Stokes cutting the ball back for Ledley to hammer high and in off the underside of the bar.

Celtic added a fifth soon after Dundee had made another change, with David Morgan making his debut in place of Nicky Riley. A ball over the top found Hooper, he chested down and clinically drilled the ball low into the net. The home side kept up the pressure but Douglas kept them at bay until the referee blew the final whistle.

Match report written by Official Dundee website