Dundee Utd2–1Celtic

After early doubts about the game going ahead the lunchtime kick off took place as scheduled as both teams lined up for what promised to be an absorbing 90 minutes. The hosts knew that a win would take them within two points of their opponents and in doing so set them up very nicely for the rest of the season. United however had not recorded a single victory over Celtic since August 1999.

United pushed forward from the off and within a few minutes had a shout for a penalty as Myrie-Williams went down in the area after trying to ease past N’Guemo, but in this case the referee waved play on. Celtic’s first threat came from Andreas Hinkel as his purposeful run to the edge of the box ended with a decent shot from long range which United goalkeeper Nicky Weaver dealt with comfortably as he turned the ball away from goal low to his left. The next attempt from the visitors didn’t require any intervention from Weaver as a free kick from Barry Robson from long distance sailed over the bar. There was danger with just over a quarter of the game gone when McGeady burst down the left flank and cut the ball back to Fortune in a good position but thankfully for the Terrors the defence were quick to close the striker down and blocked the effort for a corner. Celtic again had a good free kick opportunity, this time after Robson was fouled Darren Dods, however despite the change in kick taker the end result was the same as Danny Fox lifted the ball over the bar. After 36 minutes a good cross from the right by McGeady could have ended up with a worse fate for United as McDonald took a fresh air swipe at the ball seven yards out in the centre of the goal. The home team were having some success in breaking down the flanks but the opportunities were limited due to a lack of space in a crowded Celtic penalty area. Weaver came to United’s rescue as half time approached when he did the right thing by turning away an inviting low cross from the right by Hinkel, with both McDonald and Fortune waiting to strike. After surviving another couple of dangerous set piece situations the Tangerines broke forward through Myrie-Williams who was chopped down by Glenn Loovens as he looked to put Prince Buaben clean through on goal, with the result being a free kick to United and a yellow card for Loovens. In following the pattern of the game however the home side couldn’t make the most of the chance as Paul Dixon sent a shot over the bar. Celtic had probably had the upper hand overall but with chances limited neither side could complain that the half had ended goalless. The most likely United had looked had been on the break with Myrie-Williams in particular looking dangerous.

The impressive Myrie-Williams again eased through the Celtic midfield early after the interval and as room opened up for him he tried his luck from 25 yards out but unfortunately shot a yard or so wide of Zaluska’s left hand post. Weaver was again called into action shortly after as Caldwell lifted a cross to the back post where three Celtic players were waiting. The former Man City player closed down the angle quickly however and thwarted Fortune’s attempt to find the net. As the game started to liven up Buaben forced Zaluska into a great save as he won the ball in midfield and hit a thunderous right foot drive which was dipping into the net before he turned over the bar. From the corner United came within a whisker of opening the scoring as Dods headed Conway’s kick back across goal for Casalinuovo who headed the ball off the underside of the bar. Celtic sub Samaras then found some space on the right side of the box before squaring the ball across goal for McDonald who couldn’t quite connect but in any event the flag had been raised for offside. With 65 minutes played Casalinuovo had a couple of chances, firstly when Myrie-Williams broke into the box on the right and then after good work from Goodwillie created a chance to cross but on both occasions the Argentinean failed to make proper contact with the ball. After 70 minutes and with United looking the more likely to score there was a cruel twist of fate as Celtic broke up the other end opened the scoring. Robson evaded Dixon and then Dods who unfortunately tripped his former team mate just inside the area to concede a penalty. Barry Robson took the kick himself and sent Weaver the wrong way much to the anguish of the United fans. There was almost an immediate reply from the hosts as long term injury victim Jon Daly nearly scored with his first touch after coming on as sub but he couldn’t direct his header on target from three yards after Dods had nodded the ball into his path to set up a brilliant opportunity. The luck which had evaded them all afternoon in front of goal finally turned for United after 82 minutes as they scored a deserved equaliser. A perfectly delivered corner from the left from Danny Swanson was met superbly by Jon Daly who thundered a close range header home to level the game. With time almost up and the Terrors desperately pushing for a winning goal, Swanson forced Zaluska into a fine save from a long range free kick and from the resultant corner joy turned to ecstasy for United. Swanson again took the set-piece, playing it into the heart of the congested Celtic penalty box and Darren Dods towered above everyone else to crash an unstoppable header into the back of the net to spark wild celebrations both on and off the pitch. It turned out to be the last real action of the game with the full time whistle signaling a famous win for United - their first against Celtic in over eleven years!