Celtic1–0Dundee Utd

Over recent years Parkhead has become one of those places where we expect to pick up points and in this instance we should really have taken something from a game, which, for long spells, we dominated. The fact we didn't, stemmed from a lack of penetration up front. Celtic too failed to make much headway towards Billy Thomson but unfortunately that was not the case in the fifth minute. Full-back Chris Morris was up on the overlap and swung over a cross to the far post which was met by Joe Miller who bulleted Celtic into the lead with a powerful header. Kevin Gallacher's pace had caused the Celtic defence its usual problems in what had been an entertaining opening by both sides. Several fouls on Kevin around the edge of the box brought us good dead ball situations on which we failed to capitalise. After the early setback, we had the bulk of the play, but Celtic did look dangerous on the break. Twice Mark McGhee went close with a shot and then a near post header. Dave Beaumont who had a particularly good game nullifying the threat of Paul McStay had one of our best first half efforts, but his shot from a Meade cut back was wide of the target. The half ended with United on top but failing to test Rough.

The second half opened with a flurry of activity at both ends. First Roy Aitken blasted in a shot from a narrow angle which Billy Thomson parried to safety and at the other end a first time cross by Raphael Meade found no takers as it temptingly ran across the face of the Celtic goal. Our efforts to equalise continued with Raphael Meade finding Mixu Paatelainen in the box. The big Finn swivelled and sent in a shot just wide of Rough's right hand post in the 57th minute. Although we had the bulk of possession there was little penetration about our play and our best chance of the game came after the introduction of Allan Preston. The youngster worked his way clear on the left and sent over a cross which Mixu Paatelainen headed into the ground, but the ball bounced into the arms of Rough. Thus denying us a point we deserved on the balance of play.