Dundee Utd v Celtic

Celtic Crazy predicted a tough time for the team today but it proved to be an easy win for Celts.

In 2 minutes John Hartson ran into the box from the left. His left foot drive was heading for the top corner but the keeper had narrowed the angle well and got his hand to the ball conceding the corner. Little more than a minute later Hartson was on target again. McNamara picked the ball up in midfield and chipped the ball over the defence. With the United fans claiming offside Hartson ran on to the pass on the right and drove it across the keeper into the far corner of the net.

Paul Gallagher in goals had a busy afternoon and from a Petrov free kick Balde headed the ball on. The keeper dived to safe aware that the approaching Hartson only needed the slightest touch to score. On the 10 minute mark Hartson thought he had his second. A brilliant cross from Alan Thomson on the left was met by a great jump and header from Hartson which easily beat the keeper. Rowbotham chalked off the goal, claiming Hartson had pushed the defender although the defender himself made no claim.

A minute later United had a chance to get back into the game. Balde's headed clearance went straight up in the air and when McNamara got underneath the ball he only managed to head it into the path of Thompson 16 yards out. His shot was weak and Rab Douglas smothered it easily.

Jackie McNamara was again the architect for Celtic's second goal. He advanced up the right and fed Larsson on the corner of the 18 yard box. Henrik watched him continue his run and then fed him a great ball. Jackie met the ball just before the bye line and cut it back where Petrov had an easy task to knock it home from 3 yards.

Henrik Larsson tried some magic in an attempt to win goal of the season. Crainey found him on the left of the box. Henrik controlled the ball with one foot and noting the keeper had strayed a little from his line attempted an audacious lob with his other foot. Gallagher wasn't caught out though and managed to get a hand to it to push it over. The resulting corner broke to Larsson and he attempted to chest the ball goalwards. A defender was in close attendance and it looked to come off his hand and almost flew into the top corner, Gallagher again pulling off a great save.

Dundee United exerted a bit of pressure with a couple of corners. The packed Celtic defence couldn't clear their lines and there were hopeful claims for a penalty as the ball appeared to strike Crainey on the hand.

A minute into the second half and McNamara looked to be attempting a carbon copy of the second goal. This time he wasn't allowed to make his run as he was hacked down. Thompson lined up to take the kick from the extreme left of the box, some 25 yards out. His strike was perfection, arcing high over the wall and spinning into the top corner away from the keeper. Celtic were now on easy street.

Rab Douglas was called into action on 54 minutes, having to look lively to smother a strike from Hamilton. Hamilton's atrocious tackle on Crainey was to finish the game for the young defender. Surprisingly no yellow card was shown. Tebily came on to replace the injured Crainey.

In 70 minutes Celtic scored a fourth. A long clearance was knocked on by Hartson. Larsson controlled it expertly and shot for goal, cracking it home off the left hand post.

Another late tackle by Miller on Petrov went unpunished but when Alan Thompson fouled Hamilton, the referee suddenly remembered he had brought his yellow card which he flourished for the first time in the game.

Celtic had another couple of near things but United were completely out of it and glad to hear the final whistle. All in all a good away outing for Celts which wiped away the memory of the disappointment against Aberdeen.

CELTIC (3-5-2): Douglas; Mjallby, Balde, Crainey (Tebily 61); Thompson, Lennon (Petta 71), Lambert (Maloney 77), Petrov, McNamara; Hartson, Larsson.
Subs: Gould, Moravcik.

UNITED (4-5-1): Gallacher; Cocozza, McCracken, Lauchlan, Partridge; Venetis (O’Brien 79), Easton, Miller, Paterson (Hamilton 53), Hannah; Thompson (Lilley 70).
Subs: Combe, Wright.