Dundee Utd v Celtic

Dundee Utd 1

Robertson 21′

Celtic 0

FT 90 +5
HT 1-0

By Martin Conaghan BBC Scotland

Dundee United humbled the Scottish Premier League champions Celtic with a laboured victory at Tannadice.

Scott Robertson headed in a hastily-taken corner to give the hosts a 21st-minute lead.

In the second-half, claims for a Celtic penalty were waved away after the ball appeared to strike Keith Watson's arm inside the United area.

Gary Hooper came close to restoring parity in the final 10 minutes, but dragged his shot wide of the mark.

The defeat was only Celtic's fifth of the season on their way to claiming the title, but guarnatees United a Europa League slot and all but cements fourth place.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon made seven changes with Fraser Forster, Mikael Lustig, Glenn Loovens, Charlie Mulgrew, Adam Matthews, Scott Brown and Gary Hooper restored to the side which beat St Johnstone 1-0 on Thursday night.

United boss Peter Houston made two changes - defender Gavin Gunning replacing Garry Kenneth and former Sligo Rovers player Richie Ryan making his first start in place of Johnny Russell.

After 10 minutes played, Kris Commons picked out Hooper with a defence-splitting pass from the heart of midfield, but the cutback aimed at Brown on the edge of the penalty area was cleared.

A quickly-taken corner in the 21st minute minute allowed Robertson to leap unchallenged on the six yard line to nod the ball past a stationary Forster in the Celtic goal and spark the match to life.

Commons should have done better with a long-range short from the edge of the United penalty area as the half hour mark approached, then Hooper himself blasted in an effort from the same distance that Dusan Pernis clawed wide.

Celtic could have levelled the scores in the only minute of stoppage time when Commons flighted a low ball across the face of goal, but Anthony Stokes failed to reach it at the back post.

Immediately after the break, Robertson blasted a long-range effort wildly over the Celtic bar, then at the other end substitute Tony Watt leapt on to a Lustig cross but his header inched wide.

Moments later, youngster Watt blasted in a shot that Pernis parried wide of the United goal, then Dixon's close-range effort was blocked by Mulgrew and John Rankin failed to pick up the loose ball.

With 15 minutes remaining, Emilio Izaguirre's cross on the left appeared to strike the arm of Watson inside the United penalty area, but referee Iain Brines waved play on.

Inside the final 10 minutes, Hooper dragged an angled shot inches wide of the mark as the visitors pushed for a leveller.

Quality defending by Mulgrew prevented Russell targeting the Celtic goal in the last minute of regular time, but a late flurry of pressure from the visitors failed to find the goal that would have avoided defeat.

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Dundee United

01 Pernis
02 Dillon
03 Dixon
18 Gunning (Kenneth - 82' )
26 Neilson (Watson - 66' )
06 Flood
07 Ryan
08 Robertson
11 Rankin Booked
17 Mackay-Steven (Russell - 68' )
09 Daly

Substitutes

13 Banks
05 Kenneth
12 Watson
10 Swanson
16 Armstrong
15 Russell
22 Dow

Celtic

01 Forster
03 Izaguirre
21 Mulgrew
23 Lustig
25 Rogne (Wanyama - 56' Booked )
02 Matthews
08 Brown (McGeouch - 71' )
16 Ledley
10 Stokes (Watt - 46' )
15 Commons
88 Hooper

Substitutes

24 Zaluska
11 Cha Du-Ri
40 Ibrahim
46 McGeouch
67 Wanyama
14 Bangura
32 Watt

Ref: Brines

Att: 9,144

Match Stats

Possession 34 66

Shots

1 6

On target

1 5

Corners

4 8

Fouls

10 6

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:03 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +2:55

Johnny Russell concedes a free kick for a foul on Emilio Izaguirre. Charlie Mulgrew restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +2:10

Corner taken short by Willo Flood.

90:00 +1:31

Willo Flood takes a inswinging corner to the near post.

90:00 +0:41

Scott Robertson fouled by Tony Watt, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Dusan Pernis.

87:54

Corner taken right-footed by Willo Flood from the left by-line, save made by Fraser Forster.

85:54

Foul by Richie Ryan on Kris Commons, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Fraser Forster.

83:10

Foul by John Rankin on Joe Ledley, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Mikael Lustig.

82:51 Booking

Booking John Rankin goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.

81:17 Substitution

Substitution Gavin Gunning goes off and Garry Kenneth comes on.

80:08

Close range shot by Gary Hooper goes wide of the left-hand post.

74:55

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Kris Commons from the right by-line, Joe Ledley concedes a free kick for a foul on Willo Flood. Dusan Pernis takes the free kick.

74:42

The ball is sent over by Emilio Izaguirre, Keith Watson makes a clearance.

72:00

Unfair challenge on Richie Ryan by Victor Wanyama results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Johnny Russell.

70:23 Substitution

Substitution (Celtic) makes a substitution, with Dylan McGeouch coming on for Scott Brown.

69:22

Free kick awarded for a foul by Keith Watson on Joe Ledley. Emilio Izaguirre takes the free kick.

67:12 Substitution

Substitution Johnny Russell joins the action as a substitute, replacing Gary Mackay-Steven.

65:04 Substitution

Substitution Keith Watson replaces Robbie Neilson.

62:31

Unfair challenge on Kris Commons by Scott Robertson results in a free kick. Kris Commons crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel.

62:31

Unfair challenge on Kris Commons by Scott Robertson results in a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Kris Commons,

61:33

Victor Wanyama challenges John Rankin unfairly and gives away a free kick.

61:15

Robbie Neilson restarts play with the free kick.

61:15 Booking

Booking The referee shows Victor Wanyama a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

58:32

The ball is swung over by Tony Watt. The offside flag is raised against Charlie Mulgrew. Indirect free kick taken by Dusan Pernis.

58:00

Inswinging corner taken by Kris Commons, Robbie Neilson makes a clearance.

54:56

Joe Ledley takes the direct free kick.

54:56 Substitution

Substitution Victor Wanyama comes on in place of Thomas Rogne.