Scottish Premiership
CelticCeltic0DundeeDundee0

Celtic 0-0 Dundee

By Chick YoungBBC Scotland at Celtic Park

Last updated on .From the section Scottish Premiershipcomments125

Struggling Dundee held Scottish champions Celtic to a goalless Premiership draw in Glasgow.

Dedryck Boyata almost scored a 45th-minute own goal when he tackled Roarie Deacon, the ball striking the post.

Dundee's Simon Murray and home winger James Forrest also came close.

Odsonne Edouard and ex-Dees man Jack Hendry threatened after the break, but Celtic could not find a goal, the point extending their lead at the top-flight summit to 10 points.

The draw boosts Dundee's hopes of beating the drop, moving them level on points with ninth-placed Hamilton Academical, and five clear of Ross County in the relegation play-off spot.

It was a dogged, organised performance from Neil McCann's visitors but they merited their share of the spoils.

Steven Caulker, the subject of unsuccessful club-record bids from Rosenborg which McCann expects to be topped in the summer, was part of a defence taking heavy fire from the off.

The Dark Blues toiled to get anywhere near Craig Gordon, making his first appearance in the Celtic goal since suffering a knee injury in January, barring Murray's explosive effort the Scotland stopper touched over the bar.

Craig Gordon holds the ball
Fit-again Craig Gordon made his first appearance since January, having overcome a knee injury

The champions were monopolising possession, and goals surely had to come. Or so you would have thought.

Forrest might have netted after confusion in the Dundee defence, his effort blocked by goalkeeper Elliot Parish. Scott Sinclair couldn't adjust his footing to angle a cross goalwards with his head. Then Forrest again unleashed a curling shot over the bar.

It took until nearly half-time for Dundee to emerge as an attacking threat, but they could have snatched an unlikely lead as their long balls through the middle caused Boyata and Hendry problems.

Deacon latched on to one such delivery, and only a stunning Boyata tackle denied him finding the net. The big Belgian was left looking on in horror, though, as the ball skidded beyond Gordon, only to strike the post and bounce to safety.

You could sense the frustration growing in home ranks, and the angst was almost palpable in the sparsely-populated home stands too, but it took until the 65th minute for boss Brendan Rodgers to ring the changes.

Scott Sinclair is challenged by Steven Caulker
Scott Sinclair could not find a way through the Dundee defence

The treble-chasing champions made a trio of substitutions. Off went ineffective striker Moussa Dembele, as did Tom Rogic and Sinclair. Edouard, Leigh Griffiths and Olivier Ntcham were introduced.

Still, however, Celtic huffed and puffed without being able to blow Dundee over. Edouard's effort was deflected wide, then Hendry nearly headed a late winner against the team he left in January.

That was as close as the home side got. A huge point then for relegation-threatened Dundee. And one they thoroughly deserved.

Line-ups

Celtic

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Gordon
  • 23Lustig
  • 4Hendry
  • 20Boyata
  • 42McGregor
  • 8BrownBooked at 32mins
  • 14Armstrong
  • 49Forrest
  • 18RogicSubstituted forNtchamat 66'minutes
  • 11SinclairSubstituted forEdouardat 66'minutes
  • 10DembeleSubstituted forGriffithsat 65'minutes

Substitutes

  • 7Roberts
  • 9Griffiths
  • 21Ntcham
  • 22Edouard
  • 24de Vries
  • 35Ajer
  • 67Musonda

Dundee

Formation 3-5-1-1

  • 12Parish
  • 4Caulker
  • 5KusungaBooked at 31mins
  • 24Meekings
  • 14O'Hara
  • 8Kamara
  • 18McGowanSubstituted forWightonat 87'minutes
  • 28Spence
  • 3HoltBooked at 90mins
  • 21DeaconSubstituted forMoussaat 66'minutesBooked at 83mins
  • 17MurraySubstituted forLeitch-Smithat 77'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Kerr
  • 7Leitch-Smith
  • 9Moussa
  • 15Aurtenetxe
  • 23Wolters
  • 33Wighton
  • 38Ferie
Referee:
Alan Muir
Attendance:
55,768

Match Stats

Home TeamCelticAway TeamDundee
Possession
Home66%
Away34%
Shots
Home26
Away1
Shots on Target
Home7
Away1
Corners
Home11
Away2
Fouls
Home7
Away20

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Celtic 0, Dundee 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Celtic 0, Dundee 0.

  3. Post update

    Attempt missed. Jack Hendry (Celtic) header from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left following a corner.

  4. Post update

    Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Genséric Kusunga.

  5. Post update

    Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.

  6. Booking

    Kevin Holt (Dundee) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  7. Post update

    James Forrest (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  8. Post update

    Foul by Kevin Holt (Dundee).

  9. Post update

    Attempt missed. Jack Hendry (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right following a set piece situation.

  10. Substitution

    Substitution, Dundee. Craig Wighton replaces Paul McGowan because of an injury.

  11. Post update

    Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  12. Post update

    Foul by Mark O'Hara (Dundee).

  13. Post update

    Attempt saved. Olivier Ntcham (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

  14. Post update

    Foul by Dedryck Boyata (Celtic).

  15. Post update

    Sofien Moussa (Dundee) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  16. Booking

    Sofien Moussa (Dundee) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  17. Post update

    Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  18. Post update

    Foul by Sofien Moussa (Dundee).

  19. Post update

    Foul by Odsonne Edouard (Celtic).

  20. Post update

    Josh Meekings (Dundee) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

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125 comments

  • Comment posted by Wee Brian, at 22:28 4 Apr 2018

    Well played Dundee.

  • Comment posted by Darkblue, at 00:09 5 Apr 2018

    Fantastic point for the dees, a real shot in the arm in the battle to stay up

  • Comment posted by chunkymonkey, at 01:36 5 Apr 2018

    RiffRaff@31. Here’s a FACT for you - Messi and Ronaldo, generally considered to be the two best players in the world at present, and probably in the Top 10 ever. Both have been on the losing side at Celtic Park. Now, that’s a FACT, and if you don’t have the grace and decency to acknowledge that, that makes you a little troll, lacking objectivity.

  • Comment posted by ljs, at 22:32 4 Apr 2018

    GOOD.

    All we need now if for rangers to get thrashed a few more times.

    There are lots of other Scottish teams

    NOT JUST GLASGOW ONES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Comment posted by U16794951, at 23:38 4 Apr 2018

    Celtic guilty of playing sideways too often. Only Forrest seems intent on beating players and going in the direction of the goals.
    Possession over entertainment appears to be Brendan Rodgers tactics this half of the season.

  • Comment posted by Crawford, at 22:53 4 Apr 2018

    Not even going to pretend that I wasn't touching cloth for 93 minutes. We badly needed that point but are not by any means safe. Dundee need to grind out draws like this and not gift teams like the fermers goals every match.

    That was not Celtic on the pitch tonight and was not even a tribute act - much to my delight. Thanks for not showing up.

  • Comment posted by Smashing1922, at 22:36 4 Apr 2018

    Dundee win 0-0

  • Comment posted by john louis, at 03:05 5 Apr 2018

    What’s with Celtic this season vs last season ?? The lack of consistency of Sinclair and Dembele in scoring goals this year . Then the injury of Leigh.

    Nonetheless , well done to Dundee . Caulker is a real work horse for the team 👍

  • Comment posted by sweepexec, at 23:01 4 Apr 2018

    Problem at the moment is that Celtic are too slow going forward. Tonight, not for the first time this season, the final pass was either the wrong one or was only made after duly considering every other option and then it is too late! Possession is such an obsession that an easy measured pass over the top of high pressing defences is not even considered - despite the obvious pace of the forwards.

  • Comment posted by soulsoulsoul, at 08:20 5 Apr 2018

    31.RiffRaff - When was the last time an Englishman played for them ??

    What's your point ? Do we measure our players on what foreign team they play for ? .. Really sensible that !!

  • Comment posted by Smelly Boyd, at 06:49 5 Apr 2018

    “The Dark Blues toiled to get anywhere near Craig Gordon“

    You have to play attacking football for that to happen ?

    Caulker was a standout.

  • Comment posted by john louis, at 00:44 5 Apr 2018

    Agree with @30, Boyata is a liability . His contract should be allowed to expire and he should not play in the Scottish cup semi finals

  • Comment posted by U16814494, at 16:38 5 Apr 2018

    Tic will still stroll SPL, by the way Liverpool vs. Man City in the UCL , which one is current English Champion? at least Celtic were Scotland's national champions when they were first British club to win the EC ......when it was not tainted by money!!!!

  • Comment posted by grant, at 09:01 5 Apr 2018

    The EPL is full of foreign players and spot the English manager in their top six. Great point for the Dees considering the financial gulf. In every league across Europe, league positions are matching clubs wealth right now.

  • Comment posted by MrX, at 06:23 5 Apr 2018

    Wee Jock. It's clear Celtic are not invincible. It's impossible to argue otherwise. It's also impossible to predict woth certainty who will win the league next year. As it stands Celtic are the current champions, are on course to win the league and still could complete a treble. As for the overrated card, well that's subjective. Let's deal in facts. To do otherwise is to sound like a jealous kid

  • Comment posted by MrX, at 05:16 5 Apr 2018

    Not a particularly good result but Celtic ten points clear and still in the cups. That's good enough. Bemused by the Celtic detractors constantly with the "real European competition" line. PSG, Bayern, Barcelona, Madrid, City etc are not "real" European competition. They're not the norm. That very idea is reinforced by constant repetition in the media of the word "elite". Argument invalid.

  • Comment posted by Jota180, at 02:42 5 Apr 2018

    #31 What is the only club in world football to have a perfect competative record against Barca? 4 games played in Europe and 4 wins. Here's a clue, they're from Scotland.

  • Comment posted by U16611088, at 00:16 5 Apr 2018

    Another inept Boyata bombscare display and here's a guy who's holding back on signing a new contract? Show him the door and bring in a class central defender that Celtic have been crying out for all season long! HH

  • Comment posted by geoff, at 22:47 4 Apr 2018

    26 shots but only 7 on target Ouch.

  • Comment posted by Avie, at 13:13 5 Apr 2018

    Good to see a result like this. Well done Dundee.

    Add St Mirren, Dundee Utd, Livi, Dunfirmline, Dundee Utd, Morton. ICT, Falkirk etc in the Premier Division the SPL would be so much better and results like this probably more common. 16-18 teams would be so much more interesting.

    It would encourage clubs in Div 1 and 2 with a better pyramid system.

Scores, Results & Fixtures

Wednesday 4th April 2018

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Celtic32219262204272
2Aberdeen32195850341662
3Rangers32185963382559
4Hibernian321610648341458
5Kilmarnock31131084238449
6Hearts32101393330343
7Motherwell32107153643-737
8St Johnstone32107153247-1537
9Hamilton3186174156-1530
10Dundee3286183149-1830
11Ross County3267193756-1925
12Partick Thistle3267192656-3025
View full Scottish Premiership table

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