Celtic 2-0 Dundee – Job done, now a bubble to burst at Hampden

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The Celtic Star

·30 October 2024

Celtic 2-0 Dundee – Job done, now a bubble to burst at Hampden

Not too pretty but three points was all that mattered…

Alastair Johnston of Celtic celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Dundee FC at Celtic Park on October 30, 2024 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Celtic tonight achieved what they set out to do, and that was of course to earn the three points on offer. It wasn’t exactly a great game, and we looked below par, which was to be expected I suppose due to the changes made by Brendan Rodgers with two huge games on the horizon.

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We didn’t look like our usual clinical selves and missed a few gilt edge chances at 0-0 mainly through Kyogo who’s usually so deadly in those situations.

During the second half it was evident we needed to freshen things up and Brendan duly obliged and it was one to those changes that made the difference in Alistair Johnston.

AJ was only on the park a matter of minutes when he showed all the instincts of a seasoned poacher when he stuck his foot out as Yang whipped a decent ball into the box. That was a so important goal and we would duly make it 2-0 nil seven minutes later through Arne Engels from the penalty spot after Kyogo was fouled in the box.

Arne Engels of Celtic scores the second goal from the penalty spot during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Dundee FC at Celtic Park on October 30, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The result was never in doubt after that, and it turned out to be an ever so important three points as Aberdeen beat third place theRangers 2-1 to keep up their pursuit of the title, but Celtic due to our much better goal differential remain top.

Not pretty, but a good night’s work all round.

Alastair Johnston of Celtic celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Dundee FC at Celtic Park on October 30, 2024 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Man of the Match was Alistair Johnston who came off the bench to win the points with that crucial opener. Brendan gambled tonight, with bigger fish to fry on Saturday at Hampden against Aberdeen in the semi-final, then on Tuesday night against Bundesliga high-flyers RB Leipzig in the Champions League.

Because of tonight Celtic have fresher legs than might otherwise have been the case. Add to that much needed game-time for both Cameron Carter-Vickers and Greg Taylor as they come back from injury.

Now for Hampden and a bubble that Celtic will be keen to burst.

Brendan Rodgers of Celtic before the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Dundee FC at Celtic Park on October 30, 2024 . (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

After the match Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers said: “Alistair Johnston has got the feeling now of scoring goals so he’s hungry. But he’s top class, he’s a real leader, very strong defensively and a tough boy mentally. He’s done fantastic for us but tonight was also a good chance to get Tony [Ralston] some minutes.”

Dundee manager Tony Docherty had this to say: “I was really pleased with the level of performance the players put in. Playing against a top, top opponent like Celtic there’s so many things to get right. I thought the performance of the players merited a clean sheet.”

Celtic in the Thirties (Volumes One and Two) are both published next Tuesday 5th November. Order your signed copies now and treasure these landmark Celtic titles brilliantly researched and written by Matt Cor. Order at Celticstarbooks.com…