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.
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.”
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Had no issues with Rodgers making so many changes, yet don’t know how many chances we needed, to eventually break the deadlock?
Suppose at least kyogo will be hungry at the weekend, to make up for tonight?
The players coming in tonight, weren’t as sharp as we would have liked, but was to be expected also?
Even so, they did contribute to some very limited good moments, but sadly for a fair few, not enough to force themselves into Rodgers game plans either imo?
Another comfortable nights workout in the end, but we had to endure long periods of frustration during the process of the match tonight?
Possibly the best news tonight, is having the return of the 3 missing tonight, for the semi final against the sheep?
They will be needed also, going by what was on show tonight?
The reality is we need squad rotation in such a heavy schedule, and with respect to Dundee nobody would argue against using this home game to do it.
Good run out for all of them and an important 3 points.
Said it before, I really like Palma, but he’s a step off the pace of this team’s requirements. Yang has something and if he can develop, improve his final ball and get into more scoring positions then could be a really useful player in the squad.
THE MOOSE is proving to be the latest in a conveyor belt of stellar right backs over the years!