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Celtic Overwhelm Dundee with a 6-0 Home Triumph

In a commanding display at Celtic Park, the Hoops restored their 13-point cushion atop the Scottish Premiership standings by thrashing Dundee 6-0. Although Celtic’s first half was cautious, the team quickly surged into the lead with two early goals that set the tone for the remainder of the match. First Half Breakdown Penalty Success: Arne Engel converted a penalty, giving Celtic an early advantage. Adam Idah’s Strike: Just before halftime, Idah added a crucial goal to double the lead. Jota, returning after his stint at Rennes and fresh off his goal against Motherwell, impressed by showcasing his renewed energy and purpose on the pitch. Second Half Highlights Daizen Maeda’s Brilliance: A precise cross from Jota found Maeda, who made no mistake by scoring his first of the night. In a swift counter, Maeda extended his tally by lifting a shot over Dundee goalkeeper Trevor Carson, marking his second goal within three minutes of the restart. Long-Range Magic: Two impressive strikes from Engels and substitute Nicolas Kuhn sealed the victory. These additional goals allowed midfielder Jeffrey Schlupp to comfortably ease into his debut appearance as the game became a formality. Post-Match Reactions Brendan Rodgers (Celtic Manager) said: “From the first minute, our players showed incredible determination. The energy on the field was superb and our system worked flawlessly. Our attacking play, particularly the goals, was simply brilliant. The hunger we witnessed today is exactly what we need.” Rodgers also praised Daizen Maeda’s finish as his pick for the goal of the match, highlighting the inevitability of his strike and the helplessness of Dundee’s keeper in stopping it. On Team Dynamics: “While we originally sought a dedicated striker, tonight demonstrated the depth in our attacking options. With two wingers contributing significantly, it’s clear we have a diverse and motivated group.” Celtic’s Arne Engels added: “I’m always ready to support the team, but tonight was truly special. Every player stepped up—both in creating and defending—and even in the final moments, our commitment to score never wavered.” Adam Idah reflected: “I’m really enjoying the run of form we’re on. Even if I wasn’t at my best, the team’s overall performance made it easier to contribute. It’s fantastic to be part of such a collective effort where everyone is eager to perform.” Dundee’s Perspective Manager Tony Docherty was less than pleased, reflecting on missed opportunities and defensive lapses: “After reviewing the penalty, I feel the call was fair since no one from Celtic appealed for it. Our performance was marred by poor decision-making and an inability to protect our goal. We conceded too many soft goals, and that is something we need to address quickly.” Looking Ahead Dundee now face the challenge of bouncing back after consecutive heavy defeats, with the Scottish Cup clash against Airdrieonians looming on Saturday. Meanwhile, Celtic continue to dominate the league, bolstered by their relentless attacking play and solid team spirit.

February 6, 2025

Your club’s January window rated

Aberdeen In: Alfie Dorrington (Tottenham Hotspur, loan), Oday Dabbagh (Charleroi, loan), Alexander Jensen (Brommapojkarna, undisclosed), Mats Knoester (Ferencvaros, undisclosed), Jeppe Okkels (Prestond North End, loan), Kristers Tobers (Grasshopper Zurich, undisclosed) Out: Alfie Bavidge (Inverness Caledonian Thistle, loan), Duk (Luganes, undisclosed), Angus MacDonald (free), James McGarry (Athens Kallithea, loan), Alfie Stewart (Inverness Calidonian Thistle, loan), Rodrigo Vitols (Keith, loan) Jimmy Thelin has taken an unorthodox approach to fixing his side’s back line, by getting an entirely new one. The arrival of defenders Tobers, Jensen, Knoester and Dorrington show where the manager thinks the epicentre of side’s seismic collapse originates. Papa Gueye’s return from injury is a welcome boost but adding a couple of supporting forwards in Dabbagh and Okkels, a player Thelin knows from his time at Elfsborg, will help add some verve to a stale attack. Moves made all the more important by the biggest loss of their windown with Duk leaving for La Liga side Leganes. Overall, a proactive approach to solving the side’s woes despite the loss of Duk. Fans will have to hope the current players’ fragile confidence is not contagious. B- Celtic In: Jota (Rennes, undisclosed), Jeffrey Schlupp (Crystal Palace, loan) Out: Alexandro Bernabei (Internacional, undisclosed), Kyogo Furuhashi (Rennes, undisclosed), Aiden Haddow (Heart of Midlothian), Odin Holm (Los Angeles, loan), Luis Palma (Olympiakos, loan), Alex Valle (Barcelona, loan ended), Stephen Welsh (Mechelen, loan) Peter Lawwell might just be the happiest man in Scottish football, the Celtic CEO has managed to recoup Jota and Kieran Tierney (pre-contract for summer signed) for less than a fifth of what they sold them for. Less pleased perhaps will be the fans themselves who have seen their beloved Kyogo depart for France and a limited window spend given the club’s burgeoning purse. However, on top of the savings and scoring on his return, Jota being five years younger than the Japanese forward is a good bit of future planning. We know how ambitious he is to move the club forward, so Rodgers will be frustrated to that they were pipped to another former player of his in Kelechi Iheanacho, who joined Middlesborough on loan instead. More worrying perhaps is that the departures of Palma and Valle will harm the squad’s depth but Jeffrey Shlupp’s ability to play in almost every position should negate that to some extent. Here’s to hoping that in going out on loan, Welsh and Holm do not join another lost generation of youngsters at the club. B+ Dundee In: Aaron Donnelly (Nottingham Forest, undisclosed), Cesar Garza (Monterrey, loan), Victor Lopez (Queretaro, loan), Imari Samuels (Brighton & Hove Albion) Out: Sammy Braybrooke (Leicester City, loan ended) Sean Kelly, Curtis Main (Ayr United, free), Marley Sweenie-Rowe (Forfar Athletic, loan), Julian Vetro (Burnley, loan ended) An odd windown for the Dee’s. On the one hand the permanently returning Donnelly and loanee Garza have looked like class additions since arriving with Samuels and Lopez still bedding in. On the other, it fails to stem one of the major issues this side faced in the winter, squad depth. When the side beat Rangers, Tony Docherty made the point that the side had won despite being down to bare bones during the winter. However, letting five players leave the club seems like an odd way of dealing with the issue. Braybrooke and Vetro no doubt left because of a lack of game time but Docherty is left with having to see this squad through the next few months which seems just as likely to make the top six as it does to get relegated. D Dundee United In: Allan Campbell (Luton, undisclosed), Lewis Fiorini (Stockport County, loan), Ruari Paton (Port Vale, loan) Out: Zak Cameron (Cowdenbeath, loan), Adam Carnwath (Alloa Athletic, loan), Scott Constable (Stirling Albion, loan), Charlie Dewar (Alloa Athletic, loan), Alan Domeracki (Norwich City, undisclosed), Lewis Haldane (East Craigie, loan), Ollie Simpson (Jeanfield Swifts, loan), Owen Stirton (Montrose, loan), Miller Thomson (Falkirk, loan), Meshack Ubochioma (Livingston, loan) Evolution not revolution seems to have been the motto in the United front office. If you had told those involved at the club that they could finish in top half in their first season since promotion they would have bitten your hand off. Now they face the very possibility of going for the entire arm as third looks a very real possibility and have made some neat additions to give themselves the best chance of doing so. One time Scotland international Campbell brings quality in midfield as Fiorini arrives looking to come good on the potential that saw him graduate from Manchester City’s academy. Paton took the hard route to Dundee. Having been released by Hibs, the striker has worked his way up from the Lowland League to the Prem playing in every division in between before struggling in League 2 with Port Vale. Jim Goodwin will hope he can ease the goalscoring burden carried by Sam Dalby, who has netted over a third of his side’s total. Plenty of outgoings as United’s fledglings look to find their wings on loan across Scotland. Most notably Miller Thomson, the youngster will hope to build on his early season promise with title chasing Falkirk. C- Hearts of Midlothian In: Aiden Haddow (Celtic), Elton Kabangu (Union Saint-Gilloise, loan),Sander Kartum (Brann), Jamie McCart (Rotherdam United, undisclosed), Harry Milne (Partick Thistle, undisclosed), Michael Steinwender (Varnamo, undisclosed) Out: Malachi Boateng (Plymouth Argyle, undisclosed), Liam Boyce (Derry City, undisclosed), Daniel Oyegoke (Hellas Verona, undisclosed), Kyle Rowles (DC United, undisclosed), Andres Salazar (Atletico Nacional, loan ended), Callum Sandilands (Montrose, loan), Kai Smutek (Bonnyrigg Rose, loan), Macauley Tait (Livingston, loan) The outcome of Hearts’s business in this window and the next could have serious ramifications for Scottish football. It remains early days of the partnership with Brighton owner Tony Bloom’s company Jamestown Analytics but with loanee Kabangu from partner club USG already scoring five goals in four games, it would appear as though the two could be on the cusp of making signings from abroad a fine art. Of course it remains

February 4, 2025

Club-by-club midseason review by fans Part 1: Aberdeen to Hibs

As the January transfer window approaches its final days, we get a fans’ perspective on their club’s season so far. Aberdeen (by @aberdeenfc83) How do you feel about the season so far and what do you expect from the rest of it? I think the season has gone alright so far. In a race for third in our manager’s first season in Scotland, but considering where we were at the start of the season, I’ve got to be disappointed with where we are now. I expect to finish 4th this season along with a good run in the Scottish Cup. 6/10 Star players/ flops I would say the star players of Aberdeen’s season so far would be Pape (Gueye), even though he has been injured and Nicky Devlin, who was probably our most consistent performer during that winning run at the start of the campaign. Biggest surprise of the season so far? My biggest surprise of the season so far would be Shayden Morris. He looked like he didn’t have a future at Aberdeen last season, but this season he has been a sensational asset to bring off the bench. Best/ worst away fans? The best away fans I’ve seen at Pittodrie would be PAOK (from Greece), when I walked into the stadium about half an hour before kick off, the away end was packed and making noise. The worst away fans would probably have to be either Ross County or Livingston. How has your club done in the January window and they need before it closes? Aberdeen have done pretty well in the transfer window. We’ve signed Tobers, Jensen, Dorrington and Okkels. However, we do still need a striker. One player you would take from another Premiership side? I would take Lyall Cameron from Dundee. We have been linked with a move for him which I am pleased about. Celtic (by Aidan and Mack Kelly: Scottish Football Covered Podcast) How do you feel about the season so far and what do you expect from the rest of it? So far, it’s been nearly perfect. The only real disappointment was the level of performance at Ibrox. The improvement in Europe has been so satisfying to see as that’s always been that illusive piece of the puzzle. Going forward, I would like to see us complete the domestic treble, and make a good showing in Europe. 9.5/10 (Mack) Star players/ flops Nicolas Kuhn probably been standout so far this season. Arne Engels been excellent recently too proved doubters wrong, Cameron Carter-Vickers always up there and Kasper Schmeichel been a great signing. Not many flops if any, would have to say Luis Palma. (Aidan) Biggest surprise of the season so far? Has to be Celtic making Champions League knock-out football finally, but Kyogo leaving is up there now. (Aidan) Best/ worst away fans? Hard to say about away fans since they’re tucked away in a corner and the allocation is so small. Best domestically Aberdeen in the 2-2 draw, but Young Boys were very good aswell. Would be harsh to say Ross County worst so will go RB Leipzig. (Aidan) How has your club done in the January window and they need before it closes? January has been quiet, which is typical last minute of Celtic. The signing of Jota has been a welcomed surprise but it’s bittersweet as it sees Kyogo go the other way, which was so unexpected considering he’s still in great form as well. Hopefully Kieran Tierney can get up the road this month rather than the end of the season, and we sign Mathias Kvistgaarden (Brondby) or some sort of Craig Bellamy/Robbie Keane loan signing for some firepower. (Mack) One player you would take from another Premiership side? I would sign Lennon Miller. The sky is the limit for him and would fit the homegrown quota. Although if I’m being honest, there’s a solid argument to suggest his development would very well be best suited elsewhere, but if the right compromise can be met, I would love to see us sign him and avoid another John McGinn scenario. (Mack) Dundee (by Jackie) How do you feel about the season so far and what do you expect from the rest of it? I feel Dundee’s season has been very inconsistent. We’ve had some real good days and some really bad days. I feel the loss of Luke McCowan has had an impact on the team and the team had to try to adjust without him. I feel that this has taken some time and we are still struggling a bit. We have had some really good results recently and long may that continue. We have also had a good few injuries recently and have still come out with a point against each of the old firm at home and beat Utd in the cup. We were very unlucky against them at New Year. I hope as our injured players return we can only get better. 7/10 Star players/ flops Mo Sylla has been outstanding! Player of the season for me! Also Josh Mulligan! We need to get them signed up quickly. I don’t like to say who our flops are as it’s a team and I genuinely can’t pick someone, however, Jon McCracken has had some seriously questionable games! Biggest surprise of the season so far? At the start of January after being beaten by our rivals & looking at our fixtures, I had us bottom of the league & out of the Scottish Cup by the end of January! They definitely proved me wrong! Best/ worst away fans? Best – Dundee Utd, as much as I don’t like them for 90 mins, the atmosphere is the best from both sets of fans! Worst – Celtic/Rangers – I’m not fond of their song choices or when they try to set our stand on fire… How has your club done in the January window and they need before it closes? Not too bad I’m happy! We got Aaron

January 30, 2025

Dundee 1 Dundee United 0: Player Ratings from Dens Park

Simon Murray was a pitbull incarnate as Emmanuel Adegboyega struggled under the bright lights of Dens Park. Dundee Trevor Carson (c) Hardly tested in the first half before putting in a monster shift in the second. Some good clearing punches but above all else made fantastic saves to secure side’s progression. 8 Ethan Ingram Played slightly more defensive than he has in previous outings. Poor pass stunted counter attack but more than made up for it by blocking a certain goal. Booked late on for a tactical foul. 6 Clark Robertson Imperious in the air and put his body on the line time and time again. 7 Ryan Astley The searching long balls kept coming to him but he never switched off. Had an almighty task dealing with Dalby but handled it with distinction. 8 Aaron Donnelly Another strong outing for the man now in his second spell with the club. Only point of contention would be his slightly wayward clearances towards the end as he looked slightly nervy. 7 Lyall Cameron Could only manage a few weeks because of illness last week but was exactly what Jim Goodwin wished he in the first half. Dynamic with a talent for progressive the ball up the park. Blasted an effort over the bar and his passing got worse as his energy faded. 7 Cesar Garza Looks a fish in water with this Dundee side. Neat short passing and tidy in possession. 7 Mo Sylla Always puts in a defensive shift and had one particularly excellent moment as he tracked back furiously to deny United a clear cut opportunity. 7 Oluwaseun Adewumi Defending players lift onto their toes like ballerinas when Adewumi such is the fear that he’ll turn them inside out. However the loanee had one of his quieter games in recent weeks with few chances. 6 Simon Murray Apart from score, press and run his body into the ground, what does he actually do? A nightmare for defenders with some old school dark arts and a goal to boot, not a bad night. 8 SUBSTITUTES: Seb Palmer-Houlden (for Adewumi 66) 6; Imari Samuels (for Garza 83) 6. Dundee United Jack Walton One goal conceded and that was it for the keeper. Had little to do after that. 5 Emmanuel Adegboyega Struggled in the attacking link up with Strain down the right hand side. Poor passing was loudly booed as the defender endured a torrid night. 3 Ross Graham Had trouble with the ball at his feet. Missed a sitter with a headed effort well over the bar. Lacked a bit of composure. 5 Declan Gallagher Good clearance early on to deny Adewumi and has his hands full with Murray for the rest of the night. 6 Kevin Holt Fired an effort over the bar and another straight into Carson when the situation required a cooler head. 5 Ryan Strain Struggled to connect with Adegboyega down the right despite the space being available. Looked far more dangerous after the break but couldn’t help muster anything. 5 Luca Stephenson Spend too much time looking sideways and backwards when the ball needed to go forwards in the first half. 5 Vicko Sevelj Guilty of the same lack of bravery as Stephenson and looked poor with the ball at his feet. Blasted a shot well over and had a goal denied by the whistle. 4 Will Ferry Difficulties in defence but was much improved as time passed. 5 Louis Moult Found himself comfortably tucked away in the pocket of Dundee’s defence. A missed header was as close as he got. 4 Sam Dalby Held up the ball well but no one came to collect. Had an effort denied by Carson but disappointing outing overall. 5 SUBSTITUTES: Glenn Middleton (for Adegboyega 71) 5; Kristijan Trapanovski (for Strain 71) Had one effort rattle the post 6; Ruari Paton (for Moult 71) Brought energy, looks a smart signing 6; Jort van der Sande (for Gallagher 84) n/a.

January 21, 2025

Carson heroics sees Dundee earn first Scottish Cup victory over United since 1956

An early goal from Simon Murray was enough to see Dundee past their city rivals despite a nervy ending. In doing so, they earned their first Scottish Cup victory over United in 69 years. Just two minutes into proceedings Murray silenced the visiting fans with a leaping header to meet Finlay Robertson’s cross and put Dundee ahead. Murray was almost in with a double but his curling effort made its way past Jack Walton’s left hand side before Aaron Donnelly’s header effort could only nestle itself on the top of the net. United will rue not converting a glaring opportunity as Ross Graham’s header was fired over the bar to send Jim Goodwin’s side into the break goalless. The manager will no doubt feel aggrieved by the referee’s decion to deny his side a goal as a VAR check confirmed Declan Gallagher had fouled Simon Murray in the build up to Vicko Sevelj’s goal that never was. Dundee were their own worst enemy when not one, but three players failed to master to bounce of the ball for what should have been a point blank finish. Unable to capitalise on the chaos in the box, the Lyall Cameron was denied by teammate Oluwaseun Adewumi near the line. After coming out for the second half with a much needed intensity, Sevelj’s was far less accurate with his next effort, blasting his shot well over the head of Dundee keeper Trevor Carson before Kevin Holt followed suit. Faring no better with his opportunity, Cameron sent the match ball into Row Z as the home side looked to regain control of the tie. The struggle to test the respective keepers continued when Louis Moult’s bullet header lacked the requisite accuracy to make Carson budge. With each passing minute United looked increasingly likely to score next, Holt coming closer than his teammates albeit right into Carson’s body. A few minutes later Tony Docherty had Ethan Ingram to thank for denying substitute Ruari Paton a certain goal before Carson used every sinew of muscle to tip Declan Gallagher’s header over the bar. Having barely exerted himslf in the first half, Carson was called into action once again to deny Will Ferry with a flying save before keeping Sam Dalby out. The homes watched the final minutes through their fingers as Kristijan Trapanovski curled effort rattled the post before Sevelj’s header saw the Northern Irish keeper show why he was declared Man of the Match just moments earlier. Dundee coming into their own With a derby victory to progress to the 5th Round, Dundee have capped off what has been an exceptional few weeks. After taking points off Rangers and Celtic with a St Johstone win to boot, Tony Docherty’s men have shown that they are the real deal. They have certainly suffered at times this season but tonight the players showed a new level of grit and desire to deny wave after wave of United’s attacks. The manager has been keen to stress that his side have been almost threadbare in recent weeks due to injury but astute signings continue to deliver as a home time against Championship Airdrie awaits. Lack of first half impetus leaves United wanting There is no doubt that if the visitors had mirrored their second half performance in the first, this would a very different report. Smacking the post with one effort and denied by the flying bodies of both Carson and Ingram for about three or four is arguably just a case of rotten luck but the travelling support will no doubt rue not putting Dundee under the cosh sooner. If there is one positive to take from this exit, it is that Jim Goodwin is well aware of the problems his side are up against as they turn their focus onto securing third place. Paton’s late cameo and the signing of former Manchester City youngster Lewis Fiorini gives plenty reason to suggest that the defeated side have turned a tactical corner and look to add a vital spark to the side. What the manager’s said Dundee boss Tony Docherty: “Really delighted with the players, I thought that was a fantastic performance. “That was a kick-off we’d actually worked on. Real intelligence from Aaron Donnelly and Fin [Robertson] to work it into that area and the corner against a team that don’t concede a lot of set plays. “I think you can see the development of the team. [We’ve] got a real spine of experience with Trevor, Clark, big Mo and Simon but sprinkled throughout with young talented footballers.” United boss Jim Goodwin: “Obviously we gave it everything as you’d expect from this group of players. Dundee deserve a lot of credit, they defended their box brilliantly all night. “The disappointing thing for us is the way we start the game. You cannot concede in the manner that we do, you can’t give good opposition a goal headstart. Dundee: Carson (c), Donnelly, Robertson, Astley, Robertson, Garza (Samuels 83), Sylla, Ingram, Adewumi (Palmer-Houlden 66), Murray, Cameron Unused subs: McCracken, Sharp, Tiffoney, Main Booked: Ingram, Cameron, Sylla Dundee United: Walton, Holt, Gallagher (c), Graham (van der Sande 84), Ferry, Sevelj, Adegboyega (Middleton 71), Strain (Trapanovski 71), Stephenson, Moult (Paton 71), Dalby Unused subs: Fotheringham, Richards, Fiorini, Babunski Att: 9,294 Ref: Matthew MacDermid

January 20, 2025

Scottish Cup Spotlight: Dundee Derby Set to Thrill at Dens Park

Venue: Dens Park, Dundee Date: Monday, 20 January Kick-off: 20:00 GMT The Scottish Cup fourth round concludes with a thrilling derby at Dens Park as Dundee and Dundee United lock horns in one of Scotland’s fiercest rivalries. With rich histories in the competition, both sides aim to secure their place in the last 16 on a night charged with passion and pride. Historical Stakes Dundee: Winners of the Scottish Cup in 1910, The Dark Blues have reached the final four times since but fallen short on each occasion. Their last final appearance was in 2003, losing 1-0 to Rangers. Dundee United: The Tangerines boast two Scottish Cup victories. The first came in 1994, with Craig Brewster netting the decisive goal against Rangers, and the second in 2010, a 3-0 triumph over Ross County thanks to Craig Conway’s double. United have also endured heartbreak in eight other finals, most recently in 2014, losing 2-0 to St Johnstone. Recent Form Dundee are unbeaten in three games since their derby loss earlier this month, including impressive draws against both sides of the Old Firm. United have recovered from back-to-back league defeats with a morale-boosting win at St Mirren. The last Dundee derby in the Scottish Cup took place on 3 March 2013, with United securing a 2-1 victory. Historically, United have had the upper hand, including five consecutive wins over Dundee in the tournament between 1987 and 1991. The Managers’ Views Jim Goodwin, Dundee United: “We’ve shown we can handle the pressure and adapt to the intensity of derby matches. Sometimes, it’s not about style – it’s about the result. My boys are ready for a dogfight if that’s what it takes.” Tony Docherty, Dundee: “Our form has been strong recently, and we’ve analysed the loss to United earlier this month. It’s time to atone for that result. We’re confident we can deliver a performance that gives us the best chance to win.” Key Battles The derby’s fiery nature often eclipses tactical nuances, turning the clash into a test of grit and resilience. Both sides have points to prove, and with three Premiership clubs already eliminated from this year’s competition, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Will Dundee end their city rivals’ dominance, or will United continue their Scottish Cup supremacy? All eyes are on Dens Park as the curtain falls on the fourth round. The Full Statement: Jim Goodwin: “I don’t think anybody cares a great deal in these derby games about the overall performance. It’s the end result that they want. We’ve got a way that we want to play and we want to be entertaining and get the ball down. But very often in these games, because of what’s at stake and the nerves involved, it can be a real dogfight. But my boys have shown over the last few months that they’re more than capable of that.” Tony Docherty: “We have been in really good form in the last five games. The one in that run of five was the loss to Dundee United. We have addressed it with the players – it is something we need to try and atone for. I don’t think our performance was enough to lose the game, but there is more we can do to give us the best opportunity of winning this one.”

January 20, 2025

Dundee 3-3 Celtic: Player ratings from Dens Park

Oluwaseun Adewumi’s shines against another Old Firm side whilst Auston Trusty can have no complaints. Dundee 3-4-2-1 Trevor Carson (capt) Continues to put his body on the line but should have done better collecting Kyogo’s low cross for second. 6 Clark Robertson Dealing with such a potent Celtic attack is no easy job but confusion with Carson leads to Celtic regaining lead. 6 Ryan Astley Kept Idah quiet all night and did little wrong despite the scoreline. 7 Aaron Donnelly Did not come off too badly in duel with Kyogo and got the better of Trusty to score an all important goal. 8 Josh Mulligan Lovely feet and worked absolutely tirelessly down the right hand side. His deflected cross for an own goal saw him end the night with an assist. 8 Ethan Ingram His biggest impact comes in attack and has shown he can mix it with the best taking on full backs. However should have tracked McCowan for opener and was beaten by Kyogo’s ball for second. 5 Mo Sylla Strong on the ball and continues to be a good outlet to build attacks. Unfortunate however to give away penalty with handball in dying moments. 6 Cesar Garza Built on a solid first outing for more of the same. A nicely balanced skillset and his tackle helped set Simon Murray off for the counter. 7 Finlay Robertson No Cameron no problem as the midfielder bagged not one, but fine assists on the night. A physical presence giving Celtic’s defenders no rest. 8 Oluwaseun Adewumi Almost followed McGregor to the bathroom at half time such was his proficiency in man marking. Attacked with verve and scored a terrific goal after a tidy bit of footwork to get space from Johnston. What a job Dundee have done to extend his loan. 8 Simon Murray Continues to be every defender’s most irritating opponent. Looking for contact and earning his side free kicks up the park. As mentioned, burst of pace helped create second. Yellow for abusing the referee put a dampener on the striker’s evening. 7 SUBSTITUTES: Seb Palmer-Houlden (for Murray 82′) n/a; Lyall Cameron (for Robertson 87′) Bedbound with illness this week but part of bench that had too little time to make a positive impact and were not at fault for equaliser n/a; Scott Tiffoney (for Garza 87′) n/a. Celtic (4-1-4-1) Kasper Schmeichel Little he could do about first and third but arguably could have covered himself with a little more glory as Adewumi’s effort slipped past him. 6 Alistair Johnston A player who has become almost irreplaceable for Rodgers, filling in at right back, winger, centre mid, you name it. However as he will no doubt know, little errors cost games and he did not cover openside of goal well enough for second. 7 Auston Trusty Performance tonight will give Kilmarnock and Young Boys a little boost. Almost gave away a penalty before being beaten in the air by Donnelly. 4 Cameron Carter-Vickers A strong presence in the first half but look unrecognisable after the break as he began to fade. Unlucky but conceded an own goal all the same. 5 Greg Taylor Lacks the same impact Johnston has down the right and wasn’t helped by a lack of chemistry with Yang. Was launching himself into tackles by the way, giving the impression of desperation. 5 Callum McGregor (capt) Barely got a sniff due to Adewumi’s marking but looked threatening with rare opportunities when he managed to get away. 6 Yang Hyun-Jun God loves a trier and the winger continues to give everything but often without meaningful end product. However he grabbed a much needed goal for his efforts after getting his positioning spot on the score a header. 6 Paulo Bernardo Game was his for the taking if he was looking to play himself into a more permanent starting berth but failed to grab it. Agonisingly close with a header that hit the crossbar but being taken off after an hour tells you about the belief Rodgers had in his ability to create a winner. Booked before coming off. 6 Luke McCowan An early goal gave Celtic a much needed head start. Found himself filling in a right back with Johnston went forward as his impact lessened before being subbed off to applause from both sets of fans. 6 Kyogo Furuhashi Even on his quieter days Kyogo is a different class. Couple of crosses not met by anyone before Yang finally made one count. Electric movement kept Dundee on their toes. Impact lessened when moved up front. 7 Adam Idah Another difficult evening for the striker whose last league goal dates back to November. Needs to show more of the player who won the Scottish Cup Final last year. 5 SUBSTITUTES: Arne Engels (for Bernardo 61′) Not a brilliant first half hour but delivered when it mattered to rescue a point with penalty 7; Nicolas Kuhn (for Idah 61′) Immediate impact before shot gave Celtic the penalty 7; Reo Hatate (for McCowan 61′) Did not quite match output of previous two but ammended sloppy passing in midfield 6; Luis Palma (for Taylor 71′) A couple of spurts down the left but not much more 6; Alex Valle (for Yang 71′) Game at that stage did not seem to require his contributions 6.

January 15, 2025

Dundee’s resistance broken by Engels penalty in six goal thriller

Dundee twice levelled then took a surprise lead but could not hold on as Arne Engels’ late penalty saw the visitors sneak away with a point. Having broken Dundee hearts on deadline day, Luke McCowan came firing out the blocks to do it all again with a bullet header just five minutes in. With the break fast approaching Dundee responded in style. Racing away on a counter from Celtic’s counter, Cesar Garza fed Oluwaseun Adewumi who produced a terrific stepover and even better finish from distance to force Brendan Rodgers’ to rip up his half-time speech. Regaining the lead not long after the break, Yang Hyun-Jun restored the lead to the visitors as he met Kyogo Furuhashi’s pinpoint cross. Not cowed by going down again, Dundee began to apply the pressure and reaped the dividends as Josh Mulligan’s low cross was deflected by Cameron Carter-Vickers past a helpless Schmeichel. With momentum on their side, Aaron Donnelly capitalised on some lacklustre marking from Auston Trusty to fire a header into the top corner and take the lead for the first time. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be, Mo Sylla’s handball in the box allowing Arne Engels to fire his penalty past Trevor Carson to bring the score back the 3-3. Celtic cannot complain that they didn’t have the chance to add more, Paulo Bernardo came closest with a crossbar clipping header from one of a few excellent Alistair Johnston crosses. Carson proved to be the difference maker soon after, denying McCowan a second by throwing his body to cut off an already tight shooting angle for the midfielder. It was not long before he used his frame to deny Bernardo’s poked effort as the home side weathered the storm. Confidence from Tony Docherty’s men became increasingly obvious in the second half, Adewumi firing an effort from outside the box just wide. Come full-time, Finlay Robertson might have regretted not testing the keeper with his free-kick from a similar distance. Struggling to re-assert themsevles into the game, Arne Engels embodied the struggles of his side in the second half with not one, but three shot off target. Despite losing the three points at the last hurdle, Dundee gain an invaluable edge that seems them sit just two points off the top six. They face another big test in the Scottish Cup derby against Dundee United on Monday. Celtic meanwhile hold a 16 point lead at the top having played a game more than Rangers but their focus will be outwith the league for a few days with Kilmarnock in the Cup and and Young Boys in the Champions League up next. Depleted Dundee take points off Old Firm again Having had just four outfield players on the bench last, Dundee are only just starting to field a fuller bench. It’s not just squad players they have been missing but talisman Lyall Cameron who has been sick in bed all week according to the manager and today Scott Tiffoney who could only manage a few minutes. Instead, it was the inspired performances of loanees Oluwaseun Adewumi and Aaron Donnelly that carried Dundee to put three past a side that had only conceded eight all seasons. Immense credit is due to Docherty’s man management and ability to make a skeleton crew look like league leaders in the second half tonight. The question now is, can they make a push for the top six with a full contigent? Off the boil Celtic somewhat fortunate to rescue point Perhaps its the constant talk of just how far ahead they are in the league or maybe fatigue is finally kicking in but for whatever reason Celtic just weren’t their usual selves today. That is saying something considering they managed three today. Instead, the real concern lies at the back. Conceding seven goals this month compared to the four total conceded in the twenty games before that is as statistic that might cause consternation for the manager. Rodgers was quick to point out in his post match press conference that Trusty was beaten far too easily for the third goal. The league might be as good as won but with their Scottish Cup and the return of the Champions League, there is plenty of food for thought at Celtic Park. Attendance: 8,816 Line-ups: Dundee (3-4-2-1): T. Carson (c), A. Donnelly, C. Robertson, R. Astley, E. Ingram, C. Garza (S. Tiffoney 87′), M. Sylla, J. Mulligan, F. Robertson (L. Cameron 87′), O. Adewumi, S. Murray (S. Palmer-Houlden 82′) Substitutes: L. Cameron, L. Graham, I. Samuels, C. Main, J. McCracken, S. Palmer-Houlden, H. Sharp, S. Tiffoney, J. Vetro Celtic (4-1-4-1): K. Schmeichel, G. Taylor (L. Palma 71′), A. Trusty, C. Carter-Vickers, A. Johnston, C. McGregor (c), Yang Hyun-Jun, Paulo Bernardo (A. Engels 61′), L. McCowan (Reo Hatate 61′), K. Furuhashi, A. Idah (N. Kuhn 61′) Substitutes: A. Engels, R. Hatate, J. Kenny, N. Kuhn, L. Palma, A. Ralston, L. Scales, V. Sinisalo, Alex Valle Referee: Don Roberston

January 14, 2025

Dundee 1-1 Rangers: Player ratings from Dens Park

Aaron Donnelly made a big impression on his second debut whilst Ridvan Yilmaz endured a night to forget. Dundee (3-4-2-1) Trevor Carson Probably surprised not to have more work. Nothing he could do to stop goal and good saves to deny Igamane and Cerny. 7 Ryan Astley Part of strong back three that kept attack quiet. 7 Clark Robertson Like Astley, acted like a brickwall when Cerny approached. 7 Aaron Donnelly Return to the club showed what shrewd eye for loans the club has. Attacking threat and had the beating of opposite number all night. Love of duels evident with celebration after stopping Cortes. 8 Josh Mulligan Assist led to opener and worked tirelessly to cover right hand side. Easily dealt with Matondo after Welshman’s introduction. 8 Mo Sylla Taught Diomande and Barron a lesson in controlling the midfield. Strong on the ball if slightly lacking going forward. 7 Cesar Garza Filling in for injured talisman Lyall Cameron no easy task but recent arrival from Mexico did not put a foot wrong. Docherty full of praise during press conference. 7 Ethan Ingram Enterprise led to goal. Asked to play in unfamiliar position and did so without noticeable difficulty. Task made easier by facing an out of sorts Yilmaz. 7 Scott Tiffoney Not his most scintellating evening but showed his value as he directed his teammates around the park. 6 Oluwaseun Adewumi Continues to go from strength to strength during his loan spell. Composed finish for goal and was denied a second by the offside flag. Will have attracted a few eyeballs from around with performance. 8 Simon Murray Could not add to hot goalscoring form but continued in his role of terrier/ master of the dark arts. Experienced showed against Nsiala but sometimes too keen to look for foul. 6 SUBSTITUTES: Julian Vetro (for Tiffoney 70′) Added dynamism down right 7; Seb Palmer-Houlden (for Murray 70′) brought on to see out draw and did just that 7; Simon Braybrook (for Garza 78′) Same as P-H 7. Tony Docherty A side with only four outfield players on the bench compared to Rangers’ eight should not look the more energised by the end but such is the great work Docherty has done. Continues to get the best out of players. Return of Donnelly looks a masterstroke. 8 Rangers (4-2-3-1) Liam Kelly Nervy start. Early punched clearance was a player lacking control of his area. Little to be done about goal and wasn’t particularly troubled after that. 5 Ridvan Yilmaz One of his worst in a Rangers shit. Cut in on the left far too often when space was on the right. Leting the ball bumble out of feet near touchline summed up his evening. 3 Robin Propper Part of makeshift pairing. Seemed to put early goal behind him but his diagonal passes were done far too often and lacked accuracy. More needed from evening’s captain. 5 Clinton Nsiala Couple of shanked clearances seemed right for a player making first senior appearance but grew into the game. Murray as tough as they come for a debut opponent but did well. Looked more assured of partnership by the end. 6 Jefte Almost identical evening to Yilmaz. Clement was not pleased with performance. Booked for a needless challenge on Tiffoney. 3 Connor Barron Stepping in for Raskin. Not a great night for the midfielder whose difficult first season continues. Easily bypassed in middle of park far too often. Brought off for more effective Danilo. 4 Mohamed Diomande Lacked the physicality to impose himself. Too sloppy in possession as side struggled to string passes together. 4 Vaclav Cerny Found himself running into filled corridors. Got the all important goal and was denied by Carson for second. Despite difficult evening was one of side’s better performers. 6 Nedim Bajrami Not a n10. Struggled to link play together and was almost invisible in first half. Began to drop deeper to create something but to little avail. 4 Ianis Hagi Wonder strike against Celtic feels years ago. Made no impact and was hooked at half time for Matondo. Will be glad to see the back of Dens Park for as long as possible. 3 Hamza Igamane Frustrating evening for the striker. Clement annoyed he tried to create chances rather than finish them. Managed an assist but otherwise kept quiet by defenders. 5 SUBSTITUTES: Rabbi Matondo (for Hagi 46′) Still not back to full force and came off second best to Tiffoney 5; Danilo (for Barron 66′) Livelier than his teammates but could not create anything 5; Ross McCausland (for Yilmaz 81′) Asked to play right back for short time on pitch and did fine 6; Oscar Cortes (for Cerny 87′) n/a. Philippe Clement Stuck to formation and continues to employ almost identical/ exhausted line up despite congested fixture list. If no signings arrive soon it could be a sign of an imminent change in manager. 3

January 10, 2025

Difficulties away from home continue as Dundee hold Rangers to draw

Venue: Dens Park Date: 09/01/25 Time: 20:00pm Rangers’ woeful away record continued as Dundee battled to well earned draw, leaving the visitors with just 13 points from a possible 33 on the road. It was a nightmare start for Clement’s side as Josh Mulligan made the most of a blocked Scott Tiffoney effort to square the ball to Oluwaseun Adewumi who fired Dundee ahead just five minutes in. Having struggled to break down a well organised defence, Rangers found joy just nearly half an hour later as Hamza Igamane’s pass into the feet of Vaclav Cerny finished a rapid counter attack. Rangers were however fortunate to go into the break one apiece with returning loan signing Aaron Donnelly making his presence known from the off, denied only by flying bodies in front of goal. Struggling to find the target, Ridvan Yilmaz endured a torrid evening, firing a distant effort well over the bar as Dundee looked resolute in defence. Cerny came close to adding a second, denied by the outstretched arm of one Trevor Carson before skewing the rebound. Dundee never looked like settling for a point and they were close to getting all three but Adewumi’s double was denied by the offside flag. As the second half wore on Rangers seemed to lose confidence in their ability to find a winner, Igamane a rare brightspark saw his effort parried to safety by Carson. Meanwhile the home side continued to punish sloppy passing, Julien Vetro racing down the right hand sand and feeding the ball to a well placed Adewumi whose effort lacked the requisite accuracy to trouble Liam Kelly. Almost reproducing the goal from nothing, Mohamed Diomande rattled the crossbar from 30 yards with a well beaten Trevor Carson’s feet planted beneath before Jefte put his headed effort just above the woodwork. Donnelly face of dogged Dundee With a squad about as threadbare as they come, Tony Docherty found himself flipping through his roladex to fill out a side needed to put two keepers on the bench. But off the back of tonight it looks as though he’s plucked the perfect name in Aaron Donnelly, who made his second debut for the club after his loan spell last season from high flying Nottingham Forest. The Northern Ireland international epitomised everything the manager wanted from his players, brave in attack and solid in defence. Attempts on goals were denied by some last ditch defending whilst he continued to get the better of his opposite man at the back, making his satisfaction known after denying Oscar Cortes in a duel. Docherty will pray Donnelly can stay fit as the side edges ever closer to the top half. Out of ideas, out of steam Despite having four more outfield players on the bench, not to mention the exorbitant financial gap between the sides, it was Rangers who looked to be on their last legs this evening. Whilst they have experienced injury problems themselves, giving first starts to centre backs Nsiala tonight and Leon King last week, the problems look far greater around them. Jefte and Yilmaz both let the ball slip out of their feet in almost Sunday League levels of ball control and Hamza Igamane was often too desperate in his attempts to create chances for his side as Ianis Hagi had a night to forget before being hooked at half-time. There are still plenty of games to be played this season, including six this month but Rangers are already turning to Europe for salvation as they hope to banish their away day hoodoo. If they can’t find a cure, Clement will find himself answering more and more questions about his future at the club. What the Managers had to say Attendance: 8,606 Line ups: Dundee (3-4-2-1): T. Carson (c), A. Donnelly, C. Robertson, R. Astley, E. Ingram, C. Garza (S. Braybrooke 78′), M. Sylla, J. Mulligan, O. Adewumi, S. Tiffoney (S. Palmer-Houlden), S. Murray (J. Vetro) Substitutes: S. Braybrooke, L. Graham, C. Main, J. McCracken, S. Palmer-Houlden, H. Sharp, J. Vetro Rangers (4-2-3-1): L. Kelly, Jefte, C. Nsiala, R. Propper, R. Yilmaz (R. McCausland 81′), M. Diomande, C. Barron (Danilo 66′), I. Hagi (R. Matondo 46′), N. Bajrami, V. Cerny (O. Cortes 87′), H. Igamane Substitutes: O. Cortes, C. Dessers, K. Dowell, M. Munn, L. King, R. Matondo, R. McCausland, Danilo, B. Rice Referee: Calum Scott

January 9, 2025

Dundee

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