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