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Celtic 2-1 Dundee United: Gary Hooper and Victor Wanyama on target as Neil Lennon's side stay top of SPL
The Hoops enjoy a relatively comfortable home win to move back ahead of Rangers after title rivals had won in the early kick-off
14 Jan 2012 17:05:00
By John Stammers
Getty Images
Celtic have maintained their position at the top of the Scottish Premier League after defeating Dundee United 2-1 at Celtic Park, despite a second-half fightback from the visitors.
Celtic striker Gary Hooper and winger Kris Commons returned to fitness for Neil Lennon's side as the Scottish league leaders hosted United.
The visitors' pre-match tactics were rendered completely useless five minutes later when Celtic doubled their lead through Victor Wanyama. The 20-year-old headed home a cross from Emilio Izaguirre, beating Dusan Pernis in the Dundee goal.
There was no fightback from Peter Houstan's side during the rest of the uneventful first half, with his players allowing Celtic to dictate the tempo of the game and control the possession throughout. Despite dominating, the only other real chance for the hosts came through a Stokes free-kick just under 10 minutes before the break which sailed over the bar.
United got a goal back 10 minutes into the second-half thanks to a 30-yarder from John Rankin. The shot clipped the post on the way into the net with Fraser Forster unable to get there while at full stretch.
Forster had to make a smart save from a Jon Daly header, as United pushed for an equaliser at Celtic Park after coming out from the break a different side.
The rest of the second-half United refused to hand Celtic an easy victory, which after the opening 20 minutes it looked like it could be. Gary Mackay-Steven had a long-range shot go just over the bar, but then the hosts went close with a Georgios Samaras diving header at the other end, but Pernis saved well.
Celtic then saw the game out fairly easily and although they allowed the visitors to see plenty of the ball they failed to create anything with it.
| Bet: | Returns: | Dundee Utd XI £120.00 | Draw £12.00 | Celtic £45.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Dundee Utd XI £150.00 | Draw £14.00 | Celtic £36.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Dundee Utd XI £50.00 | Draw £37.50 | Celtic £16.70 |
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Celtic striker Gary Hooper and winger Kris Commons returned to fitness for Neil Lennon's side as the Scottish league leaders hosted United.
Robbie Neilson returned to the visitors' squad for the trip south, although they were still without long-term injury absentees Scott Severin and Danny Swanson.
The opening 10 minutes of the game saw United sit back and erect a barrier in front of their penalty box, however the game-plan was somewhat disrupted with a Hooper goal just inside a quarter of an hour. Anthony Stokes set-up the forward who finished from inside the penalty box into the top right corner of the goal.The visitors' pre-match tactics were rendered completely useless five minutes later when Celtic doubled their lead through Victor Wanyama. The 20-year-old headed home a cross from Emilio Izaguirre, beating Dusan Pernis in the Dundee goal.
There was no fightback from Peter Houstan's side during the rest of the uneventful first half, with his players allowing Celtic to dictate the tempo of the game and control the possession throughout. Despite dominating, the only other real chance for the hosts came through a Stokes free-kick just under 10 minutes before the break which sailed over the bar.
United got a goal back 10 minutes into the second-half thanks to a 30-yarder from John Rankin. The shot clipped the post on the way into the net with Fraser Forster unable to get there while at full stretch.
Forster had to make a smart save from a Jon Daly header, as United pushed for an equaliser at Celtic Park after coming out from the break a different side.
The rest of the second-half United refused to hand Celtic an easy victory, which after the opening 20 minutes it looked like it could be. Gary Mackay-Steven had a long-range shot go just over the bar, but then the hosts went close with a Georgios Samaras diving header at the other end, but Pernis saved well.
Celtic then saw the game out fairly easily and although they allowed the visitors to see plenty of the ball they failed to create anything with it.
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