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LOYALTY PERIOD EXTENDED
29th April 2024
A gallant performance by Dundee United this afternoon was not quite enough to win the Scottish Cup, with a single first half goal from Alan Thompson - from a hotly disputed free-kick award - enough to win the match for Celtic in Martin O'Neill's final game in charge of Celtic. Late in added-on time, a fingertip save by Rab Douglas from Archibald's long shot denied United what would have been a deserved equaliser.
Gordon Chisholm was given a boost with the news that Paul Ritchie was fit to take his place in the back three, while Jason Scotland came into the starting eleven for the suspended Jim McIntyre.
For Celtic, other than long-term casualties Stephen Pearson and John Kennedy, Martin O'Neill had a fully fit squad to choose from, and there were no surprises in the side he named.
The United support were - as expected - absolutely fantastic in their vocal support, and from as early as half an hour before kick-off, the sea of Tangerine in the West side of the stadium were noticeably louder than the green areas in the rest of the stadium. This was not to change for the rest of the afternoon, with Arabs again proving they will not be outsung even if outnumbered.
Celtic took the lead in controversial circumstances in the eleventh minute, when Alan Archibald was penalised despite seeming only to take the ball away from Bellamy on the left edge of the penalty area. Alan Thompson took the free kick low and hard, and the pace of the strike took it beyond the reach of Bullock and into the far corner.
United responded well though, and Scotland first released Crawford with an incisive through ball which ran just too far on the greasy surface for his strike partner, then made a good run behind Varga in the 18th minute to put in a dangerous low cross in front of Douglas, with Crawford just unable to make contact six yards out.
In the 20th minute, Sutton broke the offside trap on the right side of the penalty area, and his centre looked certain to provide a goal for Hartson, but his shot at the near post was deflected wide.
Garry Kenneth was caught out with a loose ball in defence four minutes later, giving possession straight to Petrov, but the Bulgarian could only shoot wide from the edge of the area after engineering an opening for himself.
United's Paul Ritchie picked up the first yellow card of the afternoon in the 31st minute for a foul on Bellamy.
Just before the half-time break, both sides had a scoring chance. First, Varga headed over from a good position, after rising above Robson to meet Thompson's inswinging corner. United then broke up the pitch, and Scotland paid the ball back to the oncoming Brebner 20 yards out, but the midfielder sent his powerful shot wide of the left post.
Half Time: Celtic 1-0 Dundee United
The danger posed by Bellamy was only too apparent at the start of the second half. In the space of ten nerve-wracking minutes for Arabs, the on-loan forward would have created a goal for Hartson but for Archibald's goal-saving challenge, then fooled Robson into a foul which got the United winger booked, and finally provided a chance for Sutton, whose shot was deflected wide by Kenneth.
Following a good challenge by Kerr which stopped another Bellamy run, United broke forward, and after linking with Mark Wilson, Stevie Crawford put in a cross which was turned behind by Balde for a corner. From Robson's corner, McInnes nodded back into the danger area at the far post, but Archibald shot over from a difficult position.
The tricky Robson then earned a free kick on the edge of the area after a foul by Lennon. Although Wilson's shot was cleared, this led to a couple of minutes of incessant pressure on the Celtic goal, but agonisingly the clear cut chance wouldn't come for the Tangerines.
Celtic boss O'Neill made the first personnel change in the 73rd minute, Joos Valgaeren replacing John Hartson in the 73rd minute. Gordon Chisholm responded three minutes later, bringing on Collin Samuel for skipper Derek McInnes.
Either side of the substitutions, Tony Bullock pulled off good saves to deny Thompson and Sutton. Thompson's through ball then sent Bellamy clear in 82 minutes, but the shot flashed over the bar.
With the game into the final ten minutes, Gordon Chisholm sent on his remaining substitutes in search of an equaliser, with Duff and Grady coming on in place of Brebner and Crawford.
Celtic should have sealed the victory in the 85th minute when Bellamy came down in the area under the challenge of Garry Kenneth. Chris Sutton stepped up to take the kick, and slipped before contact, scooping the ball tamely over the bar.
Archibald picked up a booking with three minutes remaining for a foul on Petrov, and Varga followed into the referee's notebook a minute later.
There was almost late drama and joy for United, but Alan Archibald's powerful long range shot - four minutes into injury time - was touched onto the bar by the full-stretch Douglas.
It was just not to be for the Terrors, who had fought bravely for the entire match, and despite the narrow defeat, can be proud of their input to a closely contested match.
Full Time: Celtic 1-0 Dundee United
Teams:
Dundee United:
Bullock, Kenneth, Ritchie, Archibald, Wilson, Kerr, McInnes (Samuel 76), Brebner (Duff 82), Robson, Crawford (Grady 82), Scotland.
Subs Not Used:
Colgan (GK), McCracken.
Booked: Ritchie (31), Robson (53), Archibald (87)
Celtic:
Douglas, Agathe, Balde, Varga, McNamara, Petrov, Lennon, Sutton, Thompson (McGeady 86), Hartson (Valgaeren 73), Bellamy.
Subs Not Used:
Marshall (GK), Lambert, Beattie.
Booked: Varga (88)
Referee John Rowbotham
Read the full match report by Scott Simpson.
Gordon Chisholm was given a boost with the news that Paul Ritchie was fit to take his place in the back three, while Jason Scotland came into the starting eleven for the suspended Jim McIntyre.
For Celtic, other than long-term casualties Stephen Pearson and John Kennedy, Martin O'Neill had a fully fit squad to choose from, and there were no surprises in the side he named.
The United support were - as expected - absolutely fantastic in their vocal support, and from as early as half an hour before kick-off, the sea of Tangerine in the West side of the stadium were noticeably louder than the green areas in the rest of the stadium. This was not to change for the rest of the afternoon, with Arabs again proving they will not be outsung even if outnumbered.
Celtic took the lead in controversial circumstances in the eleventh minute, when Alan Archibald was penalised despite seeming only to take the ball away from Bellamy on the left edge of the penalty area. Alan Thompson took the free kick low and hard, and the pace of the strike took it beyond the reach of Bullock and into the far corner.
United responded well though, and Scotland first released Crawford with an incisive through ball which ran just too far on the greasy surface for his strike partner, then made a good run behind Varga in the 18th minute to put in a dangerous low cross in front of Douglas, with Crawford just unable to make contact six yards out.
In the 20th minute, Sutton broke the offside trap on the right side of the penalty area, and his centre looked certain to provide a goal for Hartson, but his shot at the near post was deflected wide.
Garry Kenneth was caught out with a loose ball in defence four minutes later, giving possession straight to Petrov, but the Bulgarian could only shoot wide from the edge of the area after engineering an opening for himself.
United's Paul Ritchie picked up the first yellow card of the afternoon in the 31st minute for a foul on Bellamy.
Just before the half-time break, both sides had a scoring chance. First, Varga headed over from a good position, after rising above Robson to meet Thompson's inswinging corner. United then broke up the pitch, and Scotland paid the ball back to the oncoming Brebner 20 yards out, but the midfielder sent his powerful shot wide of the left post.
Half Time: Celtic 1-0 Dundee United
The danger posed by Bellamy was only too apparent at the start of the second half. In the space of ten nerve-wracking minutes for Arabs, the on-loan forward would have created a goal for Hartson but for Archibald's goal-saving challenge, then fooled Robson into a foul which got the United winger booked, and finally provided a chance for Sutton, whose shot was deflected wide by Kenneth.
Following a good challenge by Kerr which stopped another Bellamy run, United broke forward, and after linking with Mark Wilson, Stevie Crawford put in a cross which was turned behind by Balde for a corner. From Robson's corner, McInnes nodded back into the danger area at the far post, but Archibald shot over from a difficult position.
The tricky Robson then earned a free kick on the edge of the area after a foul by Lennon. Although Wilson's shot was cleared, this led to a couple of minutes of incessant pressure on the Celtic goal, but agonisingly the clear cut chance wouldn't come for the Tangerines.
Celtic boss O'Neill made the first personnel change in the 73rd minute, Joos Valgaeren replacing John Hartson in the 73rd minute. Gordon Chisholm responded three minutes later, bringing on Collin Samuel for skipper Derek McInnes.
Either side of the substitutions, Tony Bullock pulled off good saves to deny Thompson and Sutton. Thompson's through ball then sent Bellamy clear in 82 minutes, but the shot flashed over the bar.
With the game into the final ten minutes, Gordon Chisholm sent on his remaining substitutes in search of an equaliser, with Duff and Grady coming on in place of Brebner and Crawford.
Celtic should have sealed the victory in the 85th minute when Bellamy came down in the area under the challenge of Garry Kenneth. Chris Sutton stepped up to take the kick, and slipped before contact, scooping the ball tamely over the bar.
Archibald picked up a booking with three minutes remaining for a foul on Petrov, and Varga followed into the referee's notebook a minute later.
There was almost late drama and joy for United, but Alan Archibald's powerful long range shot - four minutes into injury time - was touched onto the bar by the full-stretch Douglas.
It was just not to be for the Terrors, who had fought bravely for the entire match, and despite the narrow defeat, can be proud of their input to a closely contested match.
Full Time: Celtic 1-0 Dundee United
Teams:
Dundee United:
Bullock, Kenneth, Ritchie, Archibald, Wilson, Kerr, McInnes (Samuel 76), Brebner (Duff 82), Robson, Crawford (Grady 82), Scotland.
Subs Not Used:
Colgan (GK), McCracken.
Booked: Ritchie (31), Robson (53), Archibald (87)
Celtic:
Douglas, Agathe, Balde, Varga, McNamara, Petrov, Lennon, Sutton, Thompson (McGeady 86), Hartson (Valgaeren 73), Bellamy.
Subs Not Used:
Marshall (GK), Lambert, Beattie.
Booked: Varga (88)
Referee John Rowbotham
Read the full match report by Scott Simpson.
