Celtic answered the critics tonight, with a thoroughly professional 2-1 win over a hard-working Dundee side. Stan Petrov and Henrik Larsson put Celtic 2-0 up, Dundee grabbed a late consolation goal in injury time.
David Marshall kept his place in goal, as we hear that Rab Douglas will find out whether or not he will play in Barcelona on the 22nd March. Stan Varga, Bobo Balde and Jackie McNamara lined up in defence, Didier Agathe, Alan Thompson, Stan Petrov, Stephen Pearson and Neil Lennon made up the midfield. Momo Sylla partnered Henrik Larsson up-front.
Celtic fans occupied two-thirds of Dens Park - a ground where tickets were always scarce. I took my seat behind a pole, in the stadium with the worst pre-match music in Scottish football. Give me Las Ketchup in Seville any day of the week!
David Marshall is clearly out to impress, and did so during the early stages of the game. He made a couple of class saves and is certainly staking his claim for a starting place in Barcelona - regardless of Big Rab's appeal.
It was end to end stuff all the way through the first half, but you just knew a Celtic goal was coming.
Celts took the lead on 38 minutes with a typical counter attacking move. Stephen Pearson - who is fast becoming more and more comfortable in this side - picked up the ball at the edge of the Celtic area, and steamed ahead. His well timed pass towards Stillian Petrov set up the Bulgarian , who finished neatly past Julian Speroni.
Stanislav Varga was substituted at half time, his replacement was John Kennedy. Varga's hip injury is a concern for Celtic, but we will have to wait and see how he copes in the next few days.
There was certainly a carnival atmosphere inside the Celtic end, as Celtic fans celebrated St Patrick's Day by watching the Hoops in action. The travelling whordes were all smiles when Henrik Larsson added hs name to the scoresheet on 68 minutes.
John Kennedy headed towards the Swede, who missed with his initial shot, but made no mistake in scoring with the rebound. It was Larsson's 231st goal for Celtic - making him the club's joint third all time top scorer.
Celtic were now in easy street, Craig Beattie and Jamie Smith replaced Henrik Larsson and Momo Sylla.
As the fourth official indicated two minutes would be added at the end of the game, Dundee popped up with a superb consolation strike. The scorer was Kneissl.
Celtic are now 19 points clear of closest rivals Rangers, who have a game in hand. Isn't it fun being a Celtic supporter? On the eve's eve of our game against FC Barcelona in the Nou Camp, the huns play Dunfermline at Ibrox!
Celtic:
Marshall - 9
Balde - 8
Varga - 7 (Kennedy - 8)
McNamara - 7
Agathe - 7
Lennon - 8
Petrov - 9
Pearson - 8
Thompson - 8
Sylla - 6 (Smith - 6)
Larsson - 9 (Beattie - 6)
Celtic-Mad Man of the Match: Henrik Larsson
Celtic-Mad Moment to Remember: Petrov's finish, rounding off a superb move from Celtic.
Celtic-Mad Moment to Forget: Henrik Larsson's goal which was chopped off due to an incorrect offside decision.