Post by Taxigirl on Dec 13, 2003 17:35:28 GMT
Celtic 3-2 Dundee Celtic established a Premier League record of 15 straight wins as brave Dundee were edged out at Parkhead.
Henrik Larsson gave the home team an early lead but Mark Fotheringham hit back with a tremendous goal for the visitors.
Celtic were well below par and struggled to find any rhythm but defenders Bobo Balde and John Kennedy popped up to score second half goals.
Dundee created several good chances to score and striker Nacho Novo was out of luck in front of goal - but they did grab a late consolation strike through Lee Mair.
The home side were given an early scare when Fotheringham flicked on Gavin Rae's header to put Novo clean through, but Rab Douglas raced off his line to block the shot.
Celtic started sluggishly but showed signs they were coming to life in the 13th minute with a flowing passing move which culmintaed with Chris Sutton directing Alan Thompson's cross-field ball towards Larsson, but the Swede fired over.
However, the free-scoring striker found the back of the net two minutes later when Thompson picked him out in the penalty area with the help of Sutton dummy and Larsson curled the ball around Dundee keeper Julian Speroni.
Douglas was recalled for Celtic at the expense of Magnus Hedman but the Scotland goalkeeper could do nothing to stop Fotheringham's fantastic equalising goal.
With 20 minutes gone the youngster, who left Celtic Park in the summer, ran unchallenged from the centre circle and unleashed a 30 yard shot into the top corner of the net.
Celtic looked unsure in defence moments later when a deflected Rae effort had Douglas desperately scurrying across his goal-line to watch it go behind.
The home defence was once again breached when Fotheringham threaded the ball through to Novo but Douglas got down well to save.
Celtic picked up the pace again and Speroni was forced to make good saves to deny shots from Shaun Maloney and Larsson.
And Maloney went close again in the 38th minute when he curled a right-foot effort just past the angle.
Stanislav Varga was next to threaten as he got on the end of Thompson's free-kick but headed straight at Speroni from eight yards.
Novo played a neat one-two with Rae to create another chance but the Spaniard could not find the target. Speroni then held a fierce shot from Thompson right on the half time whistle.
Celtic again failed to click at the start of the second period and were fortunate in the 50th minute when Novo could not fully control Fotheringham's corner in the area and a good chance was lost.
Celtic regained the lead in the 68th minute when Sutton made a far post run to meet Thompson's cross and managed to knock the ball across goal for Balde to head home from close range.
With five minutes remaining, substitute Kennedy bundled in a third goal as Dundee struggled to deal with a corner kick and the points were safe for Celtic.
But Dundee still had time to grab a goal when defender Mair surged into the Celtic area and picked his spot from six yards.
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Celtic: Douglas, Mjallby, Balde, Varga, Miller, Lennon, Maloney, Petrov, Thompson, Larsson, Sutton. Subs: Marshall, Lambert, Wallace, Smith, Kennedy.
Dundee: Speroni, Mackay, Wilkie, Mair, Hernandez Santos, Smith, Rae, Fotheringham, Brady, Novo, Sancho. Subs: McCafferty, Cameron, Linn, Hutchinson, McDonald.
Referee: K Clark