Celtic produced their most complete and perhaps most important 45 minutes'
football of the season to turn a possible defeat into an emphatic victory
against Dundee United.
Parkhead was a gloomy place at the break with United ahead through Joachim
Ferraz's 27th minute header and news filtering through of Rangers comfortable
interval lead at Motherwell.
Celtic needed to respond and did so resoundingly after Regi Blinker proved the
unlikely hero by pulling them level just two minutes into the second-half.
Out-of-contract and poised to move on at the end of the season, Dutchman
Blinker made a run from deep to steal in behind the United backline and equalise
on 47 minutes.
Just three minutes later and Celtic were suddenly ahead through a Mark Viduka
header to improve the Australian's mood after he had missed a penalty on the
half-hour mark.
Celtic attacked in numbers thereafter, effectively making the game safe
through Lubomir Moravcik on 61 minutes with substitute Mark Burchill claiming a
well-deserved 89th minute fourth.
Their next home game is Rangers' visit on December 27 and now Celtic have the
opportunity to go into the Scottish Premier League's winter break leading the
table.
Celtic were forced to draft Blinker into emergency service at left wing-back
with Stephane Mahe suspended and Tom Boyd as well as Vidar Riseth both short of
match fitness.
United were also depleted, not least in midfield where Frenchman Antoine
Preget earned a debut to cover Jan Telesnikov's hamstring problem and the banned
David Hannah.
Celtic's start to the game was astonishing.
Lubomir Moravcik set up Alan Stubbs for a far post header just over, then
played in Jackie McNamara for a sharp turn and shot which saw the ball fizz just
off-target.
A McNamara surge down the right then returned the favour to Moravcik who left
his marker standing with an adept turn before curling a 20-yard shot wide of the
mark.
United had retained their composure however and slowly started to pose a
threat, Steven Thompson's cross finding Magnus Skoldmark whose diving header was
saved by Jonathan Gould.
Moravcik then played in Viduka, whose strength and movement was causing United
concern, but his effort was saved by the legs of Alan Combe.
Celtic had lost their initial fluency, but United's 27th minute lead was still
a shock as Craig Easton's precise cross was nodded over Gould by Ferraz with
appeals for offside ignored.
A mere three minutes later and Celtic spurned a chance to level, Viduka
upended by Jason De Vos in the area but striking the resulting penalty against a
post after a possible Combe touch.
Celtic were forced into a change in the 37th minute when in-form Danish
international midfielder Morten Wieghorst limped off to be replaced by Stilian
Petrov.
Moravcik was still Celtic's main danger man, firing just over from long range,
then crashing a stunning free kick against the underside of the bar with Combe
beaten.
At half-time Celtic were toiling, but within five minutes of the restart they
had transformed the contest with two superb goals to claim the lead. On 47
minutes, Berkovic and Moravcik combined to play in the onrushing Blinker who
kept his balance to clip the ball over Combe to level with a clinical finish.
Incredibly a mere three minutes later a deep McNamara cross to the far post
was guided back into the centre by Moravcik for Viduka to score with a brave
close range header past a stranded Combe.
Celtic were now dominant, Viduka seeing a deflected shot sail just overt
before United keeper Combe clutched the ball at the feet of Moravcik in the home
side'e next attack.
After 58 minutes, Berkovic slid the ball through to substitute Petrov whose
deft chip drifted over as Celtic exerted the pressure.
Their next reward was three minutes later when a rare excursion upfield by
Olivier Tebily set up Viduka who teased the United backline before squaring for
Moravcik to drill home for 3-1.
Now Celtic were turning on the style and Moravcik was twice unfortunate not to
add to the growing tally, firstly sending an angled chip just past the post.
His next effort was closer still, Combe beating away a fierce drive on 76
minutes after a thrilling pass from the outside of his foot by the enterprising
Berkovic.
Moments later Viduka hit the post from barely a yard out after a goalmouth
scramble and the same player scewed his shot straight at Combe with nine minutes
remaining.
United were reeling now, but they were to suffer one last blow as substitute
Burchill beat the offside trap to beat Combe at the second attempt.
Teams:
Celtic: Gould, Stubbs, Tebily, Mjallby, McNamara, Berkovic,
Lambert, Wieghorst (Petrov 36), Blinker (Petta 78), Viduka,
Moravcik (Burchill 78).
Subs Not Used: Kerr, Wright.
Goals: Blinker 47, Viduka 50, Moravcik 61, Burchill 89.
Dundee Utd: Combe, Pascual, De Vos, Partridge, Worrell, Easton,
Skoldmark (Byrne 86), Preget, Venetis (McConalogue 64),
Thompson (Smith 60), Ferraz.
Subs Not Used: Onstad, Malpas.
Booked: Ferraz.
Goals: Ferraz 26.
Att: 59,120
Ref: Jim McCluskey (Scotland).
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