Celtic 6-1 Dundee United: Hoops thrash woeful United on flag day

adamhigginsuk
Aug 16, 2014
6 min read

Off the mark: Kris Commons, who scored 32 goals for Celtic last term, bundled home his first of the campaign (Picture from SNS Group)

A DOMINANT Celtic romped past Dundee United with a ruthless attacking display in their first home game of the season.

The Hoops, who opened their title defence with a midweek 3-0 win at St Johnstone, unfurled the championship winning flag before kick-off in Ronny Deila’s first match in charge at Celtic Park.

Debutant Jason Denayer opened the scoring in the early exchanges and goals from Kris Commons and Stefan Johansen gave Celtic clear daylight by half-time.

Anthony Stokes’ free-kick sailed into the far corner before a deflected John Rankin effort for United was sandwiched in between a Jo Inge Berget double.

The majestic performance sets Celtic up perfectly for their Champions League play-off first leg against Maribor on Wednesday but uncertainty surrounding their scheduled trip to Slovenia still looms until Legia Warsaw’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport is heard on Monday.

Early Premiership leaders United were brimming with confidence after back-to-back wins over Aberdeen and Motherwell without conceding a goal but their feel-good factor, and unbeaten start, was completely shattered by the free-scoring champions.

After their European ties were played at Murrayfield and the proposed home game against Partick Thistle last weekend was postponed, Celtic stepped out at Parkhead for the first time in the new campaign against Jackie McNamara’s side.

? DID YOU KNOW ?

Dundee United last won at Celtic Park on Boxing Day 1992 when Duncan Ferguson scored the winner under legendary manager Jim McLean.

United have not beaten Celtic since a 1-0 victory in the SPL at Tannadice in May 2012.

Celtic 6-1 Dundee United - Former owner Fergus McCann addresses the Hoops fans.j

Speech: Fergus McCann addressed the Celtic fans prior to

unveiling the flag (Picture by Adam Higgins)

Former owner Fergus McCann, who saved the club from administration 20 years ago, was welcomed to the field to take part in the pre-match festivities on Flag Day for the second time, with the assistance of club captain Scott Brown.

Brown was injured along with Aston Villa loanee Aleksandar Tonev while Adam Matthews was a late withdrawal from the side as Efe Ambrose took his place with Mikael Lustig promoted to the substitutes bench where Leigh Griffiths returned from a sickness bug.

Manchester City loanee Denayer was given his first run-out, borrowed Cardiff forward Jo Inge Berget was recalled and goalkeeper Craig Gordon made his home debut while stand-in skipper Charlie Mulgrew made his comeback from a one-match ban.

United, who lost influential young duo Andy Robertson and Ryan Gauld during the summer, were unchanged for a third match running.

New recruits Jaroslaw Fojut, Callum Morris and Conor Townsend continued in a patched-up defence as Sean Dillon, ex-Celtic full-back Mark Wilson and John Souttar remained sidelined while Scotland Under 21 captain Stuart Armstrong started despite strong transfer speculation from north of the border.

Prior to a ball being kicked, the visitors, who gave the Hoops a guard of honour when entering the field, were understandably optimistic of ending their 22-year wait for victory in the east end of Glasgow.

A riprawing start almost brought a goal at either end inside 90 seconds when Callum McGregor thumped the post from 20 yards before Gary Mackay-Steven glided his finish wide from Armstrong’s defence-splitting pass.

But Celtic seized the early initiative by taking the lead inside four minutes as Denayer marked his first appearance in Hoops in style.

The Belgian teenager guided the ball into the roof of the net after United failed to clear their lines from a Commons corner.

The hosts made much of the early running as McGregor and Stokes flashed efforts over the crossbar from range before a stinging drive from Emilio Izaguirre was beaten away by Terrors keeper Radoslaw Cierzniak.

Last season's Scottish Cup finalists United showed promise going forward themselves and Mackay-Steven seemed certain to score after hunting down Denayer to round Gordon but Virgil van Dijk made his presence felt to sniff out the danger.

UNITED'S CELTIC PARK MISERY:

The Tangerines were beaten 3-1 on the final day of last season by Celtic before a 2-0 defeat to St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup final.

United were denied a first victory at Parkhead in 22 years last November by a late Hoops equaliser in a 1-1 draw.

Jackie McNamara's side also conceded six in the east end of Glasgow in a 6-2 defeat in February 2013.

Celtic held a more effective strangehold of possession and raised the tempo to put United on the back foot for sustained spells.

Stokes fired inches over the crossbar on the half volley after Cierzniak lost sight of Izaguirre’s testing left-wing delivery.

The fact their play merited further reward could be undisputed and it came after 28 minutes as a result of yet more slack United defending.

Last season’s top scorer Commons was afforded enough room to bundle home a Stokes corner at the near post and open his account for the season.

Celtic were in menacing mood and their advantage was increased to three when Paul Paton turned into trouble in a dangerous area and Johansen ran through to slot past Cierzniak.

Stokes then rifled a searing right-footer over the top from 25 yards before the dispirited visitors were forced to replace the injured Armstrong with Dutch striker Mario Bilate, who thumped home a stunning winner against Motherwell in midweek.

There was still time for Berget to rattle the frame of the goal and Stokes to bring a superb stop from Cierzniak in an utterly one-sided first half.

Celtic introduced Beram Kayal in place of Johansen at the break but there was no change in pattern as the rampant Hoops continued to pile on the pressure.

Cierzniak kept out a powerful low effort from Stokes before Fojut closed in on Commons to block the follow-up.

Home keeper Gordon was given a rare test of his credentials, tipping Nadir Ciftci’s 20-yard effort wide after Mulgrew lost concentration and was caught on the ball.

But the hosts were hungry for more goals as Commons had an effort parried by Cierzniak before a Stokes free-kick from the left drifted into the corner of the net despite Mulgrew claiming he applied the telling touch.

Another Stokes set-piece was deflected narrowly wide of the target by the outstretched boot of John Rankin before the former Hibs striker’s route to goal was blocked again by Cierzniak.

Although, the Polish stopper was unable to prevent Berget from powering a header into the roof of the net from Ambrose’s cross for his first Celtic goal just after the hour mark.

Urged on by the buoyant Hoops faithful, Celtic probed relentlessly in a bid to inflict further misery on the visitors, who fought a losing battle to stem the unstoppable tide.

To rub salt into the wounds, the impressive McGregor and Stokes made way to give attacking weapons Griffiths and James Forrest a 20-minute cameo.

? DID YOU KNOW ?

Celtic have now won seven of the last eight league meetings with the Tangerines, who host the champions at Tannadice in the return fixture on 20 December.

Anthony Stokes now has eight goals in his last eight games against Dundee United.

United substitute Bilate missed the target when picked out by Mackay-Steven from 15 yards before Rankin found the net when his low shot deflected off Denayer and nestled into the bottom corner beyond the reach of Gordon.

But in context, it was worth even less than a consolation on a bitterly disappointing afternoon for McNamara’s side as Celtic maintained complete control.

A daisycutter from Commons had Cierzniak stretching to turn around the post before Berget and Griffiths were both off target with fizzing right-foot shots.

There was no letting up even in the latter stages and Berget had the final say with the final kick, tapping home at the back post after Cierzniak could not cut out Kayal’s low centre across the goalmouth.

Substitute Forrest sustained an injury in the move but it did not mar a magnificent display from the champions, who produced a clinical array of finishing that bodes well with tougher tests lying ahead.

Meanwhile, United will be desperate to bounce back in upcoming games against Ross County, St Mirren and promoted Hamilton Accies.

Celtic 6-1 Dundee United - Presentation party on flag day.jpg

Presentation party: (left to right) Celtic chairman Ian Bankier, former owner Fergus McCann, SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster and club captain Scott Brown oversaw flag day (Picture by Adam Higgins)

Saturday 16th August 2014

SPFL Scottish Premiership

Celtic Park (West Glasgow, Scotland)

Celtic 6-1 Dundee United KO 12:45pm Live on Sky Sports 3/HD3 (HT 3-0)

Denayer 4 Rankin 71

Commons 27

Johansen 34

Stokes 54

Berget 62, 90+1

Celtic XI - Celtic 6-1 Dundee Utd (Sat 16th Aug 2014).jpg

Celtic (4-2-3-1): 26 Gordon - 8/10, 4 Ambrose - 8/10, 22 Denayer - 9/10, 5 van Dijk - 8/10, 3 Izaguirre - 8.5/10, 21 Mulgrew - 8/10, 25 Johansen - 8.5/10 (Beram Kayal 45 - 6/10), 42 McGregor - 8/10 (Forrest 69 - 3.5/10), 15 Commons - 8.5/10, 16 Berget - 8.5/10, 10 Stokes - 8/10 (Griffiths 70 - 4/10).

Subs not used: 24 Zaluska (GK), 23 Lustig, 6 Biton, 11 Boerrigter.

Booked: None

Dundee United XI (Celtic 6-1 Dundee Utd - Sat 16th Aug 2014).jpg

Dundee United (4-2-3-1): 1 Cierzniak - 6.5/10, 12 Watson - 6/10, 5 Fojut - 5.5/10, 14 Morris - 5.5/10, 3 Townsend - 6/10, 6 Paton - 5/10, 8 Rankin - 6.5/10, 11 Mackay-Steven - 6/10 (Spittal 75 - 2.5/10), 10 Armstrong - 5.5/10 (Bilate 40 - 5.5/10), 18 Dow - 5.5/10 (Erskine 57 - 4/10), 7 Ciftci - 6/10.