Dundee Utd 2 - 1 Celtic: Levein enhances his reputation with rare win

Published on Sunday 22 November 2009 23:18

DUNDEE United enhanced both their own credentials as potential title challengers and the candidacy of Craig Levein for the vacant Scotland managerial position with a dramatic and long-awaited victory over Celtic at Tannadice yesterday.

Two goals in the last seven minutes from substitute Jon Daly and defender Darren Dods, who had earlier conceded the penalty which Barry Robson converted to put the visitors ahead, earned United their first win over the Parkhead club since August 1999.

It leaves Levein's side in fourth position in the SPL table, but just three points behind leaders Rangers and two adrift of a Celtic side whose struggle for convincing form under Tony Mowbray continues. This was a miserable way for their manager to celebrate his 46th birthday, his team having now won just two of their last ten games in all competitions.

It was curious that Celtic should come into a fixture they had not lost in a decade amid widespread predictions they faced one of the severest tests of their domestic campaign so far.

But had Marc-Antoine Fortune been possessed of greater conviction and composure in and around the penalty area, Celtic would have been able to disabuse that notion by taking a comfortable advantage before half-time.

The jury can only stay out for so long before judgment is delivered on Mowbray's biggest signing and the benefit of the doubt is gradually draining away in the minds of many Celtic supporters. The 3.8 million capture from Nancy, partnering Scott McDonald up front yesterday, failed to capitalise on excellent work from Aiden McGeady on three occasions during an opening 45 minutes generally controlled by the visitors.

McGeady, shrugging off his midweek World Cup disappointment with the Republic of Ireland despite constant reminders from United supporters chanting Thierry Henry's name whenever he took possession, split the home defence with a terrific through ball in the 12th minute to find Fortune in space on the right. The striker had plenty of time to size up his options but failed to pick out the unmarked Robson in the penalty area.

Further inventive and dynamic play from McGeady then set up Fortune with a more than passable scoring opportunity inside the box, but this time he was betrayed by a ponderous and indecisive first touch as the chance was lost.

The frailty of his team-mate did not discourage McGeady who was giving United right-back Mihael Kovacevic plenty of problems. The Irish winger burst beyond the defender once more to reach the byline and cut the ball back into the path of Fortune no more than eight yards out. It was the most inviting chance yet and begged to be struck first time. Instead, Fortune took an uncertain touch, both narrowing the angle for himself and allowing United's defence time to converge, before driving in a shot which was deflected behind for a corner.

United rarely threatened Celtic in the first half, although they did have a second minute penalty claim which was not without merit when Jennison Myrie-Williams went down under Landry N'Guemo's challenge just inside the area. Referee Dougie McDonald was well positioned and waved play on.

On his return to Tannadice, Lukasz Zaluska did not have a save to make until seven minutes into the second half when he reacted smartly to touch a sweetly-struck 25 yard shot from Prince Buaben over. From the resultant corner taken by Craig Conway, United almost snatched the lead when Dods nodded the ball back across the six yard box to Damian Casalinuovo whose header struck the crossbar.

Myrie-Williams, the young English winger recruited on a free transfer from Bristol City, was United's most threatening player but too often lacked the necessary support from his team-mates. He provided Danny Fox with several torrid moments, however, and deserved to see a more profitable outcome when he outstripped the Celtic left-back with ease in the 66th minute. Myrie-Williams cut the ball back into the path of Casalinuovo but the Argentinian striker was denied a shooting opportunity by Gary Caldwell's terrific covering tackle.

By this stage, even Mowbray had lost patience with Fortune and replaced him with Georgios Samaras in an attempt to give his side fresh impetus as United began to achieve a greater foothold in the game. The balance tipped back firmly in Celtic's favour with the award of the penalty kick which provided them with their 72nd-minute breakthrough.

Although Dods plaintively claimed his clumsy challenge on Barry Robson was made outside the box, there was no debate about the decision as referee McDonald pointed to the spot. Robson, who had generally looked out of touch in the match, was utterly convincing from 12 yards as he eschewed his favoured blast down the middle to coolly send Nicky Weaver the wrong way.

Levein responded by sending Daly on for Casalinuovo and the change almost paid immediate dividends, the striker heading over from close range after Dods had headed on a Paul Dixon free-kick. The substitute redeemed himself with seven minutes remaining, however, taking full advantage of ridiculously lax marking in the Celtic central defence to meet Danny Swanson's corner from the left and beat Zaluska with a free header from around four yards.

United suddenly had a level of impetus which had appeared outwith their reach for much of the afternoon and in the final minute they plundered a winner which will enter Tannadice folklore. Zaluska dived to his right to touch a Swanson free-kick behind for a corner. Swanson took the kick himself, another good delivery which was headed home from a couple of yards by Dods.

Amid wild United celebrations, Celtic complained furiously that Glenn Loovens had been illegally blocked by Andy Webster, allowing Dods the freedom to score. Referee McDonald and linesman Francis Andrews were unmoved, however, leaving the home side to milk the euphoria of a rare triumph for all it was worth with their gleeful supporters.