SM
Man Utd vs. Newcastle: 19 hrs 49 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
DL
Scottish Premiership
Apr 22, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
CL

1-2

McAlister (87')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Mackay-Steven (32'), van Dijk (63')

Preview: Dundee vs. Celtic

:Headline: Preview: Dundee vs. Celtic: ID:218294: from db_amp
Sports Mole previews the last Scottish Premiership fixture before the split as Celtic look to extend their lead at the top with victory at Dundee.

Celtic travel to Dens Park on Wednesday to face Dundee in the final game before the Scottish Premiership split.

Dundee have snuck into the top six just in time, but it is Celtic who lead the way and the champions will go eight points clear of second-placed Aberdeen with victory.



Dundee

Perhaps more by virtue of Hamilton Academical's drastic dip in form following the departure of manager Alex Neil to Norwich City rather than their own form, Dundee have secured their top-six spot ahead of Celtic's visit.

Manager Paul Hartley, who won two titles in two years as a player with Celtic, has guided the Dark Blues to a top-half finish in his first full season in charge and was this week rewarded with a new three-year contract.

The Dees failed to build on their 3-1 triumph over rivals Dundee United as they went down 1-0 to St Johnstone at the weekend for a first defeat in four games, although their derby success is their only win during that run.

Finishing above their neighbours, who are two places and four points above them in fourth, would be a good target for Hartley to set his side as they prepare to do battle with the rest of Scotland's best teams between now and the end of the season.

To do that, they may have to improve their form at Dens Park, having only won five home matches all season. This is something that Hartley is steadily addressing, though, with four of those wins coming since the turn of the year.

Recent form: WLDDWL



Celtic

Ronny Deila's treble dreams are now over following Celtic's dramatic 3-2 defeat to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Cup semi-final on Sunday.

The Bhoys, who won the Scottish League Cup last month, took an expected lead through Virgil van Dijk and then recovered from Craig Gordon's sending-off and conceding twice either side of the 90-minute whistle to regain parity with John Guidetti's extra-time goal.

However, there was to be another twist in the tale as David Raven struck a 117th-minute winner for Caley to send them into their first Scottish Cup final.

It will be a relief to Deila then that Celtic's league title looks more secure with each passing week. The Glasgow giants have won 12 out of their last 14 games to move clear of Aberdeen ahead of the season's final stage.

A Leigh Griffiths hat-trick in a 4-1 victory over Kilmarnock last Wednesday sent them a step closer to a fourth successive championship, in a period of domestic dominance which could come under threat from Rangers or Hearts as soon as next season.

Celtic have not lost an away league game since suffering a reverse in Dundee - to United - in December.

Recent form: LWWWDW
Recent form (all competitions): WWWDWD



Team News

Gordon is suspended for the visitors after his Hampden Park red and so Lukasz ZaƂuska will deputise in goal.

Cup-tied former Terrors Gary Mackay-Steven and Stewart Armstrong are back in contention, and the latter could replace James Forrest in midfield.

Despite Guidetti's extra-time strike, four goals in his last three games are likely to see Griffiths get the nod up front as Anthony Stokes continues to be sidelined.

Dundee still have doubts over the fitness of captain Kevin Thomson and therefore could name an unchanged starting XI.

However, Hartley may consider recalling veteran striker Paul Heffernan at the expense of David Clarkson or Greg Stewart.

Dundee possible starting lineup:
Bain; Dyer, Konrad, P. McGinn; Davidson, Ferry, McGowan, McAlister, S. McGinn; Heffernan, Stewart

Celtic possible starting lineup:
Zaluska; Matthews, Denayer, Van Dijk, Izaguirre; Brown, Bitton, Commons, Johansen, Armstrong; Griffiths



Head To Head

Celtic beat Dundee United three times without conceding during March and also have a commanding recent record against their neighbours.

The Dark Blues have to go back to 2001 for their last victory over the Bhoys, who have won 18 of the 21 encounters since.

Dundee nearly caused an early-season shock when they took a first-minute lead at home to Deila's new boys in August, only for Griffiths to earn Celtic a 1-1 draw.


We say: Dundee 0-2 Celtic

Dundee's recent record against Celtic is woeful and the league leaders will be looking to put right their Scottish Cup disappointment. There only seems one likely winner, with Dundee's best chance a draw as a consequence of Celtic's tiredness from playing 120 minutes only three days prior.



amp_article__218294 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2015-04-20 17:03:44:
html db last update - 2021-02-15 15:52:38 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Read more!
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic330087285987
2RangersRangers430184295584
3Hearts311149371266
4Kilmarnock31114538755
5St Mirren31024247-546
6Dundee40044867-1941
Relegation Group
1Aberdeen33004149-844
2Motherwell32015554143
3Hibernian31024858-1042
4Ross County31023564-2933
5St Johnstone30032652-2631
RLivingston32012764-3724
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
RLivingston3339212259-3718
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .