Ronny Deila got the response he was looking for as Celtic bounced back from their Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to move to eight points away from the SPFL title.
Dundee haven’t lost a league match at Dens Park this year- beating Dundee United and drawing with Aberdeen recently- but were unable to put up much resistance to a determined Celtic side.
Gary Mackay-Steven opened the scoring in the 32nd minute with another spectacular Virgil van Dijk free kick sealing the points although Jim McAlister pulled a goal back for the home side three minutes from full time.
“I am very pleased with the performance,” Deila said. “I am proud of them. It was tough, and that’s many games in a row now, plus 120 minutes on Sunday and the disappointment as well. But I was ready for this game and we won it, and we deserved to win it as well.
“I was very pleased with the players and with the fans – they were unbelievable today. They were behind the team and lifted us. It was better than playing at home almost. We are in a good position. We have to keep on performing and winning.”
Stefan Johansen, Kris Commons and Adam Matthews were rested after their exertions at Hampden with the former Dundee United duo of Stuart Armstrong and Mackay-Steven joined in the starting XI by Efe Ambrose.
Teenager Kieran Tierney was a late substitute for Emilio Izaguirre with the left sided younger likely to get a start if Celtic can get the title tied up by winning their next three matches- against Dundee United, Dundee and Aberdeen.
