An 82nd minute goal from Tony Watt kept Celtic’s title hopes alive against a dogged Dundee United side at St Andrews.
Playing against a biting wind there wasn’t much in the way of flowing football as the young hoops dug in to claim three vital points.
For long spells it looked like being an afternoon of frustration for the visitors as United stuck resolutely to containing Celtic while offering little threat in attack.
Joe Chalmers had a couple of early pops at goal and Watt came close in the13th minute but with the wind behind them John Kennedy’s side failed to take advantage of the possession that they enjoyed.
At half time Lewis Kidd replaced Bahrudin Atajic to add some drive to the midfield with Watt playing as the sole striker before being joined by James Alabi who came on for Patrik Twardzik on the hour.
It was only in the final 20 minutes that Celtic began to lay siege to the United goal with Watt hitting the post in the 75th minute after a run across the penalty area.
Eight minutes later the former Airdrie striker got his rewards. Picking up the ball in his own half he held off three challenges as he raced in on goal before seeing his shot parried by the United keeper. The loose ball broke to Chalmers whose cross back into the box was steered wide of the keeper to the delight of the entire Celtic side.
Jackson Irvine forced a great save out of the United keeper as the game entered stoppage time with Celtic looking more likely to add to their lead than concede an equaliser.
With Hearts winning 2-1 away to Aberdeen Celtic remain seven points behind the Edinburgh side with two games in hand.
CELTIC: Fasan, Fisher, Jones, Fraser, Chalmers; Herron, McGregor, Irvine, P Twardzik (Alabbi 60); Watt, Atajic (Kidd 46)
SUBS: Lindsay, Findlay, Hart
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Great report, Joe. Well done. Thanks again.
And thanks to young Lewis Kidd also.
Lewis ran 60yrds supporting Tony at the goal and then quickly retreived the ball after Watty’s shot was saved. He played it back to Joe Chalmers who in turn played a “satnav” pass onto the head of the mighty Watty.
TW then powered a winning header into the far corner leaving the keeper with no chance. And all with a damaged calf and ankle ! Tony played through the pain.
A terrific goal, inspirational.
Gonna be tough to win the league, i’d say. And for 2 reasons….
1. Hearts not got much in the way of opposition in the forthcoming games – possibly final game of season AWAY to Hibs, may drop points there, but not guaranteed – they’d prob be right up or it if all they had to do then was win THAT game to clinch it.
2. These young u19 Celts will, if Neil agrees, get a wee run in the first team near the end of the season – what with there being so many “dead rubber” type of games due to us being so FAR in front in the SPL (haha) – i’d imagine then that this would somewhat weaken the u19 CFC league challenge – maybe, possibly, let’s see.