A second half goal from Fiacre Kelleher earned Celtic a 1-0 win over Dundee in the Development League at Lennoxtown tonight.
The foul weather saw the match switched from Dumbarton to the artificial turf at Lennoxtown with both sides struggling to master miserable conditions.
Eboue Kouassi got 90 minutes of the rawest conditions that Scottish football has to offer. The new bhoy struggled to make an impact in the game but got a crash course on what to expect as he adapts to Scottish football.
There was very, very little of note during the first half with ‘defences on top’.
Neither keeper was tested with both sides struggling to put together any meaningful moves.
Celtic’s best efforts were a couple of attempts at putting a high ball behind the Dundee back four but the visiting defenders were well marshalled and kept the hoops at bay.
Shortly before the break Koussai sent a raking ball over the Dundee defence but as PJ Crossan ran onto the ball he struggled to keep his feet and tumbled to the deck.
Whatever was said at the interval certainly worked with a football match breaking out.
Suddenly the game was stretched, defenders were being tested, crosses were getting fired in and keepers getting kept busy.
In the 52nd minute Conor Hazard got down well to his left to hold a shot, nine minutes later Celtic scored the only goal of the game when Kelleher netted for two yards out after a Mark Hill corner had been headed on at the front post by PJ Crossan.
Celtic had a couple of half chances to put the game beyond Dundee but with just a single goal between the sides the result was in doubt until the final whistle.
CELTIC: Hazard; Wardrop, Kelleger, Kerr, McIlduff (40 Aitchison); Kouassi, Hill; Hendry (Ralston 90), McManus, Miller; Crossan (Diver 88)
SUBS: McAdams, Duffy, McInroy