Celtic’s Development side didn’t allow the elements to blow them off target as they beat Dundee 1-0 at stormy Lennoxtown last night.
Tommy McIntyre’s side are working their way through a heavy fixture backlog and are now five points behind leaders Hibs with three matches in hand.
Celtic’s involvement in the UEFA Youth League and Premier League International Cup left them with a lengthy backlog with 13 matches still to be completed.
Starting off playing in the same 4-2-3-1 formation as the first team Mark Hill on the right and Calvin Miller on the left were required to push up in support of PJ Crossan at every opportunity.
An injury to Aidan McIlduff late in the first half meant a shuffle to the side with Jack Aitchison coming on to partner Crossan while Miller filtered back to replace McIlduff in the back four.
Eboue Kouassi was getting a short sharp shock into what Scottish football can be about, after 90 minutes in the shadow of the Campsies he’ll be more aware of the demands of playing for Celtic.
Fiacre Kelleher scored the only goal of the game with the defender, who was on loan to Peterhead in the first half of the season, bundling home a corner from Hill that was flicked on by Crossan.
MARK HILL
Has been used almost exclusively as a holding midfielder but was released from that role to play wide right with some effect.
His strength has never been in doubt, his pace last night was an eye opener and a constant threat to the Dundee defence.
Hill linked well with Crossan in attack without neglecting his midfield duties, he was still going strong at the end as others wilted.
CALVIN MILLER
There’s an element of maturity about his game this season with the switch to left-back clearly having a positive impact.
He started the match in the attacking left midfield position but there wasn’t much opportunity to stretch the Dundee defence.
After dropping back to fill in for McIlduff he was able to have a bigger influence on the game, running forward from deep as well as linking effectively with the midfield before going on the overlap.
PJ CROSSAN
Didn’t get much joy out of the Dundee defence during the first half but did his best keeping them busy.
Once he was joined by Jack Aitchison he found a bit more space and managed to get into the penalty box more often.
There’s not much to the former Dunfermline in terms of height but he got up well to head on Hill’s corner which provided Kelleher with the only goal of the game.