Hoops in command

PLAYERRATINGS But heart taken from Dark Blues’ disciplined display

A CELTIC win was probably the outcome everyone expected but Dundee boss Paul Hartley will definitely take positives from this 1-0 defeat.

Some predicted a rout but, largely down to some disciplined defending, Dundee were always in the game at 1-0 — even if their attacks were few and far between.

There were three changes from last week’s dismal defeat to Inverness and a change in formation to boot with the Dark Blues reverting to a 3-5-2 formation.

The game itself was largely dominated by Celtic in possession but they didn’t test goalkeeper Scott Bain too often.

When called upon, he made two great saves to deny Sinclair twice.

The one notable effort from Dundee came after a good run and cross by Faissal El Bakhtaoui, which was headed wide by Yordi Teijsse.

The teams went in at half-time level but it wasn’t long before Celtic got the goal that, in the end, proved decisive.

Two minutes into the second half, Dundee conceded a soft goal given how well they had defended throughout the first half.

And it was a move started and finished by Scott Brown which won the game for the Hoops.

Dundee’s change in formation and the gameplan to press high up when it was on but then defend in numbers when Celtic had good possession worked for large spells of the game.

Frustration crept into the visitors’ game in the first period and they ended up forcing passes that weren’t really on.

The home team as a whole must take credit for preventing a free-scoring team from running over the top of them.

They were well marshalled at the back by Darren O’Dea, who used all his experience to get players into position, and, with Kevin Gomis and Kevin Holt either side of him, the highly-rated Moussa Dembele was kept quiet.

The midfield five worked hard at preventing space for Celtic’s quickmoving midfield, while the front two, El Bakhtaoui and Teijsse, put a real shift in without, it has to be said, much success in terms of creating goalscoring opportunities.

But it must be remembered this game was against a team that scored three against the multi-million pound Man City just a few days before.

Open up and they will destroy you, so, all in all, the system worked well for the Dark Blues.

In the Premiership, Dundee will not come up against another team as dominant as Celtic.

Hopefully, that will allow the Dark Blues to be more expressive when they have the ball and also more composed in possession.

After conceding three goals at Inverness and the same when they played Aberdeen, it was important to get some defensive stability back.

Dundee certainly got that and it gives them something to build on over the next couple of weeks before they face Hearts in what will be another tough test.

There is no easy solution to getting a goalscorer. The loss of Greg Stewart and Kane Hemmings was big but they have gone and it’s now down to others to step up to the plate.

In the Premiership there isn’t much between the teams, so, if you defend with discipline, you will always give yourself a chance in the game. As Celtic showed it only takes one goal to win it.