SEALED WITH A SWISS
Ajeti strikes late to clinch victory
The Swiss have always been experts in timing.
And with the clock ticking down for Celtic at Tannadice, Albian Ajeti’s couldn’t have been better as he struck to seal victory for Neil Lennon’s side.
The new £5million striker rescued the Hoops with just seven minutes left – just as Dundee United were anticipating a deserved point.
But Ajeti’s first goal for the club gave Celtic a crucial victory on their return to Premiership action.
Micky Mellon’s team had been more than a match for the champions until Ajeti’s big moment.
And with Odsonne Edouard miss-firing on Tayside, the Swiss star showed why Lennon was so desperate to get him to Parkhead.
It kept Celtic on the trail of Old Firm rivals Rangers, having played fewer games due to Boli Bolingoli’s Covid-19 rule break. But this was by no means a comfortable win against an impressive United outfit.
The Terrors had waited a long time to sample games like this again.
And after four years out of the top f l ight, new gaf fer Mel lon was determined that they’d have a go when teams like Celtic came to town.
Without star striker Lawrence Shankland, he kept faith in youth by starting Tannadice kids Lewis Neilson and Logan Chalmers.
And their energy, certainly at the start of this match, was crucial to Mel lon’s game plan of not just frustrating the champions – but posing a threat as well.
Of f the back of their easy
Champions League qualifying win over Reykjavik in midweek, Hoops boss Lennon made a couple of changes down his right flank.
Jeremie Frimpong was restored at full- back in place of Hatem Abd Elhamed while winger James Forrest was surprisingly left out in favour of Olivier Ntcham – with Ryan Christie shifted out wide.
With Rangers securing three points at Ibrox just before kick- off, it was vital that Celtic did likewise.
But right from off here, you sensed that Mellon’s side would be difficult to crack.
Nicky Clark was willing to press centre-backs Christopher Jullien and Nir Bitton – but also drop on to Scott
Brown in a bid to curtail the Celtic skipper’s influence.
Flanked by flying machines Luke Bolton and Chalmers, it allowed the home side to play high up the pitch, easing the pressure on those playing behind them.
But with that risky strategy – and Celtic’s quality – there was always a danger that United could get picked off.
And Lennon’s men almost got in front through top scorer Edouard.
Christie’s cross wasn’t dangerous but took a nick off Mark Reynolds straight into the path of the Frenchman.
Edouard caught it on the half volley but his shot cracked the outside of the post.
Celtic weren’t getting it all their own way. Mellon’s system was forcing their centre-backs to play long and wide, which didn’t suit them. And
United were willing to throw men forward when it was on.
Ian Harkes broke clear and slipped in Bolton down the right. The on-loan Manchester City kid drove into the box but fizzed an effort over.
With Mellon drilling them from the sidelines, United were well organised with every player knowing his job.
The onus was on Celtic to find a solution and they cranked up the heat towards the end of the first half.
Christie was a constant danger and when he got free in the box to fire off a def lected shot, keeper Benjamin Siegrist had to pull off a brilliant one-handed save.
The work rate Dundee United had put in to keep the Hoops at bay began to take a toll a just before the break.
When Mo Elyounoussi got clear and teed up Edouard in the box, it should have been 1- 0.
But unusually, Lennon’s talisman took one touch too many and Siegrist denied him.
The big question was, could United’s players keep up their level of intensity for a full 90 minutes?
And they were tested to the full just after the restart as Celtic upped a gear.
Certainly, with Christie in top form, they needed their Swiss shot-stopper to be bang at it as well.
The Scotland star curled in a magnificent shot that looked destined for the top corner – before Siegrist somehow clawed it wide.
At this point, Celtic were attacking with real intent with United defending for their lives.
Young Nei l son wa s being bombarded down his side, with Elyounoussi and Greg Taylor both going at him.
When the latter picked out Edouard in the box with a cut- back, you expected the net to bulge. But again, he was too casual and Siegrist was able to make a comfortable stop.
United had to compose themselves again – and they did.
While Celtic had plenty of the ball and most of the territory, United didn’t allow themselves to hemmed in.
In fact, Jamie Robson forced Vasilis Barkas into his first save with 20 minutes left.
Lennon threw the dice, going 3- 5- 2, with Ajeti on to partner Edouard late on.
Forrest and Callum McGregor were of f target with shots then the Frenchman’s free-kick flew just over.
But just when it looked like more dropped points on the road for Celtic, the new boy came to the rescue.
Christie’s shot was saved by Siegrist but Ajeti kept it alive for Edouard.
And when the ball broke loose for the Swiss striker, he blasted it home through bodies from close range.