#Letakan iklan disini
Football Dec 07, 2025

Celtic 1-0 Dundee: Hoops close the gap on Hearts at the top of the table as Martin O'Neill secures victory in final game as interim boss

đŸ‘¤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Celtic 1-0 Dundee: Hoops close the gap on Hearts at the top of the table as Martin O'Neill secures victory in final game as interim boss

Martin O'Neill closed the gap on Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts as he delivered one final victory for Celtic.

Daizen Maeda's brave 11th-minute header proved enough to hand O'Neill a 1-0 victory over Dundee in his farewell match before making way for Wilfried Nancy, whose appointment was confirmed less than an hour before kick-off.

It was O'Neill's seventh win in eight matches since returning to Celtic Park 20 years after his initial spell in charge ended.

Celtic were eight points adrift of Hearts when O'Neill and Shaun Maloney were placed in interim charge in the wake of Brendan Rodgers' sudden exit in late October.

The 73-year-old leaves with Celtic now trailing the league leaders on goal difference with a game in hand.

O'Neill's players could have given their manager a less stressful swansong but could not build on their flying start and Dundee caused some nervy moments for the home support.

That included a sparsely-filled standing section with the bottom six rows blocked off following the extended and indefinite ban handed to the Green Brigade on Tuesday.

Anti-board chants rang out along with tributes to O'Neill in a reminder that Nancy inherits a disunited club despite the platform to challenge in the league and Europa League, as well as a Premier Sports Cup final to look forward to in
his third match. His first two come against Hearts and Roma.

Celtic were quickly on the front foot and Maeda and Reo Hatate threatened from long range before the breakthrough.

Hyun-jun Yang continued his rejuvenation under O'Neill by forcing a save from Jon McCracken after a lofted pass from Hatate and Maeda headed home the rebound before being caught by the head of Luke Graham in a hefty collision.

Celtic played with 10 men for several minutes before the Japan forward re-emerged from the tunnel sporting a bandage and a black eye.

Celtic continued to press and Arne Engels and Yang had chances before Marcelo Saracchi forced a good save. The Uruguayan left-back soon went off with what looked like a recurrence of a hamstring injury, with Kieran Tierney a straight
replacement.

There was one first-half scare for Celtic when Simon Murray hit the bar after Liam Scales' short headed pass back. The offside flag went up after Kasper Schmeichel saved Cameron Congreve's follow-up.

Celtic also started the second half well. Maeda could not steer a rebound on target following Luke McCowan's effort and Hatate saw a shot saved after some impressive football.

Dundee began to threaten midway through the half. Substitute Ashley Hay was released by a long ball, shrugged off Scales' attempt to bring him down and tried his luck from an ambitious angle. Schmeichel blocked his weak effort.

Finlay Robertson then tried his luck from 50 yards after Schmeichel came out of his box and sliced a clearance but the goalkeeper raced back to save, comfortably in the end.

Dundee kept the pressure on until Maeda hit the post on a stoppage-time breakaway, before the full-time whistle prompted chants of "Martin O'Neill" around Celtic Park.

Tags:

football report id:531812

Share this article

Related Posts

World Cup 2026: Erling Haaland, Yan Diomande among players to have caught the eye in the first week of the tournament

World Cup 2026: Erling Haaland, Yan Diomande among players to have caught the eye in the first week of the tournament

Believe it or not, the first round of group games at the 2026 World Cup is complete.All 48 teams at this summer's tournament have played at least once...

World Cup 2026: England played tournament’s best football, says Gary Neville - but France remain favourites

World Cup 2026: England played tournament’s best football, says Gary Neville - but France remain favourites

Gary Neville believes England produced the best football of the World Cup so far in their second-half display against Croatia, but remains unconvinced...

World Cup 2026: USA's Folarin Balogun stars against Paraguay after rise at Arsenal and switch away from England

World Cup 2026: USA's Folarin Balogun stars against Paraguay after rise at Arsenal and switch away from England

Born in the USA and born for the big stage.Folarin Balogun was America's star on the opening night of their home World Cup, scoring twice in their thr...

Lionel Messi to star? Cristiano Ronaldo to bomb? World Cup can still make a mockery of predictions with so long to go

Lionel Messi to star? Cristiano Ronaldo to bomb? World Cup can still make a mockery of predictions with so long to go

Convinced football is coming home? Lumping on Germany after scoring seven? Tipping Lionel Messi to retain it? Telling yourself that Sweden are dark ho...

Ibrahima Konate joins Real Madrid: Jose Mourinho completes third signing as LaLiga club confirm deal for defender

Ibrahima Konate joins Real Madrid: Jose Mourinho completes third signing as LaLiga club confirm deal for defender

Real Madrid have confirmed the signing of defender Ibrahima Konate.The LaLiga side have agreed a four-year deal with the defender, who will join the c...

Premier League kits 26/27 plus more football home, away and third strips from Nike, Adidas, Puma and others

Premier League kits 26/27 plus more football home, away and third strips from Nike, Adidas, Puma and others

Eight signings? De Zerbi's plans to rebuild Spurs this summerYour Site News' Michael Bridge gives the latest on Tottenham's transfer plans this s...