CELTIC 0 DUNDEE UNITED 0

DUNDEE UNITED prepared for the CIS Cup final in style at Parkhead last night, with a determined display earning a priceless point against Celtic, writes Ian Roache.

It meant they clinched their place in the SPL’s top six and also moved ahead of Motherwell into the third UEFA Cup spot.

Now all they have to do is overcome the other side of the Old Firm when they meet Rangers at Hampden on Sunday!

It is a big ask but the Tangerines left Glasgow with a spring in their step and will be confident when they return.

Manager Craig Levein said, “I got sweat and toil from my players, as is the case every week, and it was enough to get us a point.

“Our intention tonight was to pass the ball well, break when we could and score goals. We did some of that but can do better.

“They are all bubbly in the dressing room and it’s been that way for a while now. This was a different test to the ones we have faced recently and we did not buckle under the pressure.”

Midfielder Mark Kerr added, “It was massive for us to get a clean sheet given the chances Celtic had and we will be looking for the same in the final.

“We spoke after the game about stepping up a gear now and I think we will be a bit more positive on Sunday. There’s a cup at stake and it’s a one-off game.”

Celtic boss Gordon Strachan was understandably downbeat after failing to get closer to Rangers in the title race.

“We didn’t capitalise on our possession, got chances but couldn’t finish and it ended 0-0,” he said.

As expected, United’s line-up bore little resemblance to the one that beat crisis club Gretna last time out.

Getting a pre-final runout were captain Lee Wilkie, Craig Conway and Kerr.

On-loan Hoops player Jim O’Brien lined up against his employers.

The biggest surprise was the debut handed to young Swiss defender Mihael Kovacevic.

It would be a baptism of fire at right back, up against Aiden McGeady.

Morgaro Gomis and Christian Kalvenes were given a complete rest, while likely Hampden starters Sean Dillon, Darren Dods, Willo Flood and Noel Hunt all sat on a bench which also included the welcome sight of striker Jon Daly after his long-term injury.

Celtic welcomed Scotland midfielder Scott Brown back from suspension, while former Tannadice skipper Barry Robson was named as a Celtic sub.

It was the home side who made the first impression on four minutes, Japanese ace Shunsuke Nakamura clipping the post with a curling shot after he found space on the right side of the box.

United’s first attempt came on 21 minutes when Danny Grainger’s well-struck shot was deflected for a corner.

Six minutes later a great run up the right by Conway should have ended with him picking out Prince Buaben in front of goal, but he delayed the cutback too long.

United were looking composed in possession but the hosts found the woodwork again on the half-hour when Scott McDonald struck the opposite post to Nakamura.

A last-ditch Wilkie tackle saved the day when Brown was poised to shoot from 15 yards, but it was the Tangerines who squandered the best chance of the game on 38 minutes.

Good work from Kovacevic on the right wing enabled him to swing over a great cross and Conway, just six yards out, should have burst the net rather than let the ball hit the top of his head and go over the bar.

United finished the half the stronger and the only black spot was a harsh booking for Garry Kenneth, who seemed to have made a perfectly fine tackle on Evander Sno.

Celtic took the initiative after the break and Brown glanced a near-post header across goal. Wilkie was booked for kicking the ball away after Georgios Samaras was fouled by Buaben.

The free-kick almost resulted in a goal but Nakamura sent his effort just over.

With 62 minutes on the clock, the home side made a double switch, bringing on Robson and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink for Sno and Samaras respectively.

United striker Mark de Vries had a shot blocked by Robson inside the box but the claims for handball were waved away.

Then Tangerines keeper Lukasz Zaluska produced a great stop from a Gary Caldwell effort and moved sharply to gather the loose ball.

United lost workhorse Robertson on 76 minutes. He was complaining of blurred vision and on came Flood, while De Vries was replaced by Hunt.

Celtic’s McDonald then fell in the box before claiming a penalty but ref Mike McCurry actually did him a favour by not booking him for diving.

There was nice moment when Daly trotted on to the park after so long out but he had to defend straight away as Celtic piled forward.

McDonald, Vennegoor of Hesselink and Hinkel all came close and the home corner count climbed.

The board went up to show four minutes of stoppage time—where it came from was anyone’s guess—but United’s dog-ged defending earned them a fantastic point.

Attendance—45,000.

Celtic—Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, Naylor, McManus, S. Brown, McGeady, Sno (Robson 62), Nakamura, McDonald, Samaras (Vennegoor of Hesselink 62). Subs not used—M. Brown, O’Dea, Hartley, Donati, Riordan.

Dundee United—Zaluska, Wilkie, Kerr, Grainger, O’Brien, Robertson (Flood 76), Conway (Daly 84), Kenneth, Buaben, De Vries (Hunt 77), Kovacevic. Subs not used—McLean, Dillon, Dods, Swanson.

Referee—Mike McCurry.