DUNDEE UNITED 0 CELTIC 1

DUNDEE UNITED missed out on their highest league finish for 11 years as Celtic clinched the SPL championship at Tannadice, writes Graeme Dey.

Midway through the second half last night, with Hibs slipping up at home to Motherwell and United managing to keep the Hoops at bay, the Tangerines had seemed on course to complete the campaign in fourth top spot.

But thanks to Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink’s winner 18 minutes from time on Tayside and Aberdeen’s victory over Rangers at Pittodrie, the Dons sneaked past Craig Levein’s side, lightening the Tannadice coffers of £125,000 in SPL payments in the process.

It was an unfortunate end to what has been a highly creditable season, though Levein will reflect on the picking up of just two points out of a possible 15 following the split and wonder what might have been.

Immediately following the match, however, he was quick to praise his charges.

“I was proud of the way they played and to be honest I have been proud of the way the lads have performed all season,’’ he said.

“If you look back to a year ago and see where we are now I think we have made progress.

“I would have taken fifth place at the start of the season all day long.

“But actually now I am a little bit disappointed.

“I think our performances certainly merited a little bit more.

“I turned to Houstie (assistant Peter Houston) with 10 to 15 minutes to go and said, ‘Look at them working just like it was the first game of the season.’

“To me, that is a great compliment to the players that they were still going as strongly now as they were back then.

“The supporters were fantastic and have been all season. I was pleased to see them appreciate how hard the boys try.

“OK, we make mistakes but we can never be accused of not giving everything.

“I said all week that the players had been good in training and that we would give our best.

“If that wasn’t good enough and Celtic beat us then so be it.

“There wasn’t much in it tonight, I don’t think, but congratulations to Celtic.’’

The Hoops could have removed the uncertainty over where the helicopter carrying the SPL trophy should be headed inside the opening quarter of an hour of the game.

Twice in the space of three minutes, however, United keeper Lukasz Zaluska produced stunning full-stretch saves to keep the scoresheet blank.

First Zaluska turned over a seemingly net-bound Aiden McGeady effort after former Tangerines skipper Barry Robson dispossessed Mark Kerr to set up a three v two break from which Shunsuke Nakamura’s ball into McGeady looked like paying rich dividends.

Then the Pole fingertipped Robson’s header from Nakamura’s cross to safety via the bar.

Playing on the break though, United carved out a couple of decent openings of their own.

Willo Flood’s charging down of a Gary Caldwell clearance caused panic in the visiting ranks and when Flood found Danny Swanson steaming in at the back post Swanson should have done better than sky his finish.

Open to similar criticism was Mark de Vries who, having been picked out by Flood’s defence splitting pass, failed to hit the target.

The further the half unfolded the more vulnerable Celtic looked and the quieter their initially very boisterous support became, making the police’s task of identifying and ejecting visiting fans who’d found their way into the George Fox and Eddie Thompson stands more difficult than it had been.

Earlier on, Tayside’s finest had been gainfully employed.

Euro 2008-bound Vennegoor of Hesselink might have lifted the tension which had descended on the Hoops fans shortly after the restart but, having burst clear, his tame effort was straight at Zaluska.

Nakamura then had a shot blocked by Darren Dods before getting himself booked for diving after latching onto the rebound and trying to get the better of Danny Grainger.

As in the first half though United, with much less of the ball, had opportunities to turn the title race on its head.

A fantastic ball out of defence from Swanson set de Vries up and his deflected shot found the side netting before Artur Boruc topped close pal Zaluska’s saves with a fantastic tip-over of a swerving Swanson half-volley which looked to be sneaking under the bar.

But then came word of Aberdeen taking the lead at Pittodrie, sparking wild celebrations, including in the aforementioned George Fox and Eddie Thompson stands, bringing the police back into action.

Celtic were just about there.

And the party got into full swing on 72 minutes as Vennegoor of Hesselink nodded home Paul Hartley’s corner from close range to seal the destination of the championship.

Referee Stuart Dougal issued further yellow cards to Flood and Boruc.

Attendance—13,613.

Dundee United—Zaluska, Dillon, Dods, Flood, Kerr (Robb 80), Grainger, Hunt, Gomis, Kenneth, de Vries (Daly 80), Swanson (Robertson 80). Subs not used—Camara, Wilkie, O’Brien, Smith.

Celtic—Boruc, Hinkel, Naylor (Wilson 76), Caldwell, Vennegoor of Hesselink (Samaras 81), Hartley, Robson, Nakamura (S Brown 62), McDonald, McManus, McGeady. Subs not used—M Brown, Donati, Sheridan, O’Dea.

Referee—Stuart Dougal.