Balde helps Celtic keep pace with Rangers

Celtic 3 Dundee 0

Two goals from Bobo Balde and one from Stilian Petrov, both in the second half, sank Dundee to keep the champions in touch with Bank of Scotland Premier League leaders Rangers.

Celtic were well aware beforehand that they had to make inroads in Rangers’ 14-goal advantage but they looked in danger of missing the points altogether after a spiritless first-half which saw them looking affected by the defeat to Rangers here at Celtic Park.

But Petrov gave the home side some much-needed inspiration after the break with the opener before crossing twice for a Balde double to keep Rangers on their toes.

Celtic skipper Jackie McNamara gave hit-or-miss Robert Douglas an awkward pass-back to deal with in the very first minute which was the last thing the goalkeeper wanted after his costly blunder against Rangers here recently.

But the Scotland number one went some way to justifying O’Neill’s decision to keep faith in him by pumping the ball downfield from under his crossbar.

Celtic made a slow start but Sutton, who recovered from an ankle injury, found Craig Bellamy out wide in the area and the Welsh international was stretching as he flicked his right-foot shot wide.

They tested Dundee goalkeeper Derek Soutar in the sixth minute but he comfortably gathered Petrov’s low 25-yard drive.

Celtic looked vulnerable at the back and, with their first real attack, the visitors carved out an opening in the 12th minute.

Fabian Caballero played the ball through to Neil Barrett but he pulled his right-foot shot wide from a tight angle, 12 yards out.

Dundee could not believe their luck moments later with Celtic failing to learn the lesson from seconds before.

Steve Lovell was left in acres of space inside the box but he shot straight at a relieved Douglas from just eight yards out.

Celtic finally started to get their passing game together in the 18th minute when McNamara swapped passes with Hartson but he blazed his right-foot shot over from 12 yards.

A minute later and they carved out their best chance of the game so far when Thompson played the ball out wide for McNamara to swing in a dangerous cross where Sutton was arriving but he headed straight into the hands of Soutar from eight yards.

O’Neill tried to gee his players up from the touchline but wide efforts from Thompson and Stanislav Varga barely gave their team-mates any encouragement.

The Slovakian also got on the end of Petrov’s cross on the half hour but even a deflection could not take it away from Soutar.

Sutton looked as though he would give the home side the lead with a sublime piece of skill in the area, three minutes later.

The versatile Englishman controlled McNamara’s pass with his back to goal and then spun to launch a left-foot drive over the crossbar from eight yards.

But Dundee were frustrating the champions and Bellamy watched his powerful goalbound effort slam into a Dundee player to spin wide.

Duffy made a change just before the break with Garry Brady replacing the injured Mark Fotheringham.

The first big cheer of the night came at half-time when captain of the Lisbon Lions Billy McNeill came on to the pitch to celebrate his 65th birthday.

Celtic were crying out for the same sort of inspiration but O’Neill opted to leave the creativity of Juninho sat on the bench for the start of the second period.

The home side made half-hearted calls for a handball in the area in the 48th minute when Sancho blocked Sutton’s strike to illustrate just how desperate they had become.

But Petrov took it upon himself to ease their anxiety just a minute later with a simple but effective piece of football which caught the Dundee defence off-guard.

McNamara made space down the right flank and fired over a great cross to the back post where the Bulgarian arrived to head past Soutar from close range.

Hartson would have secured the points in the 55th minute but for the heroics of the Dundee goalkeeper.

Petrov knocked Sutton’s pass into the Welshman’s path and the net looked certain to bulge but Soutar’s leg deflected the ball on to the crossbar and then he jumped to his feet to save Varga’s effort.

But Celtic did increase their lead and killed off the visitors’ chances on the hour mark when Bobo Balde was allowed to turn in Petrov’s inviting corner from under the crossbar after Thompson’s shot had been deflected behind.

To make matters worse for the visitors they had Barry Smith booked for a trip on Sutton and they could have conceded more goals.

Thompson and Bellamy went close with shots before Soutar saved from Hartson and his Welsh international team-mate.

With four minutes remaining Dundee found themselves a further goal behind as Balde scored his second from a Petrov cross, despite the efforts of a Dundee player on the goalline.