'Bhoys do the business at Dundee

Dundee 1 Celtic 2

Scott McDonald and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink got the goals as Celtic rode their luck to end a two-match losing run and reach the CIS Insurance Cup quarter-finals.

Celtic were given a fright by Dundee, whose midfielder Gavin Swankie came close to scoring with three stunning free-kicks.

The hosts also hit the bar through Czech striker Jan Zemlik, a persistent pest to the visitors’ back four, and they deservedly got on the scoresheet after 71 minutes when impressive teenager Kevin McDonald fired home from close range.

Zemlik, a 6ft 6in striker, won most balls in the air but lacked a clinical finish and was sent off seconds before the final whistle for a second bookable offence.

Celtic showed Dundee where they were lacking in terms of finishing, even if Derek Riordan did fail to convert a penalty early in the second half.

McDonald headed the Hoops ahead from Riordan’s free-kick, soon after Swankie’s 25-yard free-kick rattled Artur Boruc’s left post and Zemlik headed against the bar, while Vennegoor of Hesselink converted his strike partner’s pass as Celtic struck again on the hour.

Celtic made three changes to the team beaten 3-2 at Hibernian on Sunday, with Riordan, Evander Sno and John Kennedy coming in for Aiden McGeady, Paul Hartley and Jean-Joel Perrier Doumbe.

Artur Boruc kept his place in goal, despite his costly mistakes at Easter Road, but rarely looked comfortable.

Gordon Strachan’s side, beaten by Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League last week, had the bulk of the early possession against the Irn-Bru Division One promotion hopefuls.

Chances fell to Riordan who fluffed his first shot and then drew a decent save from Craig Samson with a firm low effort.

Dundee struggled to make their possession count, but in the 20th minute Zemlik was fouled by Kennedy, giving Dundee a free-kick in a threatening position.

Swankie curled a superb right-footed shot over the Celtic wall, and although Boruc was well beaten the ball came back into play off the left post and Gary Caldwell cleared for a corner.

Freddy Daquin fired the ball across from the left and Boruc flapped as Zemlik challenged, with the striker’s header hitting the bar.

The hosts replaced right-back David Worrell with Danny Griffin in an early change. Celtic were rattled and Dundee grew in confidence, with Zemlik heading over from another chance.

Yet the opening goal went to the visitors in the 27th minute when Scott McDonald shook off his marker and headed a free-kick from the right, delivered by Riordan, beyond Samson.

Boruc prevented Dundee equalising when he pushed away a powerful header by Zemlik after the big frontman was found by Kevin McDonald’s right-wing cross.

Swankie caused Boruc more concern from another free-kick, awarded after Vennegoor of Hesselink was booked for hacking down Scott Robertson, when his crisp strike was brilliantly pushed away by the Poland international.

The second half began tamely, Sno’s shot in the 50th minute giving Samson no cause for concern as it went well wide.

But then Celtic broke into the Dundee box and when Riordan went down under Griffin’s challenge referee Iain Brines pointed straight to the penalty spot.

Gary MacKenzie was booked for contesting the challenge, but Samson came to Dundee’s rescue by keeping out Riordan’s low spot-kick, making the save down to his left.

Swankie had another chance to strike from outside the penalty area when Kennedy was penalised for a challenge on Zemlik.

The midfielder’s fierce drive from 20 yards went through the wall and Boruc, seeing the ball late, instinctively raised his left arm to deflect the ball over.

Boruc’s goalkeeping was less distinguished a minute later when he fumbled a cross, but Celtic went 2-0 ahead after an hour.

McDonald was released on the right and cut the ball back expertly for Vennegoor of Hesselink, unmarked by the penalty spot, to fire beyond Samson’s reach.

Kennedy lashed a left-footed effort well off target a minute later as Celtic pushed for a third goal.

The third goal of the game went to Kevin McDonald in the 71st minute though.

The 18-year-old Dundee midfielder, having an outstanding game against the club who wanted to sign him last year, buried the ball from eight yards after chaos in the Celtic penalty area following a Dixon throw-in.

Robertson drilled a shot over the Celtic bar as Dundee searched for an equaliser, and they would have been good value for a second goal, but it would not come.

Brines sent Zemlik off in injury-time for a second bookable offence – a foul on Stephen McManus – as Celtic, for whom Sno wasted two late chances, held on to secure their place in tomorrow’s draw.