This is not a match report in the strict sense of the word, rather it is one written from one Dark Blue point of view. It is not not a shot by shot account of the game. Every tabloid and daily in the land can supply that. This is how it went, in my opinion, from a very biased Bobby Cox stand viewpoint. I share my feelings and my fears at various parts of the game.
When Dundee began confidently, knocking the ball about I felt myself relax. I just had a feeling this early we were up for the game. However, over the next 10 minutes this was jolted considerably as Celtic made it clear nothing short of victory would suit them this day. The league champions were fighting for every ball in packs and the Dundee slick passing game was torn asunder for spells when all we could do was punt the ball clear of danger only for it to be won back again in midfield by Celtic.
One thing you don’t want to happen when you play an Old Firm team is lose an early goal. 9 times out of 10 if you do, it’s curtains. When Celtic took the lead around about the 10th minute mark the feeling then was of desolation. The old dreaded sucker punch had struck early in the match. At the back of the mind was the dread that the gates had opened and we could be in for a real dusting over.
But to my surprise, yes, surprise, Dundee began in confident fashion once more. If I was shaken they seemed to have allowed for just such an eventuality in their game plan. In fact we create two half chances within a short time of going behind and begin to win corners as our 3 man attack stretches the Celtic rearguard. Celtic, predictably, up the pace to counteract these replies from the upstarts. In fact, Dundee entered this game with a better record over the last 6 league and cup games (Europe excluded) than Celtic. Dundee with no defeats in that spell, whilst Celtic had lost to Rangers and Inverness.
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Dundee began to move forward and when they equalised around the 17th minute Mark I admit to feeling surprised and elated. But I always feel this way when we score against an Old Firm team. Some say Fabian handled the ball outside the box, big deal. Dundee fans have spent a lifetime suffering controversial goals to the Old Firm with Referees scared to stand up to them. Wullie Young may not be my favourite Referee, but he was brave enough to ignore the bile thrown at him by the Celtic legions behind the goal and the petulant O’Neill on the sidelines and wave play on. Fabian’s jinking run past two powerful Celtic challenges was sheer artistry personified. His perfect cut back finds MARK BURCHILL and the moment the young Glaswegian had waited for so patiently had arrived. He allows the ball to run onto his right foot and slides it into the far corner for a great equaliser. This was striking at it’s best and perhaps destiny had played its part in giving him his first goal at Dens Park against his former heroes.
Celtic threw everything at Dundee for the remainder of this half. But Lee Wilkie had Laarson in his hip pocket the entire game and young Mair, deputising for the immaculate Zurab, was fighting as if his life depended on this one and producing many moments of amazing composure and coolness. Jonay Hernandez had settled onto a first class game and was snuffing out any threat from Sylla and overlapping down the left with aplomb and great conviction. Dave Mackay was trying to get things moving down the other flank and was another playing out of his skin and giving his everything. And when Hartson was left with only the keeper to beat in a rare moment of Dundee’s defence being posted missing Julian Speroni makes his only save of the game, brilliantly parrying the shot round his left post.
My feelings were that we had to hold on until half time to have any real chance of getting a result and as I feared we did make one or two clangers close to the interval, Smith almost giving Laarson a chance, and Mackay giving the ball away on the edge of his own box. But we survive and I’m relieved to hear that whistle blow with Dundee still level.
The second half was as exciting and nerve wracking as any game I’ve watched at Dens this season, and I spent a lot of time biting my nails, staring at the heavens asking why that one didn’t go in, or that one just failed to thread through to a forward. Wullie Young, it must be said, gave both sets of fans the opportunity to pour all their frustrations out in his direction and responded as usual by blowing his nose at them.
In one moment of humour a corner kick had been given to Dundee and Wullie, as he always does, likes to glance up at the crowd jeering him behind the goal. Me and a friend, close to the front, decided we’d give Mr. Young some praise for a change. "Well done, Wullie," we yelled. He certainly heard as he stared right at us, looked in surprise, then gave us the thumbs up. Only to pull his Celtic green hankie out and blow his nose. Soon after another corner and he looked at us again, seeming to say "did I get that one right as well?" Eccentric, yes, controversial, yes, boring, certainly not.
I felt in this second half Dundee played much better than in the first. Speroni didn’t have a single shot to save despite a lot of Celtic pressure. As the minutes ticked away Dundee seemed to rise in stature whilst Celtic seemed to get more and more frantic and at times desparing.
In the final analysis it’s shots on target that decide who should have won. Second half Celtic had none, Dundee found Broto saving brilliantly from Rae and Milne right at the death to thwart our top 6 dreams.
If anything summed up the positive thinking in the Dundee ranks it was when the board went up saying two minutes of added time were left. Normally this is the time when most teams would shut shop and wait for the expected Celtic onslaught upon their goal for 120 seconds that sometimes seem like an eternity. It turned out quite the opposite and Dundee spent the added on time camped in Celtic’s half.
The final whistle left me feeling as if we’d actually won the match, which we should have, no question of that in my mind. I was more pleased that we’d kept up this extraordinary run of being unbeaten in league and cup for the first 3 months of 2003. "The Year of the Dee, 2003", it has a strange, prophetic ring to it. The next few days holds our destiny. I’ve seen it come unstuck before, that’s why one small part of me fails to believe it could be happening at last. But something about this Dundee team gives me hope. Their youth and bravado, flair and self belief, not even sure what it is. But there’s a sense that they have something about them that past teams have failed to produce.
Wednesday night is the key to unlocking the path to glory. I’m ready for the Pepsi Max once more, giddy and full of expectancy. This time I pray the Gods are with us for once.
FORM RATING: (marks out of 10)
GOAL: JULIAN SPERONI – Early in the game I thought he looked nervous and not coming off his line as he usually does. But his save from Hartson, his only real save of the game, was magnificent. 7
RIGHT BACK: DAVE MACKAY – Had moments of panic and indecision and a few stray passes. But he was excellent in the second half, behind a lot of exciting moves down the right side. 7
CENTRAL DEFENCE: LEE WILKIE – As commanding a performance as any he’s turned on this season. Laarson in his hipper, some amazing runs from his own box to send us on the attack. This was Lee at his amazing best. 10
CENTRAL DEFENCE: LEE MAIR – Must admit I was concerned at Lee replacing Zurab. This kid’s continuing to mature, though, and he was big enough to stand up to Hartson and despite moments of rashness he came through this with merit. 7
LEFT BACK: JONAY HERNANDEZ – After what was a most unsteady start to the game he got his act in order and came onto a very fine game, marking both Sylla, then Jamie Smith out of the game. 9
MIDFIELD: BARRY SMITH – One mistake first half that could have cost us dearly. That apart a tireless performance of Captaincy at it’s best. If any player wears his dark blue heart on his sleeve it’s the long serving Skipper. 9
MIDFIELD: GIORGI NEMSADZE – For spells he seemed out of the game, but when he came to life in pockets of sheer brilliance he transformed defence into attack with a swivel of the hips and a delightful pin point pass. Right at the end he was still setting up attacks. Entertainer supreme. 10 (My Man of the Match).
MIDFIELD: GAVIN RAE – Found it hard going in the first half but came onto a fine second, and only a great save by Broto kept out his rocket shot late in the game. Some great runs deep into Celtic territory. 8
STRIKER: STEVIE LOVELL – Never stopped working from the start until his being replaced late on. Did have one shot well saved by Broto and some runs at pace at the heart of the Tic defence. Has the heart of a lion. 8
STRIKER: MARK BURCHILL – Lying just behind the front pair he struck to perfection in the 17th minute. This could be just the first of quite a few goals for Mark from now until the end of the season. 8
STRIKER: FABIAN CABALLERO – Whenever Fab was on the ball there were usually 2, sometimes 3, Celtic players swarming all over him. Some amazing skills, none better than the run leading to our goal. A God gifted talent. 10
SUB: NACHO NOVO – The roar that greeted Nacho’s arrival had hardly hushed when it took a desperate tackle to prevent his scoring the winning goal for Dundee. His ball winning, hustling and all round aggressiveness for such a wee guy is awesome. 8
SUB: STEVEN MILNE – Could have been the most inspired of substitutions. Twice Steven had chances, an intelligent chip just off target, then the injury time shot superbly saved by Broto. How he would have deserved it. Quite superb when he came on late in the match. 8
SUB: GARRY BRADY – Not really on long enough to give a mark. Perhaps JD had decided a draw was the result and Gary went on to shore up the midfield. As it turned out we almost sneaked it in the dying minutes.