Celtic have survived a strong finish from Dundee to secure a 2-1 win at Dens Park in the Scottish Premiership this evening, extending their lead at the top of the table to eight points.
Dundee threatened early on as Jason Denayer was forced to turn the ball behind for a corner, but Craig Gordon was ready to claim the ball as Paul McGinn curled it into the box.
Stuart Armstrong soon started to cause problems down the other end, crossing the ball in for Gary Mackay-Steven to volley just high, while Virgil van Dijk could not head in from another delivery into the box from the midfielder.
Scott Bain continued to come under pressure in the home goal as Efe Ambrose fired the ball in from out wide, leaving the keeper to fumble the ball into the path of James Forrest, who could not reach it in time, while having to parry clear moments later.
The visitors finally opened the scoring with just over half an hour played as Armstrong delivered the ball into the box from a free kick, leaving Van Dijk to flick it on for Mackay-Steven to smash in from close range.
James McPake was on the attack early in the second half as Dundee looked to get back on level terms, but the captain's shot was comfortably saved by Gordon.
Celtic soon started to dominate the match again, with Denayer forcing a save from Bain from a corner, before the keeper turned a Leigh Griffiths effort behind following a Forrest cross.
Ronny Deila's side doubled their lead just after the hour mark when Van Dijk lined up a free kick after McPake brought Armstrong down, leaving the Dutchman to curl the ball over the wall and into the top corner.
Greg Stewart attempted to get Dundee back in the match with a long-range strike, but his 25-yard effort finished well off target following a quick counter-attack.
Dundee continued to see more of the ball, allowing William Dyer to look for Paul Heffernan with a cross from out wide, but Gordon came off his line to collect.
The hosts won a free kick inside the final 10 minutes in a dangerous position, but Van Dijk was back to make the block as Luka Tankulic found himself in space in the box, hitting it on the turn.
Dundee did give themselves some late hope when they cleared a Celtic free kick before breaking down the end, setting up James McAlister to slot the ball into the bottom corner after a pull-back from McGinn, but they were unable to find an equaliser in stoppage time.
The result puts Celtic eight points clear of second-placed Aberdeen, while Dundee stay sixth.
Sian Cowper
