Preview
After a disappointing loss against St. Johnstone, Dundee are due to host Ladbrokes Premiership leaders Celtic at the Dens Park tomorrow who are back from a draw in the Old Firm Derby against their arch rivals Rangers. While the hosts are undergoing another mediocre season as they are placed 8th on the league chart with 30 points from 28 league outings, the visiting side are running away with the top-flight title, having collected 80 points so far in as many games as the home team.
It is anticipated to be a one-sided affair, for the statistics are heavily against Dundee. The Dark Blues haven’t won any of their last 28 meetings with Celtic but then, they do have the potential to cause an upset. The two clubs have met twice earlier this campaign and of course, Celtic had the last laugh in both of them.
Team News
Two centre-backs in the form of James McPake and Julen Etxabeguren shall be absent this weekend for Dundee, with the former out with a fractured kneecap and the latter suffering from Achilles tendon rupture.
Celtic would still be without the Australian international Tom Rogic owing to his malleolar injury and Dorus de Vries due to his foot injury and is set to be sidelined for a notable period. They might also have to find a replacement for Nir Button who was substituted during last weekend’s clash against the Teddy Bears due to his injury.
Predicted Line-Ups
Dundee: Bain; Kerr, O’Dea, Gadzhalov, Holt; Wighton, O’Hara, McGowan, Vincent; Haber, Ojamaa.
Celtic: Gordon; Lustig, Simunovic, Sviatchenko, Tierney; McGregor, Brown; Forrest, Armstrong, Sinclair; Dembele.
Key Battles
To a huge extent, the result of the game between these two sides could hinge on the manner in which Paul Hartley’s no. 1 goalkeeper Scott Bain would fare against Celtic’s sensational goal-getting youngster Moussa Dembele.
The clinical Frenchman will test the 25-year-old stopper time and again and the Scot has a huge outing ahead of him.
Marcus Haber will have to penetrate the absolutely resilient defence of the Hoops and the Canadian will have to lock his swords with Erik Sviatchenko, beat the centre-back and try to make it hard for the visiting side’s goalie Craig Gordon.
Craig Wighton and Kiernan Tierney’s clash is seemingly likely to be another heated battle of two starlets. With Tierney to be slotted in the left-back slot and Wighton on the right wing for Celtic and Dundee, respectively, how these two 19-year-olds clash against one another would be intriguing to witness.
