Home Bhoys Seek to Down Dees

Home Bhoys Seek to Down Dees
~~~~~~~~~~ Official TC Match Preview ~~~~~~~~~~



Former Dundee man, Luke McCowan marked his first Celtic start with a goal against Motherwell


Celtic Park, Glasgow
Wednesday, 30 October 2024
19.45 BST​

With the fixtures coming thick and fast, frontrunners Celtic return back home tomorrow evening, when they will take on Dundee, currently sitting in 8th place in the Premiership.

This will be the Bhoys' 4th game in just 11 days since the last International break and with another 3 in 10 days scheduled for after this, sp there is little room for rest, as they Hoops seek to keep their noses in front in the title race.

As such it is important that Brendan Rodgers continues to look to his squad, as he did at the weekend for the 3-0 win over Motherwell, in order to maintain the level of performance and to keep the momentum rolling, for this game and beyond.

The last time that Dundee visited Paradise back in February, the Hoops handed them a 7-1 thrashing. Considering the respective current form of these two sides, the Bhoys will be strong favourites to claim all 3 points once again, so long as they remain focused and avoid any sort of complacency.


James Forrest scored both goals in the 2-1 win when these sides last met, back in April

As for the visitors, Dundee have struggled to recapture the sort of form that carried them through 2023/24 and that helped secure a top half finish, last season. With just 1 win and 5 losses in their past 6 games overall, including the 2-1 defeat by St Johnstone on Saturday, no doubt manager Tony Docherty will be scratching his head, trying to find answers.

In recent weeks, Dundee appear to be coming increasingly close to turning a corner, only for the corner to suddenly be a little but further away.

In fact, the Taysiders have even found themselves in winning positions in all of their last 3 games. However, the fact that they have only ended victorious just once of those and enduring late heartache and defeat in the others is indicative of where their current troubles lie.

Simon Murray has scored 8 goals (3LG 5LC) since his rejoining the visitors over the summer from Ross County, but it is the transfer of Luke McCowan to Celtic that has perhaps been the most disruptive effect for them so far.

While one player can rarely be so singluarly momumental in determining results, there is evidence of the effect here that would suggest it is more than mere coincidence. Prior to McCowan's departure, Dundee had enjoyed an undefeated start to the season, but have managed just the one win amid a torrid run of 5 losses in the last 6 games since.

To their credit, finding the net has not been the Dark Blues' issue, with them having been held goalless just once in the League. But it's a different story at the other end of the park, where they have kept just one clean sheet, while conceding at least 2 goals in 7 of their 9 games to date.
t
Taking these current frailties into account and given the choice, a visit to Celtic Park is probably not what Docherty would have wanted next as he tries to find answers, while Celtic will be confident of securing a 9th win and maintaining their unbeaten start to the league campaign. ​

By the Numbers​

• Celtic have remained undefeated by the Dark Blues, home or away, since May 2001.

• The Bhoys have won the last 10 straight meetings between these sides.

• Dundee have conceded at least twice in 7 of their 9 League games so far, while recording just a single clean sheet.

Callum McGregor is unlikely to be risked ahead of the League Cup Semi-Final against Aberdeen

Team News

Brendan Rodgers was able to rotate some of his squad against Motherwell, and in the midst of such a heavy schedule of fixtures, there could be more of the same here, with Cameron Carter-Vickers and Greg Taylor once again available also.

Elsewhere, Callum McGregor, who felt a twinge at training and therefore 'no chances taken' at the weekend, is unlikely to be risked ahead of the trip to Hampden this coming weekend, while Adam Idah, who has been spotted with his foot in a moon boot as a result of Liam Gordon's horrendous challenge on Sunday, meaning the Irishman is also unlikely to be risked, even if he hasn't been ruled out entirely by Rodgers at this point.

As for the Dark Blues, midfielder Scott Fraser and defender Jordan McGhee will both be assessed to see if they can be considered available, while club captain Joe Shaughnessey, who has been out since April is making steady progress in his long awaited return, but he is not expected to be ready until early next month.

Referee: Ross Hardie

Hardie is one of the new referees that have been promoted this year, with tomorrow being just his 6th Premiership appointment. This will also be his first time officiating a game involving Celtic in any capacity.

Celtic's Overall Record
M:0 W:0 D:0 L:0

VAR: Matthew McDermid​

~~~~ Head to Head ~~~~

Overall
P: 258 W: 155 D: 60 L: 43​

Last 5 Meetings
W W W W W

~~~~ 2023/24 Form ~~~~ ​

Overall
W D D W L ~ L W L L L

SPFL
W D W W W ~ L W L L L​