Celtic 2-0 Dundee: Alistair Johnston's instant impact sees league leaders beyond stubborn Dundee at Parkhead

Report as second-half goals from Alistair Johnston and Arne Engels give Celtic 2-0 win over stubborn Dundee to keep them top of Scottish Premiership; Brendan Rodgers made six changes to starting line-up but brought on three new players before the hour mark

Wednesday 30 October 2024 23:58, UK

Celtic full-back Alistair Johnston came off the bench to break Dundee's resistance with his second goal in four days in a 2-0 win at Parkhead.

Johnston netted the opener from close range on the hour mark, three minutes after being called into action, and Arne Engels scored from the spot seven minutes afterwards to keep the champions top of the Scottish Premiership with a 2-0 win.

Dundee goalkeeper Jon McCracken, who was back in for the injured Trevor Carson, made impressive saves at the start of each half but the visitors generally limited Celtic's clear-cut chances.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers made six changes but two of the players coming in were established defenders Greg Taylor and Cameron Carter-Vickers, who partnered Auston Trusty, while record-signing Engels returned amid the ongoing absence of Callum McGregor.

The much-changed league leaders struggled to create real chances in the first half, with only one Kyogo Furuhashi effort testing McCracken.

But the 55th-minute triple introduction of Johnston, Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda sparked them into life, with Hyun-Jun Yang's low cross turned in by the former moments later.

That settled any nerves before a soft penalty gave Celtic the kind of cushion they would never give up. Kyogo took a tumble in the box under Antonio Portales' tug, and Engels stepped up from the spot to seal the hosts' victory.

Rodgers: Early goal would've changed everything

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers:

"It's one of those ones where you can be more comfortable in the game if you get those early goals with two massive chances in that first period of the game.

"But it was job done. We controlled the game, created chances, should have had more goals and didn't concede. So we have to be happy."

Docherty unhappy with 'soft' penalty

Dundee manager Tony Docherty:

"I thought the boys deserved a clean sheet for the amount of work they put in out of possession.

"I think the penalty is really soft. I think there's a foul that leads up to it on Mo Sylla. I don't know why they don't pick that up. I've seen it back."

What's coming up in the Scottish Premiership?