Celtic v Dundee: Hoops go joint top of Premiership with win in Martin O'Neill's final game

Celtic have defeated Dundee 1-0 to move joint top of the Premiership in Martin O’Neill’s last game in the dugout.

Daizen Maeda opened the scoring with a brave first-half header that led to a clash with a defender and left the Japan forward sporting a black eye for the rest of the game.

Celtic dominated most of the game after that, but without creating much in the way of gilt-edged chances as Dundee held firm and looked to hit on the counter.

But, despite some nervy moments near the end, it was the home team that took the victory which puts them joint on points with league leaders Hearts, who drew 1-1 with Kilmarnock.

Derek McInnes’ side now lead the pack by just three goals, despite being eight points clear when O’Neill arrived at Celtic Park.

Celtic were quickly on the front foot and Maeda and Reo Hatate threatened from long range before the breakthrough.

Yang Hyun-jun continued his rejuvenation under O’Neill by forcing a save from Jon McCracken after a lofted pass from Hatate and Maeda headed home the rebound before being caught by the head of Luke Graham in a hefty collision.

Celtic played with 10 men for several minutes before the Japan forward re-emerged from the tunnel sporting a bandage and a black eye.

Celtic continued to press and Arne Engels and Yang had chances before Marcelo Saracchi forced a good save. The Uruguayan left-back soon went off with what looked like a recurrence of a hamstring injury, with Kieran Tierney a straight replacement.

There was one first-half scare for Celtic when Simon Murray hit the bar after Liam Scales’ short headed pass back. The offside flag went up after Kasper Schmeichel saved Cameron Congreve’s follow-up.

Celtic also started the second half well. Maeda could not steer a rebound on target following Luke McCowan’s effort and Hatate saw a shot saved after some impressive football.

Dundee began to threaten midway through the half. Substitute Ashley Hay was released by a long ball, shrugged off Scales’ attempt to bring him down and tried his luck from an ambitious angle. Schmeichel blocked his weak effort.

Finlay Robertson then tried his luck from 50 yards after Schmeichel came out of his box and sliced a clearance but the goalkeeper raced back to save, comfortably in the end.

Dundee kept the pressure on until Maeda hit the post on a stoppage-time breakaway, before the full-time whistle prompted chants of “Martin O’Neill” around Celtic Park.

O’Neill revealed earlier in the week that Wednesday night’s game would be his last in a successful interim spell since stepping in on the day Brendan Rodgers departed the club in October.

He has overseen a mini-revival with the Hoops, dramatically cutting the deficit to Hearts with a 100% winning record in the league, as well as reaching the Premier Sports Cup final and recording an impressive victory away to Feyenoord in the Europa League.

Celtic confirmed the visit of Dundee would be O’Neill’s last in the dugout when they announced the arrival of Wilfried Nancy less an hour before kick off.