SPL Sunday April 6th

Dundee 1

Celtic 1

0:1 Thompson (10); 1:1 Burchill (20)

Att: 9,013

MIB: Willie Young

Celtic: Broto; Mjallby, Balde, Crainey; Sylla (Smith 52), Lambert, Lennon, Petrov, Thompson; Larsson, Hartson

'My Way' and Frank Sinatra singing '..and now the end is near ' resouded around a depressing Dens Park as a deflated Celtic looked to be running on empty in the title race finish. This game saw Celtic squirm, rather than struggle, through 90 minutes of torment for the sake of a solitary point. Were it not for stand-in 'keeper Broto our league hopes would have been left drifting down the Tay.

The Hoops flattered to deceive in the first ten minutes when Thompson headed past Speroni from close range, after a Hartson knock-on from a Sylla cross. Actually, this was to be Momo's only real contribution of the afternoon, and he soon disappeared on the flanks, eventually to be replaced by an equally ineffectual Jamie Smith.

Celtic could even have made it two after a splendid move put Petrov in the clear and behind the keeper. With an open goal beckoning from four yards out, he stumbled over the ball and the chance was lost. Even an Iraqi minister for information could not have pulled this one off if he had told you Stan would miss. It definitely fell into the van Vossen category.

It set the seal on the remainder of proceedings. With Dundee players telling Stan he should have been the Captain on the Titanic, Celtic's Shock and Awe tactics only served to lift the home side who proceeded to level. The Sieve - in a state of shock at Stan's howler and in awe at the sight of the mangy fur on Cabellero's face - allowed him to waltz in on goal and cut back for Burchill to slot one by Broto.

The second half was worse, with only a Hartson drive palmed away by Speroni worthy of note. Celtic were all huff and no puff. It was Dundee who looked more likely to score and only some great stops by Broto from Lovell, kept us in it. At the death, it was clean pants all round as Novo almost grabbed the points for the home side. One on one with Broto, the Celtic keeper stood up well and got a touch on the ball to keep it out of the net.

The players' minds are clearly on Europe, but today they looked bereft of ideas and seemed to lack energy. OFM must be on the Valium if he can keep calm after this showing against inferior opposition. Another show like this and the title will be heading south.