SPL SUNDAY OCTOBER 30th

Dundee United 2

Celtic 4

1:0 Sutton 4 o.g.
1:1 Hartrson 17
1:2 Sutton 28
2:2 Samuel 30
2:3 Archibald 32 o.g.
2:4 Pearson 88

Att:11,942

MIB: Alan Freeland

Celtic: Boruc Telfer Balde McManus Camara Maloney Petrov Lennon Nakamura Hartson
subs
Beattie for Hartson 75
Pearson for Beattie 83
McGeady for Maloney 90

A real 'rammy' at Tannadice, with all the elements of a classic encounter, even if not one for the purists.

The game got off to a literal flyer when Sutton bulleted a header into his own net from a corner, reminiscent of his goal against Blackburn. This was a worthy match winner had it been into the opposition net. Whatever inspired him to go for it is left to the Poirots among us to find out.

Celtic's response took 10 minutes to materialise, when Big John found the net with a strike that the keeper could only assist into the net.

After another 10 it all looked cut and dried, as Sutton made amends for his earlier aberration by flicking a Maloney drive beyond the keeper for Celtic's second.

This seemed to relax the Sieve and allowed their bowels to empty, because almost immediately the excellent Samuel slipped Balde and McManus to drive one in at Boruc's near post. It was 2-2 ; brown pants and, so it seemed, game on. All this in only the first half hour! Like a kids game in the schoolyard it was a goal with every attack.

Next up was Archibald, who tried to deny Bobo connecting with a cross ball and ended up putting it into his own goal. 3-2 Celtic.

The second period failed to delivery the same battery of goals, but showed up some woeful finishing, as Celtic battered away at the Arabs' box and the Sieve squirmed around every United attack.

The fourth and final goal in this pulsating game came from the resurgent Stephen Pearson, a late sub, but worth his inclusion. Pearson's fresh legs allowed him to meet a ball at the back post and slide it into the net for a well earned 3 points.

This game may have frayed the nerves, but we are holding our own and showing some much needed mettle.