Celtic travelled to Dundee United looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the new league campaign.
The game remained goalless for much of the duration, but a moment of magic from Anthony Stokes three minutes from time secured the points for the Scottish champions.
The Republic of Ireland striker curled an 87th-minute free kick in off the post, leaving United goalkeeper Radosław Cierzniak stranded.
Find out how all the action unfolded with our minute-by-minute text commentary below.
Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Scottish Premiership showdown between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Park. There's half an hour to go until kickoff, but we'll have build-up and team news for you before then.
Both starting XIs coming up...
CELTIC: Forster, Lustig, Ambrose, Van Dijk, Izaguirre, Matthews, Brown, Ledley, Boerrigter, Commons, Stokes
DUNDEE UNITED: Cierzniak, Watson, Dillon, Gunning, Robertson, Armstrong, Rankin, Paton, Ciftci, Goodwillie, Mackay-Steven
Few surprises among those starting XIs. United will have their work cut out keeping Kris Commons and Anthony Stokes at bay. They're both in good goalscoring form, but it usually takes something special to beat Terrors goalkeeper Radosław Cierzniak.
Neil Lennon's side go into this one on a high after qualifying for the Champions League midweek by overturning a 2-0 first-leg deficit against Shakhtyor Karaganda. Find out how they pulled that off in our full match report here.
The Hoops were drawn in a group of death alongside AC Milan, Barcelona and Ajax in Group H. We wish them the very best of luck in those ties.
It should be an interesting match this afternoon. Celtic are unbeaten in the league, but almost came undone to leaders Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Parkhead last weekend, proving they are indeed fallible on the domestic front.
Jackie McNamarma's team made a slow start to the new campaign, but recent results suggest that they are now up and running. They thumped St Johnstone 4-0 last weekend and saw off Dumbarton in the League Cup midweek.
A significant piece of Celtic news broke earlier today. The Hoops have signed Finnish forward Teemu Pukki from Schalke 04 on a four-year contract. You can read more about that here.
A win for United today would actually see them leapfrog Celtic, potentially moving them as high as second place in the table. However, the champions would still have a game in hand over the teams around them. You can see how they stand ahead of kickoff here.
Celtic are of course the clear favourites today, and I think their success in Europe midweek will spur them on to victory at Tannadice. My money is on 2-0 to Celtic.
United have conceded a whopping 18 goals in their last four matches against Celtic. A troubling statistic for them, but they did push the Hoops all the way in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final in April.
The players are heading out onto the pitch at Tannadice and kickoff is just moments away. Both sides are going into this one off the back of some impressive results, so it should be a good contest.
Celtic's players come together for their famous pre-match huddle. Looks like we are running a few minutes behind schedule here.
KICKOFF: We are under way here at Tannadice.
SHOT! A wonderfully precise ball over the top from Commons lands at the feet of Lustig, who beats the offside trap, but sees his shot cannon into an orange shirt and deflect away from the danger area.
CHANCE! The Hoops continue to pile on the early pressure as Van Dijk surges forward from the back, cutting through the United defence like a hot knife through butter. He shoots over the bar from a tight angle.
It has been a confident start from Celtic, but United are starting to get into the game. A good spell of possession from them ends as Goodwillie's header fails to properly connect with a cross from Watson.
United through they had carved out a goalscoring opportunity there, but the linesman rules that Armstrong ran the ball over the line for a Celtic throw. The Terrors man is protesting against that decision, but I think it was the right call.
CHANCE! Stokes picks out Izaguirre wide of the United penalty area, and the Honduran blasts one across the face of goal, forcing Cierzniak to palm the ball away. I'm not sure if that was a cross of a shot, but the United keeper's touch was vital.
McNamara does not look happy with the way his side have started the game, and who can blame him? They have spend much of it on the back foot.
Another half-chance falls Celtic's way as Brown's long ball almost finds Izaguirre in front of goal, but Cierzniak rushes out and collects without too much difficulty.
United attempt to press the Celtic back line as Goodwille gains possession in the final third, but the former Blackburn man finds himself up there without any support and is quickly closed down. Celtic win a corner at the other end moments later, only to squander it.
SHOT! Boerrigter's cross from wide on the right is headed clear, but Stokes takes it down on his chest and unleashes a vicious volley. Fantastic technique from the Celtic man, but it sails wide of the right post.
SHOT! Celtic are bombarding the United goal now. The ball finds it way to the feet of Van Dijk on the edge of the box, and he ties for the top corner, finding the stand instead. He got plenty of power behind that, but failed to trouble Cierzniak.
Lennon's side more than deserve a goal here having dominated possession and created plenty of goalscoring opportunities. It looks like it will only be a matter of time before United cave under this pressure.
Robertson gains possession from Ciftci in the Celtic box, firing wide from a tight angle. I think he caved under pressure from his marker there, but at least United are offering some resistance now.
CHANCE! Much better from United! They get their first chance on target as Armstrong's cross from wide on the left finds the head of Goodwillie, who gets some power behind his effort but directs it straight at Forster.
An Izaguirre cross from a similar position at the other end is smothered by Cierzniak. United regain possession and are holding onto the ball much better now. All-round improvement from them. They are fortunate to still be level, but are giving Celtic a game now.
SHOT! Mackay-Steven goes down under the challenge of Brown just outside the Celtic area, giving United a free kick in a dangerous position. Ciftci steps up and shoots, forcing Forster to save to his right. A great effort from him!
I think Celtic have let the frustration get to them a little bit. They feel they should be in front from the way they played in the opening stages, but have let United back into the game now.
Matthews falls over the sponsorship boarding chasing a through ball from Stokes, but gets up unscathed. Celtic are holding the ball well into the middle of the park, but United have tightened up at the back and aren't allowing them to create any clear-cut chances.
Brown gives the ball away, allowing Watson to cut inside the area, but the Hoops captain back pedals and recovers, intercepting the United player's cut back and clearing his lines.
More pressure from United as they force Celtic onto the back foot, but the attack breaks down as the whistle sounds for a foul by Goodwillie. Celtic not looking particularly comfortable at the moment.
Ciftci attempts to play a long ball towards Mackay-Steven, but Izaguirre gets up high and heads the ball back to his goalkeeper. We are into the final five minutes of the first half and I think United will be pleased with the scoreline.
Nice piece of trickery from Commons along the left flank there. He plays a long cross that clears the United penalty area, but finds the feet of Brown. However, the Celtic captain is dispossessed and the chances goes begging.
HALF TIME: Dundee United 0-0 Celtic
We are goalless here at Tannadice. I think the hosts will be most pleased with the scoreline considering they went into the match as clear underdogs, but Celtic are the ones yet to have a shot on target.
The champions made a bight start to the afternoon, forcing their opponents on the back foot for lengthy spells, but everything they created has missed the target.
United haven't created a lot to write him about. Their best opportunity fell to David Goodwillie in the 24th minute. He had plenty of time to place his header from Stuart Armstrong, but directed it straight at Fraser Forster in the Celtic goal.
That 0-0 scoreline sets us up for an interesting second half. The Hoops will be looking to attack as I'm sure they don't want to give Cally Thistle the chance to go clear at the top of the table, while United will no doubt feel they are in with a shot at an upset here.
KICK OFF: United get the second half under way. They are just 45 minutes away from an impressive point, or perhaps better.
Matthews wins a corner for Celtic as Robertson slides and and wins the ball from him, putting it behind in the process. The corner is played short to the feet of Commons, who shoots, but sees his effort fall into the arms of Cierzniak.
Mackay-Steven wins a free kick after being brought down by Lustig. Paton steps up to take it, but plays it too long. The ball bounces out for a Celtic goalkick.
Commons displays a neat pieces of skill, beating his marker with a deft turn inside the box. He plays a low pass across the face of goal, but Gunning gets back and makes a vital interception, clearing the danger.
Mackay-Steven presses forward and goes down in the midst of a sea of bodies. He appeals for a free kick, but the referee awards a goalkick to Celtic, which was the right call from where I am sitting.
There is a collision between Gunning and Lustig as both players go for the same ball. It was Gunning who was late with the challenge, but both players are down and in some discomfort. I'm not sure if Lustig will be able to continue.
Gavin Gunning is back on his feet, but Lustig is being taken off the field by stretcher. It was a reckless challenge by the United man that forces Neil Lennon to make a change. He brings on Portuguese forward Balde in his place.
Celtic go straight back on the attack after the restart. Commons surges forward, but is forced off the ball by Robertson. United scramble the ball away.
It hasn't been a great advert for the game up in Scotland today. The second half has begun in scrappy fashion, with few attacks to speak of. Armstrong has just swung a free kick into the Celtic box, which Forster claimed without too much effort.
Little to report in the last few minutes, with neither side venturing into the final third. I think a single goal will do it for either side. It's a question of who is willing to dig deepest.
Stokes thumps a free kick against the United wall. Meanwhile, Mackay-Steven is being assessed on the touchline after taking a knock. United are preparing to bring on a substitute, but are waiting to see whether Mackay-Steven is fit to continue first.
Mackay-Steven heads back onto the pitch, wincing in pain as he goes. Elsewhere, Celtic have assessed Lustig's injury and decided that he does not need hospital treatment, news that will come as a relief for Hoops fans.
Dundee United have made a change, bringing off David Goodwille in place of young striker Ryan Guald. The former Blackburn Rovers man has struggled to recapture his good form of past seasons.
CHANCE! A brilliant cross from Robertson causes havoc in the Celtic box as Forster fails to reach it. Ciftci and Armstrong were both there in the box, but neither could reach it. That was a let-off for the Hoops!
I'm not sure what to make of McNamara's decision to replace Goodwillie with Gauld. It means they have a youngster playing as a lone striker. Perhaps they are content with a draw?
While 0-0 would be a decent result for the Terrors, there were times in this game were they looked capable of pulling off a shock, although both teams have lacked a cutting edge all afternoon in truth.
Gauld unleashes Mackay-Steven in the final third, and he is brought down by Van Dijk right on the edge of the Celtic box. Gauld steps up to take it himself, but drives his shot into the wall.
United are around 10 minutes away from a decent point, although expect a good few minutes of stoppage time due to that injury to Lustig.
CHANCE! Balde does well to get up high and meet Commons's corner, but his effort goes wide. Celtic make a change before the action restarts, bringing on Rogic for Boerrigter.
CHANCE! Van Dijk plays a long ball to Stokes, who goes on a mazy run into the box and goes down under pressure from two United players. The loose ball falls to Commons, who shoots from inside the box, firing wide of the mark.
Celtic are applying some pressure in these dying stages. United have a late free kick to defend after Stokes went down right on the edge of the box...
GOAL! Dundee United 0-1 Celtic (Stokes)
Late drama here at Tannadice as Stokes comes up with the goods three minutes from the end! It was a wonderful free kick from the Hoops striker, sailing over the wall and going in off the post. A moment of magic worthy of winning any game.
Commons fires wide in the dying stages, failing to test Cierzniak. The fourth official has indicated that there will be five minutes of stoppage time to play.
Celtic have not been at their best today, but that strike from Stokes was absolutely top drawer. They are starting to make a habit of leaving it late, though they still have some work to do here.
FULL TIME: Dundee United 0-1 Celtic
It took a superb free kick from Anthony Stokes to see off Dundee United here at Tannadice. The result sees the Hoops move onto 10 points, level with league leaders Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
That's all from me today. Many thanks for joining Sports Mole for this Scottish Premiership clash.
Written by
Mark Langshaw
Mark Langshaw
