Celtic started well and Jon McCracken make two good saves in the first five minutes, Dundee came into the game with some nice attacking football but the moves missed the killer touch.
Just past half way mark of the half Cetic should have scored but Hatate knocked his effort just wide of the goal. The Dee responded with their best move of the first half, moving the ball smoothly through the Celtic half and out to the left wing. Owen Dodgson whipped over a dangerous cross and Jordan McGhee couldn’t make contact with his attempted header; Amadou Bakayoko failed to make a clean connection with his volley at the far post, allowing Hart an easy save.
But then Forrest scored with a fine finish which gave McCracken no chance as he shot home the ball being right in the corner.
For the rest of the half both teams had moved but either keeper were tested and it was still close score wise for the dark blues.
Second half and Dundee stepped up their game and forced Celtic to defend, the best chance came from a fine inswinging corner by Dodgson which found Mo Sylla six yards out, but the midfielder headed narrowly wide. McGhee found space at another Dodgson corner but sent his header straight at Hart.
But after this the defence got in a wee muddle and Forrest scored the second goal for the visitors, but at least Dundee came out and with Dundee put on Fin Robertson and Dara Costelloe for Malachi Boateng and Scott Tiffoney as they tried to dig their way back into the game. Hatate almost put the match beyond Dundee’s reach but he shot against the post from 18 yards after lovely footwork to make space.
A minute later Dundee pulled a goal back to make the last 20 minutes very interesting. The Celtic defence couldn’t clear Dodgson’s corner and Antonio Portales shot from 12 yards deflected off Adam Idah to leave Hart helpless. It was the Mexican defender’s first goal for the Dee, so there’s no chance of it going down as an own goal!
Aaron Donnelly came on for Josh Mulligan, with the Dee switching to three at the back for a spell with a front two in Costelloe and Bakayoko. A further striker, Michael Mellon, replaced Owen Dodgson for the last 10 minutes of play.
Dundee pushed for an equalizer with real intent, and were unlucky not to get a draw, even Hart in the Celtic goal got booked for time wasting.
Dundee: McCracken, McGhee, Portales, Lamie, Dodgson (Mellon 86), Sylla, Mulligan (Donnelly 75), Boateng (Robertson 68), McCowan, Tiffoney (Costelloe 68), Bakayoko. Unused Subs: Sharp (gk), Astley, Main, Robinson, Howley.
Referee: John Beaton.
Att: 9,120.
