Celtic 2, Dundee 1, Parkhead, Scottish Cup 5th Rd, 08-February-26

Dundee started with the same team which played St Mirren last week. On bench only Scott Wright made the bench from the new signings.

Dundee started well and attacked from the off, Celtic did step up a gear but Dundee handled that and it soon to fizz out. Jon McCracken made a couple of saves but all routine stuff. 

Dundee's Congreve and Yogane caused Celtic a lot of problems with their crosses and general wing play. 

Dundee came closest to opening the scoring late in the first half when Luke Graham me a Congreve corner with a volley. He didn’t connect cleanly and Ryan Astley’s header was cleared off the goal line.

Second half and Celtic made changes to their team, but it was Dundee took the lead with a magnificent goal after 49 minutes.

The Dark Blues broke forward and Congreve sucked in Celtic players as he drove in from the wing. He was stopped but the ball broke for Ethan Hamilton to surge past Callum McGregor and rocket a blistering 20 yard shot across Sinisalo into the top corner. Fantastic! How the travelling Dees loved that!

Celtic hit back but again Dundee were able to cope. Dundee came close to a decisive second goal in the 76th minute. Substitute Scott Wright had come on for Simon Murray and he cut a low cross back from the byline. The ball was only half cleared and Yogane’s shot took a deflection that beat Sinisalo but Tierney cleared off the line.

Celtic kept the pressure up and Dundee defended well and they made subs to freshen up the legs as the game headed towards injury time. 

But with the last kick of the ball in injury time Celtic broke away amd scored. 96+ minutes had gone. Dundee kicked off and the referee blew for full time. 

In extra time Celtic scored after 2 minutes to lead the cup-tie 2-1. Dundee pushed forward for the rest of extra time, with Celtic time wasting ect to run down the clock.

Must have been tough for the players today they gave everything by reports and l feel for all the DFC fans who made the game. I missed out due to work

Dundee: McCracken, Halliday, Astley, Graham (Ingram 109), Wright (Samuels 93), Hamilton. Congreve, (Reilly 93), Dhanda (Bevan 105), Cotterill (Jones 71), Yogane (Fin Robertson 80), Murray(c) (Wright 71). Subs: O’Hara (gk), Digby.

Referee: Ryan Lee

Att: 

Motherwell Game Off

Dundee's game v Motherwell at Dens Park has been called off after a pitch inspection. It was done at 14:30pm and it too well over a hour to make a final decision by the Referee. 

The amount of rain which has fallen over the last fews it very high, with news also Aberdeen's game is off as well.

For me a waste of a holiday from work. Just hope the rearranged game falls on a better week for my shifts.

Last Day Deals

Dundee were busy last day of the transfer deadline........

First up was the signing of Dutch defender Lewis Montsma on a six-month deal from Lincoln City with an option to extend. The transfer is subject to international clearance.

The 27-year-old has been at the Lincoln club since 2020 and has followed former Imp Ethan Hamilton’s journey to Dens Park. His youth career started at AFC Amsterdam, he then joined Heerenveen’s Academy, then spent a year with the youth set up at Cambuur before moving to FC Dordrect, his last club before joining Lincoln City.

Lewis will wear the number 14 for Dundee. 

Second was the signing of forward Scott Wright on a loan deal for the rest of the season from Birmingham City. The transfer is subject to international clearance.

Scott joins the club for the second time, after a stint on loan in the 2018/19 season, with three goals and four assists in his previous spell in Dark Blue.

And last was the signing of forward Aldahir Valenzuela on a loan deal from C.F. Monterrey till the summer of 2026, subject to international clearance. Aldahir signs as part of our strategic partnership with the Rayados.

The promising young forward spent a short time in Dundee over the summer as a trialist, the coaching staff identified him as an exciting prospect, before heading back to his home country. He has featured three times for the Monterrey first team, and scoring in a friendly against Real Betis in August 2024.

Aldahir will wear the number 38 for Dundee.

St Mirren 0, Dundee 0, SMISA Stadium, William Hill Premiership, 31-January-2025

Dundee made three changes from last week. Imari Samuels and Callum Jones switched to the bench and were replaced by Brad Halliday, for his debut, and Joel Cotterill who started for the first time. The third change was Simon Murray returning in the place of injured Ash Hay.

Dundee started well enough in the first tens minutes and were knocking the ball about well enough. But as the half grew on St Mirren looked more likely to score on the break. 

Dundee's best chance fell to Congreve at the back post , after the saints keeper dropped the ball. Butt Cameron put the ball wide. 

St Mirren should have scored on a break away the ball put to the back post but their no 5 some how missed the goal.

Both team played out the half mainly in a midfield battle, with very few action in the box.

Second half and the action did pick up after the restart, and it was St Mirren who started with more urgency. The first 10 minutes were spent in the Dee half. The Buddies created pressure, but no chances with the Dark Blue defence holding firm.

Congreve did well twice and put low crosses into the box but both were put out for corners. St Mirren were reduced to 10 men after Jake Young got sent off which looked a bad foul. 

Dundee had afew attacks after this but failed to make the saints keeper with any saves to make. 

Charlie Reilly and Joe Bevan came on for Tony Yogane and Cameron Congreve with 20 minutes to play and then Callum Jones replaced Joel Cotterill.

St Mirren had a couple of attacks near the end but Jon McCracken was not tested and made a couple of easy saves. 

The game came to an end and a draw was fair due to both teams unable to score. At least the gag between the sides stays the same. Livingston got beat by Motherwell, who visit Dens Park on Wednesday,

Dundee: McCracken, Halliday, Astley, Graham, Wright, Hamilton, Congreve (Bevan 73), Dhanda,  Cotterill (Jones 82), Yogane (Reilly 73), Murray (c). Unused Subs: O’Hara (gk), Ingram, Donnelly,  Digby, Fin Robertson, Samuels.

Referee: Nick Walsh.

Att: 6,461

Photos from St Mirren