BBC SPORT | Football | Scot Prem | Celtic dump brave Dundee

Dundee 0-1 Celtic

Celtic remain one point behind league leaders Rangers after a narrow win at Dens Park.

A wonderful first half goal from Henrik Larsson was enough to seal maximum points but the visitors has ample opportunities to extend their lead.

Dundee battled gamely throughout but, for all their willing running and enthusiasm, rarely threatened to score.

Celtic were not in the irresistible form of last season and were uncertain in defence at times but were still a class apart from their opponents.

Celtic named the same side that thrashed FK Suduva 8-1 in midweek, while Dundee made two changes with the experienced duo of Giorgi Nemsadze and Juan Sara returning.

Celtic started brightly with the Dundee defence having all kinds of problems dealing with the pace and movement of the champions.

Gavin Rae keeps tabs on Henrik Larsson
Gavin Rae keeps an eye on Henrik Larsson
However, Celtic looked vulnerable at the back and the lively Nacho Novo made several promising breaks but could not apply a finishing touch.

Celtic took the lead in the 18th minute courtesy of a fabulous Henrik Larsson strike.

The Swede picked out Guppy in the box with a great cross-field ball after some good work by Petrov and Momo Sylla and collected a return pass before casually clipping an inch-perfect shot over Dundee keeper Julian Speroni.

Celtic continued to threaten as Sylla shot wide and Chris Sutton headed Guppy's free-kick straight at a grateful Speroni.

Stilian Petrov should have doubled the lead when he exchanged passes with Sutton on the edge of the box and found himself clean through, but screwed his shot past the post.

Dundee almost pulled themselves back on level terms just before the break when Joos Valgaeren headed Gavin Rae's pass into the path of Novo, but the Spaniard drove into the side-netting.

Celtic's dominance was more pronounced in the second period as Martin O'Neill's men went looking for another goal.

Speroni had to move swiftly to push away a header from Sutton which was bound for the bottom corner after a great run and cross from Guppy.

Petrov came close after 69 minutes but his cute lob from the edge of the penalty area hit the crossbar and Speroni was able to retrieve the ball.

Fabian Caballero gave the visitors a reminder of their slender lead when he flashed a dangerous shot wide of the post from 25 yards out.

Soon after arriving as a substitute John Hartson bundled his way through the Dundee defence but dragged his shot wide of the mark from a tight angle.

Dundee: Speroni, MacKay, Smith, Hutchinson (Lovell 79), Novo, Hernandez Santos, Rae, Nemsadze, Caballero, Sara, Wilkie.
Subs Not Used: Langfield, Milne, Mair, Brady.

Booked: Rae.

Celtic: Douglas, Valgaeren, Balde, Laursen, Sylla (Crainey 80), Lambert, Lennon, Petrov, Guppy, Larsson, Sutton (Hartson 74).
Subs Not Used: Gould, Fernandez, Maloney.

Booked: Lennon.

Attendance: 9,483
Referee: J Underhill