Dundeevs.Celtic

The Dees will feel confident after managing a 1-1 draw on January 9 against league giants Rangers, but the Bhoys are on a three-game winning run and will be looking to make it four in a row in midweek.

Match preview

Three points behind sixth-placed Hibernian with a game in hand, Tony Docherty's Dundee are currently eighth in the Scottish Premiership, having picked up 26 points from their 22 games so far.

The Dees will be focused on securing a place in the top half with 11 matches to play until the league splits for its second phase, though they face a tough test this week against the top flight's most dominant team.

Despite the fact that a 1-1 draw with Rangers would normally be considered a good result for Docherty's side, this week's hosts had a second goal ruled out due to Simon Murray being offside and gave up the early lead that Oluwaseun Adewumi had carved out for them, and so they may be disappointed to have only walked away with one point last time out.

However, that draw with the Gers followed a 3-1 victory over St Johnstone, and meant that Dundee had gone unbeaten in consecutive games for the first time in over a month.

Should the Dees take all three points on Tuesday, then their five-game form record of three wins, one draw and one loss would represent their joint-best period this campaign, mirroring the stretch between early November and early December when they earned 10 points - almost 40% of their season total.

Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers's Celtic are top of the table with an impressive 59 points from their 22 games to date, and considering that the Bhoys are already 15 points ahead of Rangers while only failing to win three times this term, it would be fair to say that they are running away with the title.

Last time out, Rodgers's side beat Ross County 4-1 on the road, though the scoreline did not reflect the nature of what was a close game after the hosts scored their 60th-minute equaliser from the penalty spot.

After the clash, the boss remarked that his team showed great 'mentality and resilience' to find the three goals that gave them all three points beyond the 80-minute mark.

Celtic have now won five of their last six Scottish Premiership fixtures, and have in fact lost just once in the league this season, a disappointing 3-0 defeat at the hands of bitter rivals Rangers on January 2.

Additionally, the Bhoys have kept a clean sheet in five of their last seven matches - scoring 17 goals in the process - and they will feel confident of securing another win on Tuesday to potentially extend their lead at the top of the table to 18 points.

Dundee Scottish Premiership form:

L

L

W

L

W

D

Celtic Scottish Premiership form:

W

W

L

W

W

W

Team News

Dundee manager Docherty could have a healthy squad to choose from in midweek, but midfielder Cesar Garza is a doubt after he was taken off with an injury against Rangers.

If he is unavailable, then Sammy Braybrooke could assume his spot in the XI given he was substituted on in his place last time out.

As for Celtic, they will be without speedster James Forrest this week, though he is expected to make a return later this month from a foot injury.

In his absence, boss Rodgers is likely to start Yang Hyun-Jun and Saturday's double goalscorer, Kyogo Furuhashi, out wide to support striker Adam Idah in attack.

Elsewhere, midfielder Odin Thiago Holm remains unavailable as he recovers from a calf injury that has kept him out since September, and a trio of Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate and Arne Engels are set to patrol the middle of the park on Tuesday.

Dundee possible starting lineup:

Carson; Astley, Robertson, Donnelly; Mulligan, Sylla, Garza, Ingram; Tiffoney, Adewumi, Murray

Celtic possible starting lineup:

Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Valle; McGregor, Furuhashi, Engels, Hatate, Yang; Idah

We say: Dundee 1-3 Celtic

Despite the fact that Dundee won last time out and are close to equalling their best form of the season, it is difficult to overlook Celtic's strength both offensively and defensively.

Written by

Anthony Nolan

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