Martin O’Neill closed the gap on Scottish Premier League leaders Hearts as he gave Celtic a late win.
Daizen Maeda’s brave 11th-minute header proved enough to give O’Neill a 1-0 win over Dundee in his farewell match before making way for Wilfried Nancy, whose appointment was confirmed less than an hour before kick-off.
It was O’Neill’s seventh win in eight matches since returning to Celtic Park 20 years after his first spell ended.
Celtic were eight points adrift of Hearts when O’Neill and Sean Maloney were appointed on interim duties following the sudden departure of Brendan Rodgers at the end of October.
The 73-year-old leaves with Celtic now trailing the league leaders on goal difference with a game in hand.
Celtic’s Kasper Schmeichel (left) and Martin O’Neill at full-time after Celtic beat Dundee
O’Neill’s players could have given their manager a less stressful swan song, but they could not continue their flying start and Dundee caused some nervous moments for the home support.
That included a sparsely packed standing area with the bottom six rows blocked following the extended and indefinite ban handed down to the Green Brigade on Tuesday.
Anti-board chants echoed along with tributes to O’Neill as a reminder that Nancy inherits a disunited club despite the platform to challenge in the league and Europa League, as well as a Premier Sports Cup final to look forward to
his third match. His first two came against Hearts and Roma.
Celtic were quickly in front, with Maeda and Reo Hatate threatening from long range before breaking through.
Hyun-Jun Young continued his rejuvenation under O’Neill by saving John McCracken after Hatate’s through ball and Maeda headed home before Luke Graham headed in a powerful collision.
Celtic’s Daizen Maeda scores to make it 1-0 against Dundee (Photo: Craig Williamson / SNS Group)
Celtic played with 10 men for several minutes before the Japan striker re-emerged from the tunnel with a bandage and a black eye.
Celtic continued to press and Arne Engels and Young had chances before Marcelo Saraki forced a good save. The Uruguayan left-back soon left with what looked like a hamstring injury again, and Kieran Tierney was straight
replacement.
There was one scare in the first half for Celtic when Simon Murray hit the bar after a short Liam Scales header. The offside flag was raised after Cameron Congreve’s follow-up was saved by Kasper Schmeichel.
Celtic also started the second half well. Maeda couldn’t direct the jump on goal after Luke McCowan’s attempt, and Hatate saved the shot after some impressive football.
Dundee began to threaten midway through the half. Substitute Ashley Hay was released with a long ball, parried Scales’ attempt to bring him down and tried his luck from an ambitious corner. Schmeichel blocked his weak effort.
Finlay Robertson then tried his luck from 50 yards after Schmeichel came out of his box and cleared, but the keeper raced back to save, comfortably in the end.
Dundee kept up the pressure until Maeda hit the post in stoppage time, before the full-time whistle sparked chants of “Martin O’Neill” around Celtic Park.