O'Neill leaves Celtic on a high

By Alex O'Henley at Hampden Park

A first-half strike by Alan Thompson gave Celtic FC a narrow win over Dundee United FC in manager Martin O'Neill's final game in charge of the Parkhead club on Saturday.

Penalty chance
Having surrendered the Scottish Premier League title in dramatic circumstances last weekend, Celtic were determined to give the Irishman his seventh domestic trophy as a parting gift and they duly delivered the Scottish Cup, although they missed a host of chances, including a late penalty, to win by a more comfortable margin.

Thompson goal
O'Neill sent out the same team that lost 2-1 to Motherwell FC last weekend, while United welcomed back defender Paul Ritchie after recovering from a groin injury. Both sides took time to settle, but Celtic got off to the perfect start on ten minutes when they scored with their first real attempt on goal. Craig Bellamy, making what could be his last appearance for Celtic, broke down the right before being pulled down by Alan Archibald just outside the area. Thompson shaped to cross but instead fired in a low shot that took a deflection off Garry Kenneth and in.

Bellamy prominent
United responded with a couple of chances of their own and should have equalised when Jason Scotland delivered a low centre seven minutes later, but strike partner Stevie Crawford could not get on the end of it. Celtic started to reassert themselves at the other end with Bellamy prominent in their best attacking moves. Thompson was denied a second goal by a superb recovery tackle from Mark Wilson before Stanislav Varga headed just over from the Englishman's corner.

Celtic press
Celtic came out looking for a decisive second and it almost arrived two minutes after the re-start, Chris Sutton heading just past the post from another Thompson set piece. A minute later Bellamy cut the ball back for Hartson who looked set to score before Archibald intervened with a last-ditch block. The defender was involved at the other end just before the hour mark when he got on the end of a Derek McInnes knockdown but Archibald sent his half volley over.

Sutton miss
Celtic should have put the game beyond doubt with six minutes remaining when they were awarded a penalty after Kenneth fouled Bellamy when he was through on goal, but Sutton sent the spot-kick over the bar. That set up a tense finish and United almost snatched an equaliser when Archibald hit the bar with a long-range shot, but Celtic held on for their 33rd Scottish Cup victory to give O'Neill a winning send-off.

'Brilliant effort'
"It was a brilliant effort," O'Neill said. "We deserved to win but like last week we couldn't put the game away. We missed some great chances and 1-0 is never enough. They hit the bar and that would have been harsh on us had it gone in. It was a great final effort from what is a terrific bunch of players."