Celtic v Dundee – Rookie Ref, Luke’s Reunion and one eye on Pittodrie

The Celtic Star

·30 Oktober 2024

Celtic v Dundee – Rookie Ref, Luke’s Reunion and one eye on Pittodrie

Ross Hardie has been named the man in the middle for tonight’s Scottish Premiership clash between Celtic and Dundee at Paradise…

Referee Ross Hardie during the Scottish Premiership match between Kilmarnock and Hearts at Rugby Park on 27 April 2024. Photo Malcolm Mackenzie/PSI

Table toppers Celtic

Tony Docherty’s side travel to Celtic Park having struggled to replicate their top six form of last season so far in this campaign. Dundee sit 8th in the table after nine matches, and have only two league wins to their name.

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The Dens Park team suffered a late defeat on Saturday afternoon against their Tayside rivals St Johnstone. Managing in the dugout for the first time, Simo Valakari led his Saintees side to a 2-1 victory in the City of Discovery.

Table toppers Celtic will be aiming to continue their relentless start to the season perfectly summed up by a routine performance at Fir Park on Sunday.

Brendan Rodgers has a 100% record

Brendan Rodgers has had a 100% record versus Dundee since his return as Hoops manager for a second spell last summer. That included Celtic’s 7-1 thrashing of Tony Docherty’s side the last time tonight’s opposition visited Glasgow’s East End.

17th April 2024 Dens Park, Dundee, Scotland Scottish Premiership Football, Dundee versus Rangers Dundee manager Tony Docherty hugs Luke McCowan at the end of the match. Photo ActionPlus – David Young

Luke McCowan, who deserves to start this evening against his former club, was on the wrong end of the result on all four occasions versus his current employers last season. The 26 year-old playmaker has really settled into life since arriving at his boyhood club from Dundee on transfer deadline day.

Meanwhile, Ross Hardie has been appointed as the whistler for tonight’s encounter with the Dark Blues at Paradise. He will be assisted by Assistant Referee 1 Graeme Stewart, and Assistant Referee 2 Paul McAvinue.

At Clydesdale House watching for any key match incidents is Matthew MacDermid who is on VAR, and he will be joined by Andrew McWilliam who takes the role as AVAR.

Cameron Carter-Vickers at Fir Park. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

Heavyweight officials are at Pittodrie

All the referee and VAR heavyweights are at Pittodrie this evening and Celtic fans will be keeping one eye on their phones for updates on that one as second plays third. That kicks off 15 minutes after the Celtic v Dundee game as the match at Pittodrie is live on Sky TV. Celtic are doing a PPV this evening for supporters in Britain and Ireland whereas Celtic TV subscribers based outside of Britain and Ireland can watch the game as usual.

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Conor Spence

Celtic in the Thirties (Volumes One and Two) are both published next Tuesday 5th November. Order your signed copies now and treasure these landmark Celtic titles brilliantly researched and written by Matt Cor. Order at Celticstarbooks.com…