Celtic's title charge hit by Burchill

Dundee 1 Celtic 1

Mark Burchill came back to haunt Celtic yesterday when he scored his first goal since moving to Dundee on loan from Portsmouth, one that could cost his former club the Scottish Premier League title.

The former Celtic striker inflicted a 20th-minute equaliser at Dens Park that stripped two costly points from Martin O'Neill's side in their pursuit of Rangers, who now have a clear advantage at the top of the table.

The champions still have two games in hand, but are now eight points behind. It does not require a snooker, but it certainly needs Celtic to win every remaining game including the imminent Old Firm derby at Ibrox, if they want a third successive title.

That was the consolation offered by Burchill after the game. "I hope Celtic do well in the Uefa Cup, but they still have games in hand and could easily win from now until the end of the season," he said. "My family are all Celtic fans and will give me stick for that goal, but for me it was the same as scoring against anyone else."

For Celtic, the ultimate prize is the Uefa Cup. Now it may be the only one. The visit of Boavista to Parkhead on Thursday for the semi-final first leg will allow this stumble to be forgotten, but the League still matters to O'Neill. "It's far from finished," the Celtic manager said. "It is still in our own hands if we win all our games."

He must have thought this contest would be wrapped up once Alan Thompson had put Celtic in front after 11 minutes. Momo Sylla's cross was headed back across the face of goal for Thompson to head in his sixth goal of the season.

However, nine minutes later a vibrant Dundee side were level. Burchill has drifted out of the picture at Fratton Park, but his ruthless finish carried an echo of his teenage days at Celtic.

Fabian Caballero's strong run on the left saw the Argentinian elude Johan Mjallby and Neil Lennon before he cut the ball back for Burchill to bury a right-foot shot from 10 yards.

John Hartson and Burchill missed chances to carve out a lead, but it was Dundee who carried the greater menace after the break and had Javier Broto not denied Steven Milne in stoppage time, Celtic would have lost everything.

Goals: Thompson (11) 0-1; Burchill (20) 1-1.

Dundee (4-4-3): Speroni; Mackay, Wilkie, Mair, Hernandez; Smith, Nemsadze, Rae, Caballero (Brady, 90); Lovell (Milne, 76), Burchill (Novo, 61). Substitutes not used: Langfield (gk), Robb.

Celtic (3-5-2): Broto; Mjallby, Balde, Crainey; Sylla (Smith, 52), Lambert, Lennon, Petrov, Thompson; Larsson, Hartson. Substitutes not used: Marshall (gk), McNamara, Laursen, Maloney.

Referee: W Young.

Man of the match: Caballero.

Attendance: 9,013.