By Sean Saranczuk
February 6 2003

Rangers are still no nearer to finding out their CIS Insurance Cup final opponents after a desperately poor goalless first-half between Celtic and Dundee Utd at Hampden Park . Rangers are still no nearer to finding out their CIS Insurance Cup final opponents after a desperately poor goalless first-half between Celtic and Dundee Utd at Hampden Park .

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill included all his big guns for the clash making just two changes from the weekend's win at Partick Thistle.

Despite his two goals in attack on Sunday, Chris Sutton moved back into midfield to accommodate John Hartson alongside Henrik Larsson up front.

Stilian Petrov was a notable absentee before the game so Paul Lambert and Jackie McNamara came into the side.

That meant that youngster Jamie Smith stayed in the side after his shock call-up into Berti Vogts' squad for next week's friendly with the Republic of Ireland.

Ian McCall was forced to make three changes with Daniele Chiarini and Gary Bollan suspended and Andy Tod injured and into the side came Mark Wilson, Jim Lauchlan and Jim Paterson.

But goalkeeper Alan Combe maintained his place in the starting line-up despite being red-carded at the weekend, with Paul Gallacher staying on the bench.

The state of the pitch and the rain contributed to a poor start, but in fairness neither side were producing any decent football in the early stages.

The crowd were trying to stir both sides but it was the furious Celtic fans who were off their feet in the fifth minute when Lambert was caught late by Jim McIntyre and was rightly shown the yellow card by referee Stuart Dougal.

But Celtic should have gone ahead five minutes later when they were gifted their first chance of the match.

Wilson was caught in possession by Larsson and he found himself clear of the defence, but he failed to find the power and Combe had the easiest of saves to make to his right.

Bobo Balde did well moments later to get ahead of Charlie Miller and onto the end of Larsson's free-kick at the far post, but Derek Lilley made a challenge and the ball flew behind off the defender.

The Glasgow side showed signs they were finding their feet in the 24th minute when Larsson sent Smith away down the left, but Wilson cleared with Hartson lurking behind.

But the Swede was becoming more frustrated and he blazed well off target two minutes later when the ball broke to him outside the area.

United, however, started to grow in confidence and they twice had Celtic on the rack moments later.

Miller found Stuart Duff with a quickly-taken free-kick and his cross had just too much pace for Lilley and then McIntyre to get a telling touch.

Then in the next move Ulrik Laursen needed to climb high to head Jim Paterson's dangerous cross away with Lilley again poised to strike.

That seemed to wake O'Neill's men and Larsson headed wide in the 32nd minute after Hartson had directed Laursen's free-kick back across goal.

The Swede again got on the end of Laursen's next free-kick two minutes later, but again he failed to find the power and direction to beat Combe.

Lambert added to Celtic's frustrations when he joined McIntyre in the referee's book after 38 minutes when he caught the United man late.