Dundee United 0 Celtic 1: match report They got a free kick and the referee didn't spot that Stokes had moved the ball back a few yards to gain an advantage. Those two or three yards were the difference that took the ball over Stuart Armstrong's head. Celtic's success in qualifying for the Champions League group stage for the second campaign in succession revived a question posed last season - could they get their domestic game head on after their midweek efforts that carried them past Shakhter Karagandy? Neil Lennon made three changes to the side that started in Europe, as Georgios Samaras, Charlie Mulgrew and James Forrest dropped out and were replaced by Dirk Boerrigter, Emilio Izaguirre and Virgil van Dijk. United also hoped to build on a successful week, having recovered from a stumbling start to the season to thrash St Johnstone 4-0 at home in the Scottish Premiership and then knocked Dumbarton out of the Scottish League Cup, a game for which Jackie McNamara rested Keith Watson, Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong with today's encounter in mind. All three were back in their accustomed places as the sides settled into a 4-2-3-1 matchup. McNamara had made a point of stressing to his players that the 18 goals conceded to Celtic in last season's four meetings was unacceptable, but in the early stages they looked just as porous as previously. In Celtic's first attack, Kris Commons adeptly picked out Mikael Lustig with a lob into the box and the Swede saw his drive blocked. Van Dijk was next to shoot, with a run down the inside-left channel and a shot that veered wide. Izaguirre then caused alarm amongst the home defenders when he got behind them for a dangerous driven shot that was cut out by Radoslaw Cierzniak. United's attempts to disrupt the procession of attacks remained ineffectual, as Stokes struck a volley narrowly off target, followed by another Van Dijk attempt which met a similar fate. It was midway through the half before United came within sniffing distance of Fraser Forster's goal, but Andy Robertson slashed his effort high. The departure of Lustig - stretchered off after a collision with Gavin Gunning - disrupted Celtic's rhythm, but their persistence was rewarded with Stokes's late contribution. Celtic were active off the field, too, and completed their protracted pursuit of the Finnish international striker, Teemu Pukki, on a four-year contract. The 23-year-old agreed his move from Schalke 04 who had initially refused Celtic's bid. Pukki became Celtic's sixth signing of the summer, joining Nir Briton - who arrived in Glasgow on Friday - Boerrigter, Van Dijk, Amido Balde, Steven Mouyokolo. Match details Dundee United: Cierzniak, Watson, Gunning, Dillon, Robertson, Mackay-Steven, Paton, Rankin, Armstrong, Goodwillie (Gauld 71), Ciftci. Subs Butcher, Graham, Wilson, Erskine, Souttar, McCallum. Booked Paton. Celtic: Forster, Matthews, Ambrose, Van Dijk, Izaguirre, Boerrigter (Rogic 83), Brown, Ledley, Lustig (Balde 58), Stokes, Commons. Subs Mouyokolo, Zaluska, Herron, Atajic, McGeouch. Booked Stokes. Referee: C Allan (Scotland).