I watched Celtic beat Dundee and picked out cheat code they cannot lose and noted quirky dissenting fan chant

The champions dominated the game but only found the net once, with Benjamin Nygren’s header proving the difference between the two sides.

Mark Atkinson was at Celtic Park to cover the match for The Scotsman and picks out three talking points from proceedings:

The man Celtic cannot afford to lose

Transfers continue to dominate the narrative at Celtic. It is always the way. Not just about who is coming in, but also who might depart.

Forward Daizen Maeda has already been sold to Ipswich Town and it appears two other players could follow him to England. West Ham appear mad keen on midfielder Arne Engels and have had two bids rejected, while Everton are very interested in right-back Alistair Johnston.

Speaking to manager Martin O’Neill afterward the win over Dundee, there appears an air of acceptance that both players will move on. The Celtic boss hopes he will have the pair for his Champions League play-of against LASK later this month - but there is no guarantee.

Johnston and Engels are key first-team players at Celtic right now. Mika Baur of Paderborn seems to be the man identified to replace Engels. Two other right-backs are on the books in Anthony Ralston and young Colby Donovan - another is probably required.

But the man Celtic simply cannot afford to lose is centre-half Cameron Carter-Vickers. His name has not been linked with other clubs - yet - and his performance against Dundee showed just how important he is to this team.

The American missed most of last season with an Achilles rupture and Celtic’s defence was shoogly as a result. Starting his first Premiership match since October - ironically against Dundee - he was the best player on the pitch, winning most of his duels and commanding his defence.

Carter-Vickers is essentially a human cheat code for Celtic, capable of keeping the door shut when under pressure. O’Neill did not work with him much last season but he will quickly realise the 28-year-old is someone he can’t do without.

Fresh ways to target the board

New season, same old dissent against the Celtic hierarchy, who continue to get it in the neck from sections of the club’s fanbase.

One of the principal reasons is recruitment, although there were also banners unfurled at Celtic Park’s North Curve railing against bans handed out to fans.

While The Green Brigade and The Bhoys backed the team, the 90 minutes were also filled with chants calling for the board to be sacked.

One such song caught the ear, so to speak. I Want To Be Adored by The Stone Roses was doctored during striker Odsonne Edouard’s time at the club to pay homage to the Frenchman’s exploits. “I wanna be Edouard” would ring out from the stands.

The tune has made a reappearance and was gleefully sung by fans around the 70-minute mark - although this time the words went “I wanna sack the board”. Annoyingly catchy, too.

Celtic’s ultras will continue to find creative ways to make the men at the top know exactly how they feel - no matter how the team is performing.

A word for Dundee

It’s undoubtedly the fixture no team wants, an away match to the champions on opening weekend of the season.

Poor old Dundee drew the short straw and given manager Steven Pressley has had to restructure his squad and warned of some “pain” this term, his players fared very well.

Pressley was effusive in his praise for how the team handled the occasion. Debutant goalkeeper Owen Goodman was assured, centre-halves Ryan Astley and Owen Bevan largely held firm and there was an impressive midfield display by Ryan Finnigan.

If there was one criticism, the attack was blunt, but easier assignments await Dundee. Under the calm hand of Pressley, there was enough on show at Celtic Park to give their fans some reason for optimism.