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Trivia
- Celtic missed a number of their first-choice XI and never really got going.
But they still looked too good for Aberdeen who rarely threatened Rab Douglas' goal.
Review
Despite the absence of Chris Sutton, Henrik Larsson and John Hartson, Celtic could have been two goals ahead within the first few minutes. Slack defending by Aberdeen twice allowed Lubo Moravcik a shot on goal, but on both occasions the Slovak put the ball wide.
Stilian Petrov had the ball in the net after 17 minutes but he was ruled offside after a neat one-two with Moravcik.
Paul Lambert came close to breaking the deadlock with an exquisite chip that sailed just wide.
On the stroke of half-time Celtic took the lead from the penalty spot through Alan Thompson after Eugene Dadi needlessly held Stephen Crainey down.
Thompson could have doubled his and Celtic's tally just after the restart when Agathe found him at the far post, but he side-footed over the bar.
Midway through the second half, Celtic substitute Jamie Smith came within inches of putting Celtic two ahead with a first-time volley that struck the outside of the post.
Celtic were completely dominant and Thompson had a free kick saved before Smith's square ball just evaded Shaun Maloney in the middle.
With 12 minutes remaining, both sides were reduced to ten men after a seemingly innocuous incident between Hicham Zerouali and Alan Thompson. Thompson objected to Zerouali's signal that Paul Lambert should be booked for a foul and the Moroccan pushed Thompson's hand away. Referee John Underhill saw fit to dismiss both players before showing Lambert the yellow card. Zerouali and Thompson continued to exchange angry words as they trooped off.
Teams
Celtic:-
Douglas, Boyd, Mjallby, Crainey, Agathe, Lambert (McNamara 82), Lennon, Petrov, Thompson, Moravcik (Smith 58), Maloney.
Subs not used:- Gould, Sylla, Guppy.
Goal:- Thompson 45 pen.
Sent off:- Thompson (79).
Booked:- Lambert.
Aberdeen:-
Kjaer, McNaughton, McGuire, Whyte, McAllister, Anderson, Darren Young, Winters, Bisconti, Mackie, Dadi (Zerouali 58).
Subs not used:- Preece, Clark, Tiernan, O'Donoghue.
Sent Off:- Zerouali (79).
Booked:- Darren Young, Bisconti.
Att:- 59,564
Ref:- John Underhill.
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
- Match Report (BBC)
Pictures
Articles
Celtic complete Dons double
Celtic 1-0 Aberdeen
BBC
An Alan Thompson penalty settled a poor game at Celtic Park in favour of the league leaders.
Celtic missed a number of their first-choice XI and never really got going.
But they still looked too good for Aberdeen who rarely threatened Rab Douglas' goal.
Thompson was red carded late on along with Hicham Zerouali after the pair were involved in a fairly tame incident.
Despite the absence of Chris Sutton, Henrik Larsson and John Hartson, Celtic could have been two goals ahead within the first few minutes.
Slack defending by Aberdeen twice allowed Lubo Moravcik a shot on goal, but on both occasions the Slovak put the ball wide.
Johan Mjallby expertly broke up an Aberdeen attack on the edge of his own box and began a move that culminated in the Swedish defender heading just over at the other end.
Stilian Petrov had the ball in the net after 17 minutes but he was ruled offside after a neat one-two with Moravcik.
Aberdeen created their first opening just after the half-hour mark, but Robbie Winters could only direct the ball straight into Rab Douglas' arms.
Moments later, Paul Lambert came close to breaking the deadlock with an exquisite chip that sailed just wide.
On the stroke of half-time Celtic took the lead from the penalty spot through Alan Thompson after Eugene Dadi needlessly held Stephen Crainey down.
Thompson could have doubled his and Celtic's tally just after the restart when Agathe found him at the far post, but he side-footed over the bar.
Kjaer almost made a hash of Thompson's inswinging corner in the 51st minute, but his touch took the ball away from the head of Mjallby who would have surely scored.
Midway through the second half, Celtic substitute Jamie Smith came within inches of putting his side two ahead with a first-time volley that struck the outside of the post.
The home side were completely dominant and Thompson had a free kick saved before Smith's square ball just evaded Shaun Maloney in the middle.
With 12 minutes remaining, both sides were reduced to ten men after a seemingly innocuous incident between Hicham Zerouali and Alan Thompson.
Thompson objected to Zerouali's signal that Paul Lambert should be booked for a foul and the Moroccan pushed Thompson's hand away.
Referee John Underhill saw fit to dismiss both players before showing Lambert the yellow card. Zerouali and Thompson continued to exchange angry words as they trooped off.
Celtic: Douglas, Boyd, Mjallby, Crainey, Agathe, Lambert (McNamara 82), Lennon, Petrov, Thompson, Moravcik (Smith 58), Maloney.
Subs not used: Gould, Sylla, Guppy.
Sent off: Thompson (79).
Booked: Lambert.
Aberdeen: Kjaer, McNaughton, McGuire, Whyte, McAllister, Anderson, Darren Young, Winters, Bisconti, Mackie, Dadi (Zerouali 58).
Subs not used: Preece, Clark, Tiernan, O'Donoghue.
Sent Off: Zerouali (79).
Booked: Darren Young, Bisconti.
Att: 59,564
Referee: John Underhill
Celtic v Aberdeen
http://www.100megsfree3.com/celticcrazy/rep2/2mar2002.html
2nd March 2002
SPL
Celtic Crazy correctly predicted that Celtic would snuff out Aberdeen and edge a 1-0 win. That was the way it turned out with Aberdeen having only one real chance in the entire game when Robbie Winters turned inside and shot weakly into Douglas's arms.
It was a Thompson penalty that separated the teams when Dadi clearly pulled Crainie at the edge of the box right at the end of the first half. Thommo's penalty was assured and placed right in the corner and although the keeper correctly dived to his left, he couldn't reach it.
Moravcik had a chance early on but he didn't get enough venom in the shot and Kjaer was not troubled. Shortly after a great ball from Crainie was trapped by Moravcik who turned and shot but this time his accuracy let him down and he put the ball wide when he should have done better.
Prior to this Johan Mjallby started and finished another attacking move as Celtic strived to get forward. The Swedish internationalist blocked Robbie Winters' passage towards goal on the edge of the box before supplying Petrov who in turn flicked the ball into the path of Lambert. Maloney and Moravcik were involved in the exchange before Lubo's cross into the box was headed narrowly over the bar by Mjallby.
Lambert had a great effort when he tried a chip after a one-two with Crainey but his effort bounced just wide of the post.
Didier Agathe's running was causing Aberdeen some problems but his deliveries were never bet by the strikers.
The double sending off certainly looked harsh. Thomson had his hand on Zerouali's throat and when the Moroccan pushed his hand away the referee interpreted it as a punch. It seemed that the protests from the Aberdeen players who indicated that Thompson had laid hands on Zerouali may have led to the red card for Thompson to follow that given to the Aberdeen striker.
In the event Thompson's rash action now means that he misses the Rangers game to add to other injury worries.
CELTIC (3-5-2): Douglas; Mjallby, Boyd, Crainey; Agathe, Lennon, Lambert (McNamara 81), Petrov, Thompson; Moravcik (Smith 60), Maloney.
Subs: Gould, McNamara, Guppy, Sylla.
ABERDEEN (4-4-2): Kjaer; McAllister, McGuire, Whyte, Anderson; Winters, Young, McNaughton, Mackie; Dadi (Zerouali 60), Bisconti.
Subs: Preece, Clark, Tiernan, O’Donoghue.
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