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Trivia
- O'Neill admits to defensive worry and wants winter break back
Review
Aberdeen were quickly out of the blocks and when a Bobo Balde error led to a corner, the Celtic defence failed to clear and Pasquinelli flicked the ball across goal to allow the unmarked Mackie to bundle the ball over the line. Incredibly, the Dons doubled their lead after only six minutes. Neil Lennon passed the ball back to David Marshall but the keeper's clearance hit Pasquinelli, who ran around the teenager for a simple finish.
Preece was replaced by Ryan Esson, but not before Hartson was denied a penalty following a challenge by Steve Tosh. Esson almost had to pick the ball out of the net straight away. Chris Sutton's header from Petrov's corner was goal-bound but Kevin McNaughton was on the line to make a vital clearance. Petrov then fired wide before Hartson again frustrated the home crowd by blasting Sutton's pass over the bar from seven yards.
Celtic reduced the deficit just before the break though. Sutton pulled the ball back for Hartson to crash a low drive past Esson.
A mistake from McGuire almost cost his side in the 53rd minute when Hartson latched on to send a right-foot bullet hurtling towards goal, which Esson did well to stop.
Celtic dragged themselves level after 68 minutes. Hartson swivelled on a Varga ball into the box and even though Esson got a touch to it, the power of the shot took it over the goalline.Aberdeen were now clinging on as McNamara whistled a long-range right-foot effort past the upright. With the four minutes of injury time almost up, Stewart capitalised on more terrible defending to give Aberdeen the points.
Teams
Celtic:-
Marshall, Agathe, Varga, Balde, McNamara, Petrov, Lennon, Juninho Paulista (McGeady 59), Wallace, Sutton (Sylla 59), Hartson.
Subs Not Used:- Hedman, Pearson, Lambert, Beattie.
Goals:- Hartson 45, 69.
Aberdeen:-
Preece (Esson 13), McGuire, McNaughton (Stewart 79), Anderson, Severin, Tosh, Hart, Clark, Adams, Pasquinelli (Foster 56), Mackie.
Subs Not Used:- Morrison, Considine, O'Leary.
Goals:- Mackie 5, Pasquinelli 6, Stewart 90.
Booked:- Tosh, Anderson.
Att:- 57,151
Ref:- W Young
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
Celtic 2-3 Aberdeen
BBC
A goal deep into injury time by John Stewart gave Aberdeen an incredible victory over Celtic in a fascinating match at Celtic Park.
The visitors were two up after six minutes. Darren Mackie scored from close range and Fernando Pasquinelli rounded David Marshall for the second.
But two John Hartson goals – both low powerful drives – levelled things.
But with Celtic dominating, and the Dons playing on the break, Stewart ran free to score the winner.
Aberdeen were quickly out of the blocks and when a Bobo Balde error led to a corner, the Celtic defence failed to clear and Pasquinelli flicked the ball across goal to allow the unmarked Mackie to bundle the ball over the line.
Incredibly, the visitors doubled their lead after only six minutes.
Neil Lennon passed the ball back to David Marshall but the keeper's clearance hit Pasquinelli, who ran around the teenager for a simple finish.
The frantic start to the match continued as Balde collided with Aberdeen keeper David Preece at the back post as both tried to reach Agathe's header across goal.
Preece was subsequently replace by Ryan Esson, but not before Hartson was denied a penalty following a challenge by Steve Tosh.
Esson almost had to pick the ball out of the net straight away. Chris Sutton's header from Petrov's corner was goal-bound but Kevin McNaughton was on the line to make a vital clearance.
Petrov then fired wide before Hartson again frustrated the home crowd by blasting Sutton's pass over the bar from seven yards.
Esson saved a low drive by Sutton and then watched the Englishman and Jackie McNamara miss the target.
Aberdeen continued to threaten however and Phil McGuire headed Derek Adams' free-kick just past the upright.
Celtic reduced the deficit just before the break though. Sutton pulled the ball back for Hartson to crash a low drive past Esson.
Juninho and Stan Varga both went close at the start of the second half but Aberdeen still posed a major threat on the break and Marshall had to be switched on in the 51st minute to get down low to save Chris Clark's deceptive long-range drive.
A mistake from McGuire almost cost his side in the 53rd minute when Hartson latched on to send a right-foot bullet hurtling towards goal, which Esson did well to stop.
Celtic dragged themselves level after 68 minutes. Hartson swivelled on a Varga ball into the box and even though Esson got a touch to it, the power of the shot took it over the goalline.
The visitors were now clinging on as McNamara whistled a long-range right-foot effort past the upright.
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood was forced to make a change in the 78th minute when McNaughton hobbled off to be replaced by Stewart.
Esson somehow put Balde's acrobatic over-head kick past the post with five minutes remaining.
With the four minutes of injury time almost up, Stewart capitalised on more terrible defending to give Aberdeen the points with a tremendously taken goal.
Celtic: Marshall, Agathe, Varga, Balde, McNamara, Petrov, Lennon, Juninho Paulista (McGeady 59), Wallace, Sutton (Sylla 59), Hartson.
Subs Not Used: Hedman, Pearson, Lambert, Beattie.
Goals: Hartson 45, 69.
Aberdeen: Preece (Esson 13), McGuire, McNaughton (Stewart 79), Anderson, Severin, Tosh, Hart, Clark, Adams, Pasquinelli (Foster 56), Mackie.
Subs Not Used: Morrison, Considine, O'Leary.
Booked: Tosh, Anderson.
Goals: Mackie 5, Pasquinelli 6, Stewart 90.
Att: 57,151
Ref: W Young
O'Neill wants winter break back
BBC
Martin O'Neill would like a break early in the New Year
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has called for the reintroduction of the winter break in the Premier League.
"I thought it was one of the best inventions going," said O'Neill about the innovation that was done away with the season before last.
"It especially gave players who'd been playing international football the chance to take a rest and regroup.
"It would just be good to know there was going to be a break of a fortnight at some stage."
The January recess was introduced in season 1998-99 to prevent play in the worst of the weather and to give players and pitches a mid-term rest.
But SPL clubs voted to carry on without a break after four years of the shutdown.
"We could stop from January 10 onwards," O'Neill continued. "The actual day we stop for the break is immaterial.
"We'd still be able to play on Boxing Day and 2 January – as we do now – the days when clubs may feel they'd make more money over the festive period.
"I was disappointed when it went and I've not swayed one bit of that. Not one bit."