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Review
The third to last SPL game of the season, and Celtic moved back into first place in the league following a brace from John Hartson. His first goal game off the back-post set up by Alan Thompson, the second a front-post finish off a Chris Sutton cross. Celtic was lucky in the first half not to concede several times, though also had a claim for a penalty denied when Thompson was pulled down in the box. They picked up in the second half however for a deserved win.
Teams
Celtic:-
Douglas, McNamara, Varga, Balde, Laursen (Beattie 45), Agathe, Petrov, Lennon, Thompson, Hartson, Sutton.
Subs Not Used: Marshall, Valgaeren, Lambert, Maloney, Wallace, McGeady.
Goals: Hartson 47, 71.
Aberdeen:-
Esson, McNaughton (Blaha 65), Diamond, Anderson, Severin, Hart, Considine (Dempsey 67), Mackie, Byrne (Winter 83), Muirhead, Clark.
Subs Not Used:- Preece, Adams, Foster, Macauley.
Att:- 59,498
Ref:- J Underhill
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
Celtic 2-0 Aberdeen
BBC
Celtic moved back to the top of the league with a hard-fought victory over Aberdeen at Celtic Park.
John Hartson was the home side's hero with the two crucial goals.
The first came shortly after half time when he met Alan Thompson's cross at the back post to score, despite Andrew Considine's efforts on the line.
Hartson clinched the points with a neat front-post finish after Chris Sutton got the better of Russell Anderson to cut the ball across the face of goal.
Celtic were clearly intent on avoiding a repeat of recent lapses at home and started the game at an impressive pace.
But the Aberdeen defence were prepared and were on hand to block a handful of efforts in the opening ten minutes, most notably a fierce volley by Stilian Petrov that Richie Byrne got in the way of.
Aberdeen threatened when Rab Douglas came to the edge of his box to deal with a long ball, but under pressure from Scott Muirhead, neither he nor Bobo Balde was able to clear, though Balde finally cut out the danger as Muirhead tried to catch the keeper off his line.
Petrov fired just wide and then Zander Diamond made a crucial interception to keep a Hartson effort out of the net after Sutton had picked his strike-partner out.
Celtic had a major let-off after half-an-hour when Jackie McNamara cleared off the line from Byrne's header and Diamond blasted the rebound high over the bar.
Moments later Thompson went down looking for a penalty under Michael Hart's challenge, but referee John Underhill saw nothing amiss.
Aberdeen might have taken the lead just before half time when Chris Clark just failed to connect with Darren Mackie's front-post ball and Thompson prevented Hart from scoring at the back post.
Celtic made the vital breakthrough just a couple of minutes after the break.
Thompson curled in a free kick from the right and Hartson bundled the ball past Ryan Esson. Considine tried to clear off the line but succeeded only in blasting the ball into the roof of the net.
Hartson headed just inches wide and then knocked another cross into the path of Craig Beattie, but the substitute could not turn the ball over the line.
But Celtic did get a second with 20 minutes remaining. Sutton squared the ball for Hartson, who got in front of Diamond to tap it into the net.
Celtic: Douglas, McNamara, Varga, Balde, Laursen (Beattie 45), Agathe, Petrov, Lennon, Thompson, Hartson, Sutton.
Subs Not Used: Marshall, Valgaeren, Lambert, Maloney, Wallace, McGeady.
Goals: Hartson 47, 71.
Aberdeen: Esson, McNaughton (Blaha 65), Diamond, Anderson, Severin, Hart, Considine (Dempsey 67), Mackie, Byrne (Winter 83), Muirhead, Clark.
Subs Not Used: Preece, Adams, Foster, Macauley.
Att: 59,498
Ref: J Underhill
O'Neill cautious over title talk
BBC
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill remained cautious about the destination of the SPL title following his side's win over Aberdeen that puts them top again.
"I'm delighted, it was a fantastic win. It was as much to do with courage as anything else," added O'Neill.
"I thought if we could keep a clean sheet we would win the game as I knew we could create chances.
"But we've got two away games at Hearts and Motherwell now. They're never easy places, but it's still in our hands."