2012-11-17: Aberdeen 0-2 Celtic, SPL

Match Pictures | Matches: 2012 – 2013 | 2012-13 Pictures

Trivia

• Celtic on top of the league on 25pts with one game in hand. Hibs one behind (they lost).
• Game kicked off at the ridiculous time of 12pm!
• Incredible attendance of 18k! Much respect to the Aberdeen fans for turning out in force.
• First goal for Lassad!
• First win in league for four games.
• Charlie Mulgrew marked his 100th appearance for Celtic today by scoring his 16th goal against former club Aberdeen.
• Midweek international games past week, annoyance as wish for more rest for over tested players.
• Ridiculous stories around of more league reconstruction, just as we have the most entertaining and enjoyable league season for long while across the board for clubs. All just a way to filip up Rangers back up the divisions.
• Green Brigade claiming one of their men was lifted for taking a plastic bottle of water into Celtic Park. In fairness not heard both sides for full story. They announce that they will boycott next few home games! Disappointing to hear.
• Poppy Day passed relatively unscathed last Sunday, but James McLean of Newcastle brings ire of mock outraged public on him for not wearing the poppy on his shirt, the only player in England not to. Pathetically he received death threats for this.
• Hibs sack their DJ for playing Taxman by the Beatles the previous week (a dig at Hearts). Pathetic by the club.
• Celtic next playing Benfica, possibly the most important game in our entire Champions League group. Win or score draw and we're through to the knock out phases for third time.

Review

(fatboab of KDS)
great result from competent performance. First half we bossed and should have scored at least 2, second half we were on the back foot until Victor decided to Wanyama their back four. Nice follow up from Lassad, and a good second from Mulgrew means three excellent points.

Good to see a near full Pittodrie. Hope they keep coming.

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Stats

Aberdeen v Celtic
Possession
62%38%
90mins

Shots
6 11

On target
2 3

Corners
2 7

Fouls
12 7

Articles

Celtic's Lassad and Charlie Mulgrew see off dogged Aberdeen

Scottish Premier League
Aberdeen 0
Celtic 2

Lassad 73,
Mulgrew 77

Ewan Murray at Pittodrie
The Observer, Saturday 17 November 2012 15.25 GMT

It was a sign of Celtic's earlier Scottish Premier League struggles this season that plenty of observers had anticipated a slip-up from the defending champions in Aberdeen.

What transpired was something else entirely. Despite being well short of their best, Celtic swatted their hosts aside in just a few second-half minutes and returned to the top of the SPL. Rather than suffer another domestic blow, then, Neil Lennon was afforded the perfect boost ahead of Tuesday night's crucial Champions League trip to face Benfica in Lisbon.

Lassad Nouioui, with his first goal for the club, and Charlie Mulgrew earned Celtic victory here. Aberdeen, given their flashes of promise in the early weeks of the campaign, were disappointingly blunt – albeit, in general, this was a scrappy, dour contest.

Lennon would accept exactly the same in Portugal, if it means Celtic can gather any kind of tangible reward at all. A point may be enough to send Celtic into the last 16, victory would certainly secure such a passage from a group Lennon's men have blossomed in.

Yet it is only in glimpses thus far that Celtic have shown what their are capable of in the SPL. Because of that, they have found Hibernian and Aberdeen in close quarters at the summit of the league. It would still be a surprise if a title race materialised, even if the chances available to other clubs is one positive spin-off of Rangers' absence from the top flight. Aberdeen now have legitimate European aspirations.

In a welcome north-east sight, 18,000 people headed to Pittodrie for this match. Aberdeen's decline as a football city has been well covered, and bemoaned, but occasions such as this highlight what pull the club has even when success is hinted at. It will vex the Aberdeen manager, Craig Brown, that his players lacked punch to match expectancy.

Aberdeen actually opened as the brighter side, without placing Fraser Forster in the visiting goal under meaningful pressure. Celtic should have taken the lead after 15 minutes, Victor Wanyama instead heading over the crossbar from a Mulgrew corner. Tony Watt was the next Celtic player to threaten but he, too, failed to find the target when connecting with Kris Commons' terrific cross.

Aberdeen's solitary chance of the first half, and ultimately their best of the match, fell to Niall McGinn. The ex-Celtic player, who has enjoyed a prolific touch in front of goal recently, pulled his attempt wide of Forster's right-hand post.

Opportunities had been at a premium or, to be blunt, non-existent in the second period until Celtic's breakthrough. Wanyama crashed a fierce long-range shot off a post, with Lassad on hand to stroke the rebound into an empty net.

Just four minutes later, Mulgrew killed the contest. Georgios Samaras was this time the creator, with Mulgrew supplying a smart finish when on the turn.

"This was always going to be a difficult game," Lennon said. "The pitch was not conducive to good football, the ball was bobbling quite a bit so we had to adapt. I thought we had good control of the game. My back four were excellent against a team with their tails up and the crowd behind them. This was a real test and the players came through it well."

Commons limped from the fray with a dead leg but Lennon is confident the midfielder will be fit to travel to Lisbon. Celtic absentees at Aberdeen included Gary Hooper, Scott Brown and Joe Ledley, who are due to return to training on Sunday.

"I don't think we did enough to win the game," conceded Brown. "I'm maybe being optimistic but it looked like 0-0 and a wonderful shot [from Wanyama] changed the whole game. I'm hoping the supporters who came along here won't be disenchanted. They can see some potential and excitement in our play, two wingers and a real solid team.

"And I want to wish Celtic luck for their European tie on Tuesday."

Celtic were 2-0 winners at Pittodrie

BBC
17 November 2012 Last updated at 14:00

By Colin Moffat BBC Scotland

Celtic returned to winning ways in the Scottish Premier League as they overcame stuffy resistance from Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

Substitute Lassad Nouioui stroked home on 73 minutes after Victor Wanyama had crashed a powerful shot against a post.

And Charlie Mulgrew arrowed a neat finish into the bottom corner four minutes later to make sure Celtic moved back to the top of the table.

Aberdeen were rarely seen in attack as their bid to stifle Celtic failed.

Neil Lennon's team had dropped points in each of their last three league outings, meaning the in-form Dons were just one point behind the reigning champions before kick-off.

But a bumper crowd of 18,083 could not inspire the home side as Celtic did most of the pressing in a match that failed to live up to its top billing.

The Dons, lining up in a 3-4-3 formation made a lively start, with Johnny Hayes hitting the side-netting early before his low strike was gathered by goalkeeper Fraser Forster.

But Celtic soon asserted themselves as Wanyama headed wide from the first of six corners won by the visitors in the first half, with the low winter sun causing problems for the home defence.
Play media

Dons teenager Ryan Fraser skipped in from the right flank to have a strike at goal but his effort was straight at Forster.

Celtic should have gone ahead on 27 minutes when Kris Commons delivered a great cross from the right to find Tony Watt at the back post.

The teenage striker, who has just signed a new contract, failed to make proper contact with his head and could only graze the base of the post from six yards.

A largely drab first 45 minutes closed with Mikael Lustig rising high to reach another of Mulgrew's corners but the Swedish defender glanced the ball wide from a promising position.

Mulgrew whipped a long-range free-kick into the arms of Jamie Langfield early in the second half and there were huge, mocking cheers from the home fans when the same player, a former Don, blazed another set-piece over from the edge of the penalty area.

Aberdeen were packing men behind the ball to frustrate Celtic but managed to threaten on 67 minutes when Hayes once again found the side-netting with a low strike after being set up by Niall McGinn on a swift break from the men in red.
Play media

However, just as the Dons looked like opening up a little more, the hosts fell behind.

Wanyama bustled forward from midfield to unleash a thunderous strike from 30 yards that cannoned off the post and into the path of Lassad for the Tunisian to roll in his first goal for the club.

Moments later, Celtic's advantage was doubled when a shot from Giorgios Samaras was blocked and fell to Mulgrew, who steered a fine shot into the bottom corner of the net from 15 yards.

With Neil Lennon's team well on top, Efe Ambrose was in an offide position when his header drew a good save from Langfield, therefore Wanyama's follow-up effort was ruled out.

Aberdeen offered little by way of response after going behind and fell to their first home league defeat of the season.
Live Text Commentary
90:00 +3:13 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.
90:00 +2:43

Shot from deep inside the area by Tony Watt clears the bar.
89:47

Scott Vernon challenges Victor Wanyama unfairly and gives away a free kick. Kelvin Wilson takes the direct free kick.
87:28

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Dylan McGeouch by Chris Clark. Free kick taken by Efe Ambrose.
84:42

Unfair challenge on Rory Fallon by Kelvin Wilson results in a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Isaac Osbourne from right channel, Chris Clark concedes a free kick for a foul on Beram Kayal. Fraser Forster takes the direct free kick.
80:32

Lassad Nouioui fouled by Rory Fallon, the ref awards a free kick. Charlie Mulgrew crosses the ball in from the free kick. The referee blows for offside against Victor Wanyama. Jamie Langfield takes the indirect free kick.
79:40 Substitution

Substitution Georgios Samaras goes off and Dylan McGeouch comes on.
78:24

Corner taken by Niall McGinn from the left by-line played to the near post, Efe Ambrose manages to make a clearance.
77:28 Substitution

Substitution Rory Fallon replaces Johnny Hayes.
76:02

Assist on the goal came from Georgios Samaras.
76:02 Goal scored

Goal – Charlie Mulgrew – Aberdeen 0 – 2 Celtic Charlie Mulgrew finds the net with a goal from inside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Aberdeen 0-2 Celtic.
72:49

The assist for the goal came from Victor Wanyama.
72:49 Goal scored

Goal – Lassad Nouioui – Aberdeen 0 – 1 Celtic A goal is scored by Lassad Nouioui from inside the penalty box low into the middle of the goal. Aberdeen 0-1 Celtic.
72:14

Victor Wanyama has an effort at goal from outside the penalty area hitting the post.
68:41

Fraser Forster takes the free kick.
68:41 Substitution

Substitution (Celtic) makes a substitution, with Lassad Nouioui coming on for Kris Commons.
68:41

Scott Vernon challenges Kelvin Wilson unfairly and gives away a free kick.
67:48

Johnny Hayes produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the right-hand post.
66:33

Russell Anderson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Victor Wanyama. Kelvin Wilson takes the free kick.
63:35 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Fraser goes off and Scott Vernon comes on.
60:45

Foul by Andrew Considine on Kris Commons, free kick awarded. Charlie Mulgrew fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
59:40

Niall McGinn gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Fraser Forster. Fraser Forster takes the free kick.
58:41

Free kick awarded for a foul by Charlie Mulgrew on Johnny Hayes. Free kick crossed by Johnny Hayes, save made by Fraser Forster.
55:52

Beram Kayal challenges Ryan Fraser unfairly and gives away a free kick. Johnny Hayes restarts play with the free kick.
54:08

Isaac Osbourne gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kris Commons. Shot comes in from Charlie Mulgrew from the free kick, Fraser Forster makes a comfortable save.
50:52

Corner from left by-line taken by Kris Commons.
48:58

Header from deep inside the penalty area by Andrew Considine goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
47:55

Corner taken left-footed by Johnny Hayes to the near post, Efe Ambrose makes a clearance.
46:26

Free kick awarded for a foul by Isaac Osbourne on Charlie Mulgrew. Adam Matthews takes the direct free kick.
45:01

The game restarts for the second half.
45:01 Substitution

Substitution Clark Robertson joins the action as a substitute, replacing Gavin Rae.
45:00 +1:04 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.
44:47

Outswinging corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew, Close range header by Beram Kayal misses to the right of the goal.
36:49

Charlie Mulgrew takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Kris Commons has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide left of the goal.
35:30

Effort on goal by Kris Commons from long range goes over the crossbar.
31:47

Niall McGinn has shot on goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
31:23

Mikael Lustig concedes a free kick for a foul on Chris Clark. Free kick taken by Gavin Rae.
30:29

Charlie Mulgrew takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, Gavin Rae makes a clearance.
23:41

Kris Commons crosses the ball, Header from close range by Tony Watt strikes the post.
22:50

Corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
21:08

The assistant referee signals for offside against Niall McGinn. Fraser Forster restarts play with the free kick.
20:38

Unfair challenge on Ryan Fraser by Mikael Lustig results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Andrew Considine.
19:50

Ryan Fraser takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Save made by Fraser Forster.
18:55

Isaac Osbourne challenges Beram Kayal unfairly and gives away a free kick. Mikael Lustig takes the direct free kick.
18:24

Josh Magennis fouled by Charlie Mulgrew, the ref awards a free kick. Isaac Osbourne takes the free kick.
16:45

Outswinging corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew from the right by-line, Russell Anderson makes a clearance.
13:34

Corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew, Victor Wanyama has a headed effort from close range and clears the bar.
9:27

Johnny Hayes gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kelvin Wilson. Free kick taken by Fraser Forster.
8:14

Georgios Samaras produces a cross.
7:30

Johnny Hayes takes a shot. Fraser Forster makes a save.
5:34

Mikael Lustig concedes a free kick for a foul on Ryan Fraser. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Ryan Fraser, clearance by Efe Ambrose.
1:35

Josh Magennis has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.
0:00

The game gets underway.

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