2016-02-03: Aberdeen 2-1 Celtic, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 2015 – 2016 | 2015-16 Pictures

Trivia

  • Back to the league after Celtic lost in the league cup and effectively ended the treble chance for the season.
  • This was a pivotal match as teams are fairly close in the league and Deila needed a respite.
  • Disaster for Ronnie as he lost and Aberdeen are now only 3pts behind, albeit with a vastly inferior goal difference.
  • Ronnie's 100th game in charge at Celtic, but not a great day.
  • Kazim-Richard's debut. Idiot marked his debut by a characteristic idiotic moment when he stamped on an Aberdeen player after a challenge which at time went unchallenged. Disgraceful and he'll be a lot of work to get under control possibly.
  • A risky transfer with misgivings from some.
  • Aberdeen first goal was an exceptional long-shot goal. Must give credit for that.
  • Many comtemplating this was Ronnies last match now for Celtic, many were wanting him gone after last Sunday.
  • Chinese teams now sixth highest transfer spenders in the world. Times are changing, but EPL is way out in front by a long shot.
  • Rumours from Man U fans site were claiming a day before that Ryan Giggs had left Man U as assistant coach to move to Celtic. All rubbish we believe.
  • Transfers:
    • Closed two days before this match.
      In: Erik Sviatchenko (Midtjylland, £1.5m), Colin Kazim-Richards (Feyenoord), Patrick Roberts (Manchester City, loan)
      Out: Nadir Ciftci (Eskisehirspor, loan), Aidan Nesbitt (Partick Thistle, loan), Anthony Stokes (Hibernian, loan)

Review[Untitled]

(sweet left of KDS)
We are so soft .Aberdeen,comparatively speaking,are not.Individually they don't look much,
collectively they are much better than they appear.McInnes has them playing to their strengths.
Their two full-backs are solid-their centre-backs are average at best-their two wide players can be quite dangerous,
especially Hayes,and their two front men are bustling and physical,but limited.In Scottish terms,they are a strong team.
We should be miles ahead of them,but we are not.The way we play leaves us vulnerable to Aberdeen and teams of that ilk.
We are open.In a 4-2-3-1 system (which is apparently what we play)when our three are McGregor,GMS and Armstrong we are
far too easily brushed aside.Neither Brown nor Bitton are Def Mid players,so often our centre-backs are left exposed.We had loads of possession
but Aberdeen looked more likely to score than we did.There appears to be little movement off the ball.The gap between Griffiths and the rest is too wide.When any of our midfield five get the ball,they are often caught in possession as they vainly try to make a forward pass.Tactically we are naive.All eleven of our players defend a corner(?)and yet we are extremely weak.I could go on ,but I won't.
We often struggle when the playing surface is poor,as it was tonight,but Some of the Dons'players suffered as well.
When Forrest came on,(a player whose main virtue is running with the ball at his feet)I knew he would offer nothing on that pitch.McGregor,GMS and Forrest are particularly weak and easily knocked off the ball.Christie seems to be in that category as well.As many have said,when we went behind,we didn't look as if we could come back.The "balance" or our side isn't apparent.
RD atm,doesn't appear to be helping to improve our team.

(el salto of KDS)
Didn't think things could get worse from a performance perspective after Sunday, but Celtic sunk to new depths tonight.

Only Tierney and Sviatchenko came out of the game with any kudos in my book, but the performances of Armstrong, Lustig, Mackay-Steven and Bitton in particular were the pits, in fact I could have sworn that Bitton was out for a wee stroll at times in the second half.

Apart from the obvious (Deila) there must be issues at play in that dressing room, we are no longer playing any recognised shape, or playing as a team, and quite frankly some players need to take a long hard look at themselves.

No creativity, no fight, nothing.
That result tonight could be pivotal, it could give them a boost, and start to play on our already fragile mindset as a team.

Heard Ronnys radio interview, delusional doesn't begin to cover it.
We have to snap out of this malaise immediately.

(Ossieb of KDS)
Well…FFs…well done to aberdeen…turned up with a plan….some tactics and the knowledge that we could n't compete in a pillow fight. very few positives from that game apart from we are very good at 'possession'……what we fail to do with said possession is employ any guile, passion, attacking or even entertain. With the exception of 2 or 3 players, it appears that many have chucked it…..whether that is a by product of poor coaching or a desire for change I have no idea….but it is totally inept from a celtic 'team'.

The coaching staff/Management team or whatever they call themselves needs to be removed. Not through any personal dislike, just on their combined total and utter lack of ability. Set pieces whether going forward or defending have not improved in any way from their arrival in their appointments, and up until tonights game. GMS corner whipped across the goal…Gordon would have been a better target man for all the effort of the combined Hoops in the box.

Delia does not have the manner or strength to turn a match…he's proved it too often now. what Collins and Kerr bring to the club apart from earning a wage and creating some more gear to be laundered I have no idea. They have shown how little they can influence a game by motivation or making the right sub at the right time. Taxi for all of them but, i feel it won't happened any time soon.

Sad times from A Hoops view point. No team can expect to win every game. As fans we should at least have a team that is willing to put in a shift. That is definitely not happening. Lawwell has managed to put out a 'product' in green and white Hoops that in no way represents Celtic I grew up with. Financial restrictions exist….fair enough…but scouting future players/development of the youth players seems to be lucky dip.

I'm flabbergasted….I don't see Delia getting the heave, and I expect us to stumble through the next few games, most likely including the Cup game at the weekend.

totally dubbed with watching this shower now. Binned my season ticket last year….doubt I'll renew for a long while.

Teams

Aberdeen

  • 20Brown
  • 2Logan
  • 5Taylor
  • 6Reynolds
  • 3Shinnie
  • 11Hayes Substituted for Smith at 86'minutes
  • 23Storie Booked at 71mins
  • 7McLean
  • 10McGinnSubstituted forConsidineat 72'minutes
  • 18ChurchSubstituted forPawlettat 76'minutes
  • 9Rooney

Substitutes

  • 4Considine
  • 14Smith
  • 15Robson
  • 16Pawlett
  • 19Collin
  • 26McKenna
  • 31Ross

Goals

  • Hayes (31' minutes),
  • Church (37' minutes)

Celtic

  • 1Gordon
  • 23LustigSubstituted for Allan at 78'minutes
  • 28Sviatchenko
  • 20Boyata
  • 63Tierney Booked at 84mins
  • 8Brown Booked at 66mins
  • 6Bitton
  • 16Mackay-Steven
  • 42McGregor Substituted forForrestat 68'minutes
  • 14Armstrong Booked at 44minsSubstituted forKazim-Richardsat 45'minutesBooked at 65mins
  • 9Griffiths

Substitutes

  • 3Izaguirre
  • 4Ambrose
  • 13Kazim-Richards
  • 19Allan
  • 24Cole
  • 26Bailly
  • 49Forrest

Goals

  • Griffiths (90'+3 minutes)

Referee:
Steven McLean
Attendance:
19,003

Articles

  • Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

Forum

MOTM

Stats

Aberdeen
Celtic

Possession
Home45%
Away55%

Shots
Home7
Away8

Shots on Target
Home4
Away3

Corners
Home6
Away7

Fouls
Home12
Away13

Articles

Aberdeen 2 – 1 Celtic: Dons close gap at the top
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/aberdeen-2-1-celtic-dons-close-gap-at-the-top-1-4020328
STEPHEN HALLIDAY

For the first time in 25 years, Aberdeen have completed a home double against Celtic as they mount potentially their most credible title challenge since the 1990-91 season.

That was the last campaign when the Dons collected maximum points from both league fixtures at Pittodrie against Celtic.

First-half goals from Jonny Hayes and debutant Simon Church proved enough to give Derek McInnes’ side an ultimately fully deserved victory, extending their current unbeaten league run to 11 games and cutting the gap on Celtic at the top of the Premiership table to three points.

READ MORE – Five things we learned from Aberdeen 2 – 1 Celtic

Leigh Griffiths’ 28th goal of the season came too late to salvage another dispiriting night for beleaguered Celtic manager Ronny Deila.

On the back of Sunday’s League Cup semi-final loss to Ross County, this was another stuttering performance from his players which will only intensify scrutiny of the Norwegian’s position.

With 14 games of the Premiership season remaining, Celtic’s bid for a fifth successive title faces a genuine threat from an Aberdeen side whose confidence and momentum should gather strength after this win.

Hayes’ stunning opener for the hosts was of a quality in the sharpest possible contrast to the half hour of tense and often laboured football which had preceded it.

Both teams struggled to find much in the way of fluency or rhythm on a bumpy and unpredictable playing surface. On more than one occasion, players lost their footing at crucial moments.

Aberdeen had started the evening with a show of defiance to the champions even before kick-off, lining up around the centre circle and staring down the Celtic players when they engaged in their traditional “huddle”. But once the action was underway, there was no immediate indication of the dominant position McInnes’ men would forge for themselves by the interval.

It was Celtic who were largely in the ascendancy during that tepid opening 30 minutes in terms of possession and territorial advantage. Not that Deila’s side were able to carve out any clear-cut scoring chances in that spell.

They were restricted to efforts from distance, the first of which saw Nir Bitton’s well struck free-kick from 30 yards fumbled by Aberdeen keeper Scott Brown who had to scramble frantically to gather the ball at the second attempt.

Celtic’s own Scott Brown was back in their starting line-up for the first time in two months and the captain made his presence felt with two calculated fouls in rapid order which had the home fans screaming for action from referee Steven McLean.

The match official settled for a word in the ear of a typically unfazed Brown, whose next contribution saw him blaze a shot over in the 15th minute at the end of the first piece of sustained passing managed by either side.

Griffiths saw a shot deflected wide for one of a series of Celtic corners and it was the visitors who looked far likelier to make the breakthrough.

But they were rocked by Hayes’ sensational 31st-minute strike. Picking up a loose ball from a throw-in on the right, the Irishman – playing with a plaster on the hand bitten by a dog earlier in the week – barely broke stride as he lashed a left foot shot high beyond Craig Gordon’s left hand into the corner of the net from around 25 yards.

Celtic tried to produce an immediate response and Bitton saw his long range effort smartly saved by Brown who fisted the ball to safety. But it was Aberdeen who were now playing with greater purpose and it saw them double their lead in the 38th minute. Not for the first time this season – not even for the first time in the past week – Celtic were undone by a set piece routine. Hayes corner from the right was flicked towards goal by Kenny McLean’s header, the ball beating Gordon and his defenders as on-loan Welsh international Church got the final touch to help it over the line.

Aberdeen’s tails were well and truly up and it required a decent save from Gordon to prevent McLean inflicting further damage on Celtic just before half-time when his low shot was kept out by the keeper diving to his left.

Deila opted for a change in both personnel and formation at the start of the second half. Stuart Armstrong, booked for a petulant foul on Shay Logan just before the interval, was replaced by Colin Kazim-Richards with the big striker making his debut as a partner for Griffiths in a 4-4-2 set-up.

READ MORE – The 12 most intriguing SPFL transfers of deadline day

Aberdeen were in no mood to simply try to protect their lead as they sensed further opportunities to take advantage of the increased vulnerability and uncertainty of their opponents.

The Celtic defence were on their heels again in the 50th minute when a scramble in their penalty area ended with Church poking an effort narrowly wide from close range.

At the other end, Celtic continued to find a cutting edge elusive, although Griffiths should have done better than send a free header wide after being picked out by Brown’s cleverly flighted cross from the right.

Adam Rooney was similarly profligate for Aberdeen, heading wide from close range after Gordon had completely missed another Hayes corner from the right.

In their growing frustration, Celtic were in danger of losing their discipline and Kazim-Richards did nothing to debunk his reputation by earning a booking for appearing to aim a stamp at grounded Dons defender Ash Taylor.

Griffiths garnered some consolation for Celtic in stoppage time, cutting inside from the right to plant a left foot shot beyond Brown but the Dons were not to be denied.

Referee: S McLean

Attendance: 19,003

ABERDEEN: Brown; Logan, Taylor, Reynolds, Shinnie; Hayes (Smith 86), Storie, McLean, McGinn (Considine 72); Church (Pawlett 77), Rooney. Subs not used: Collin, McKenna, Robson, Ross.

CELTIC: Gordon; Lustig (Allan 78), Boyata, Sviatchenko, Tierney; Brown, Bitton; Mackay-Steven, McGregor (Forrest 68), Armstrong (Kazim-Richards 46) ; Griffiths. Subs not used: Bailly, Ambrose, Izaguirre, Cole.

Read more: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/aberdeen-2-1-celtic-dons-close-gap-at-the-top-1-4020328#ixzz3zBkDBzZ3
Follow us: @TheScotsman on Twitter | TheScotsmanNewspaper on Facebook

BBC

By Martin Dowden

BBC Scotland at Pittodrie

From the section Football

Simon Church

Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.
Highlights: Aberdeen 2-1 Celtic

Aberdeen breathed new life into the Premiership title race with a deserved win against league leaders Celtic.

After a dominant start from the visitors, Aberdeen exploded into life when Jonny Hayes fired home an unstoppable drive from 25 yards.

Simon Church marked his debut with a goal when he bundled home from close range to make it 2-0 at Pittodrie.

Leigh Griffiths pulled one back in injury time, but the Dons held on to cut the gap on Celtic to three points.

It was a sensational atmosphere in this top-of-the-table clash, which saw striker Church make his debut for the hosts with Efe Ambrose taking a seat on the bench.

The early exchanges were combative and committed but restricted to long-range efforts that did not threaten an opener.
Simon Church
Church turns the ball home from close range to put Aberdeen 2-0 up

Celtic grew in confidence going forward during the first half, and there were strong claims for a penalty as Shay Logan was thought to have handled the ball.

The contest then erupted and it was Aberdeen who decisively struck.

Hayes gathered a clearance about 25 yards from goal and hit a fabulous strike which crept inside goalkeeper Craig Gordon's post.

As Celtic manager Ronny Deila looked on in horror, things got worse for his side as Aberdeen roared further ahead.

Hayes sent in a corner, Kenny McLean nodded on and debutant Church kneed the ball home from close range to send Pittodrie wild.
Ronny Deila
Celtic's lead at the top of the Premiership has been cut to three points

McLean came close to a third just before half-time with a fierce drive from outside the box which Gordon diverted.

Deila's half-time response was to hand a debut to Colin Kazim-Richards at the expense of Stuart Armstrong.

However, it was Aberdeen who should have gone further ahead.

Defensive indecision presented Church with a glorious chance to seal it, but he somehow screwed the ball wide from close range.

Celtic struggled to create until Scott Brown hooked the ball across for Griffiths, who looked certain to bury a header back across goal, but it inched past the far post.

Niall McGinn then fired from distance and Gordon cleared the ball as it looked to be heading just wide.

Then Griffiths cut inside onto his left foot and fired past Scott Brown to pull one back for Celtic in stoppage time, but there was not enough time left to search for an equaliser.

Match ends, Aberdeen 2, Celtic 1.
Full Time
Posted at 90'+4'
Second Half ends, Aberdeen 2, Celtic 1.
Goal!
Posted at 90'+3'
Goal! Aberdeen 2, Celtic 1. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Erik Sviatchenko.
Posted at 90'
Adam Rooney (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 90'
Foul by Nir Bitton (Celtic).
Posted at 89'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Craig Storie.
Posted at 88'
Nir Bitton (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 88'
Foul by Cameron Smith (Aberdeen).
Substitution
Posted at 86'
Substitution, Aberdeen. Cameron Smith replaces Jonny Hayes.
Posted at 84'
Foul by Kieran Tierney (Celtic).
Posted at 84'
Jonny Hayes (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 78'
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Kieran Tierney.
Substitution
Posted at 78'
Substitution, Celtic. Scott Allan replaces Mikael Lustig.
Substitution
Posted at 76'
Substitution, Aberdeen. Peter Pawlett replaces Simon Church.
Posted at 75'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Mark Reynolds.
Posted at 75'
Foul by Kenny McLean (Aberdeen).
Posted at 75'
James Forrest (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Posted at 72'
Substitution, Aberdeen. Andrew Considine replaces Niall McGinn.
Booking
Posted at 71'
Simon Church (Aberdeen) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 71'
Dedryck Boyata (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 71'
Foul by Simon Church (Aberdeen).
Posted at 69'
Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 69'
Foul by Craig Storie (Aberdeen).
Substitution
Posted at 68'
Substitution, Celtic. James Forrest replaces Callum McGregor.
Posted at 67'
Foul by Kenny McLean (Aberdeen).
Posted at 67'
Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Posted at 66'
Scott Brown (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 66'
Niall McGinn (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 66'
Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
Booking
Posted at 65'
Colin Kazim-Richards (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at 64'
Foul by Ash Taylor (Aberdeen).
Posted at 64'
Colin Kazim-Richards (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 63'
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Craig Gordon.
Posted at 63'
Attempt saved. Niall McGinn (Aberdeen) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Posted at 62'
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Kieran Tierney.
Posted at 60'
Ash Taylor (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 60'
Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
Posted at 59'
Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Posted at 52'
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Erik Sviatchenko.
Posted at 50'
Attempt missed. Simon Church (Aberdeen) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right.
Posted at 50'
Foul by Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic).
Posted at 50'
Niall McGinn (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 46'
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Kieran Tierney.
Second Half
Posted at
Second Half begins Aberdeen 2, Celtic 0.
Substitution
Posted at 45'
Substitution, Celtic. Colin Kazim-Richards replaces Stuart Armstrong.
Half Time
Posted at 45'+2'
First Half ends, Aberdeen 2, Celtic 0.
Posted at 45'+2'
Attempt blocked. Nir Bitton (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at 45'
Attempt saved. Kenny McLean (Aberdeen) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Booking
Posted at 44'
Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 44'
Shaleum Logan (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 44'
Foul by Stuart Armstrong (Celtic).
Posted at 43'
Ash Taylor (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 43'
Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
Posted at 41'
Attempt missed. Ash Taylor (Aberdeen) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Posted at 40'
Jonny Hayes (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 40'
Foul by Nir Bitton (Celtic).
Posted at 40'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Graeme Shinnie.
Goal!
Posted at 37'
Goal! Aberdeen 2, Celtic 0. Simon Church (Aberdeen) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jonny Hayes following a corner.
Posted at 37'
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Kieran Tierney.
Posted at 35'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Shaleum Logan.
Posted at 34'
Attempt saved. Nir Bitton (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Goal!
Posted at 31'
Goal! Aberdeen 1, Celtic 0. Jonny Hayes (Aberdeen) left footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner.
Posted at 29'
Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 29'
Foul by Jonny Hayes (Aberdeen).
Posted at 27'
Foul by Adam Rooney (Aberdeen).
Posted at 27'
Nir Bitton (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 25'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Niall McGinn.
Posted at 22'
Foul by Kenny McLean (Aberdeen).
Posted at 22'
Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 20'
Adam Rooney (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 20'
Foul by Nir Bitton (Celtic).
Posted at 18'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Mark Reynolds.
Posted at 18'
Attempt blocked. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at 16'
Attempt missed. Kenny McLean (Aberdeen) left footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Posted at 16'
Hand ball by Dedryck Boyata (Celtic).
Posted at 15'
Attempt missed. Scott Brown (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Posted at 12'
Hand ball by Adam Rooney (Aberdeen).
Posted at 11'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ash Taylor.
Posted at 10'
Attempt blocked. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at 9'
Foul by Ash Taylor (Aberdeen).
Posted at 9'
(Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 8'
Jonny Hayes (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 8'
Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
Posted at 8'
Niall McGinn (Aberdeen) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 8'
Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
Posted at 5'
Attempt saved. Nir Bitton (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Posted at 5'
Foul by Kenny McLean (Aberdeen).
Posted at 5'
Callum McGregor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 3'
Niall McGinn (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 3'
Foul by Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic).
Kick Off
Posted at
First Half begins.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.