| Match Pictures | Matches: 2019 – 2020 | 2019-20 Pictures |
Trivia
- Celtic remain top of the league, but nervous victory here with Aberdeen having pulled a goal back but Celtic scored the winner in the second half.
- Lot of hot air over the Aberdeen penalty & redcard.
- On the Cosgrove red card. He admittedly wins the ball cleanly. The images of his foot off the ground seem to be after he won the ball. But he does however take Ajer out with his trailing leg. His speed & lack of control then become aggravating factors. That led to the red card, and so should have been little complaint.
- Concerns about Griffiths, he looks to be done in, needs a lot more gametime to reboot. Many talking now about getting a new stirker on loan at least in January.
- Politics: Calls growing for second independence referendum for Scotland.
- Brazilian side Cruzeiro have confirmed Celtic's interest in Fabricio Bruno after releasing a statement detailing the actions of the player and his agent as they look to push through a move to Europe, though they insist no formal offer has been made.
- UEFA Cup: Celtic season ticket-holders charged £37 to watch match v Copenhagen in last 32 of the UEFA Europa League in a little over two months' time. All supporters are very angry, and find this excessive.
Review
(The C of C of KDS)
Good to get back to Celtic Park today….
Thought we played great first half and we were unlucky not to be a few ahead. Frimpong was playing a bit like he had his shoes on the wrong feet in the first half at times as he kept slipping. But it was really something else watching him ghost past players in real time and the roof would have come off if he found the top corner in the 2nd half.
I agree with what people have been saying about Jamesy, he looks off it and he done more in 2nd half when put on the right than the rest of the match. He gave Christie a wee embrace when they swapped which I read as he couldn’t wait to get on the right. We need to play him on the right next week with Christie through the middle and MJ on the left.
Thought the centre back partnership played well especially and great to see Ajer go to ground and win a tackle.
Finally Griffiths looked rusty as hell and he offered nothing when he came on. He’s defo lacking match fitness but hard to get when he’s been out for so long and Edouard is miles better.
(Fergus McGrain of KDS)
'Back in the day' the Cosgrove tackle would be considered a good tackle. The World has moved on from 'Back in the day'. If he slightly gets that tackle wrong it's a leg breaker, and that is why in the modern game it's a red.
We are making a barrowload of chances on not putting them away, both Hearts and Aberdeen should have been pumped.
Agree with others, on one live viewing, that Forster should have come for the cross for their goal. It was a floater rather than whipped in.
Wee Jeremy's stupid foul could have cost us at the end, tired legs on an inexperienced young player leads to daft decisions. He will learn from the mistakes and thankfully it didn't hurt us.
Ref was awful, especially in the first half.
When Griffiths and Johnstone came on we didn't half look like a wee team and I worried about punts into the box at corners and free kicks, and was delighted the Aberdeen player shot instead of crossing at the end.
The Hearts game on a heavy pitch took it's toll on us for the last 10/15 minutes.
Delighted another 3pts in the bag…….. God, imagine having to watch Aberdeen every week…..
Teams
Celtic
- 67 Forster
- 30 Frimpong Booked at 90mins
- 02 Jullien
- 35 Ajer
- 23 Bolingoli-Mbombo
- 08 Brown
- 42 McGregor
- 17 Christie Booked at 39mins
- 21 Ntcham· Substituted for Johnston at 62'minutes
- 49Forrest· Substituted for Rogic at 82'minutes
- 22Edouard Substituted for Griffiths at 77'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Gordon
- 3Taylor
- 6Bitton
- 9Griffiths
- 10Bayo
- 18Rogic
- 19Johnston
Goals
- Jullien (7' minutes),
- Edouard (66' minutes)
Aberdeen
- 1Lewis
- 2Logan
- 14Taylor
- 5McKenna
- 4ConsidineBooked at 90mins
- 33Vyner
- 19Ferguson
- 22Ojo· Substituted forMainat 74'minutes
- 28Wilson· Substituted forMcLennanat 57'minutes
- 16CosgroveBooked at 69mins (Red Card)
- 10McGinnSubstituted forGallagherat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Devlin
- 9Main
- 11Hedges
- 18McLennan
- 20Cerny
- 21Gallagher
- 24Campbell
Goals
- Cosgrove (35' minutes, Dismissed at 69' minutes)
Referee:
Euan Anderson
Attendance:
59,131
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Forum
MOTM
- Voting Thread
- Result Thread
- Winner –
Stats
Home Team
Celtic
Away Team
Aberdeen
Possession
Home59%
Away41%
Shots
Home28
Away2
Shots on Target
Home11
Away1
Corners
Home6
Away1
Fouls
Home12
Away13
Articles
Celtic 2 – 1 Aberdeen: Odsonne Edouard nets to ease leaders past ten-man Dons
Gavin McCafferty1
Email
Published: 16:54 Saturday 21 December 2019
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/celtic-2-1-aberdeen-odsonne-edouard-nets-to-ease-leaders-past-ten-man-dons-1-5065728Odsonne Edouard hit a second-half winner as Celtic regained their five-point lead in the Ladbrokes Premiership with a 2-1 victory over Aberdeen.
Edouard produced a smart finish in the 66th minute after the introduction of Mikey Johnston and resulting reshuffle of Celtic's attacking line-up had given them fresh impetus.
Aberdeen striker Sam Cosgrove was sent off for a challenge on Kristoffer Ajer three minutes later after earlier heading his 20th goal of the season to cancel out Christopher Jullien's seventh-minute opener.
It was Aberdeen's only effort on target while Celtic almost paid for failing to capitalise on their dominance – they had 28 efforts on goal and 11 on target. The Dons back four defended their box well but the hosts were also guilty of over-playing at times.
The pattern of play emerged early on and Jullien diverted Ryan Christie's corner against the bar before succeeding from the same source four minutes later. The Frenchman beat Ash Taylor to the delivery and volleyed a shot off the ground and into the top corner.
The champions largely pinned Aberdeen back as they went for a second. Joe Lewis pushed away Edouard's drive after the striker turned Taylor on the edge of box and also made more routine saves from Scott Brown and James Forrest.
Chrstie shot just wide after Forrest's run was halted and Edouard had a shot deflected wide from Boli Bolingoli's cutback.
Aberdeen had forced a couple of set-pieces in the final third but their equaliser came out of the blue. Niall McGinn hung up a cross to the back post and Cosgrove got above Ajer to head into the top corner from six yards.
Celtic sprang back into life and appealed strongly for a penalty when Edouard went down over the sliding legs of James Wilson, but the Aberdeen forward appeared to have touched the ball and referee Euan Anderson waved play on.
The hosts had a great chance to go back in front before the break but Edouard hesitated after being played through by Forrest's return pass and Shay Logan nicked the ball away from his feet.
Lewis saved from Forrest after more intricate play but Celtic were not getting far in the opening stages of the second half and manager Neil Lennon made a change on the hour mark. Left-winger Johnston replaced Olivier Ntcham, allowing Forrest to switch to the right flank and Christie to take up a central role.
Johnston and Christie both had shots saved before Celtic opened the Dons up. Ajer stepped out of defence before Christie threaded the ball through for Edouard, who swiftly dispatched a shot just inside the post.
Aberdeen's chances soon fell apart. Ajer had just made a risky but perfect sliding challenge on Jon Gallagher in his own box before keeping the ball in play. Cosgrove sprinted over and threw himself into a tackle, getting the ball but catching the Norwegian on the follow-through.
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The challenge sparked an angry reaction with Brown running 20 yards to remonstrate, and Anderson was soon on the scene to show a straight red card. Cosgrove and Brown continued to clash as the Dons striker walked off.
Forrest, Christie and Jeremie Frimpong missed the target before the latter handed the visitors a chance to take their second shot by conceding a free-kick on the edge of the box. McGinn hit the effort too high.
BBC
By Alasdair Lamont
BBC Scotland at Celtic Park
From the section Scottish Premiership
Celtic overcame dogged 10-man Aberdeen to secure a 10th successive Scottish Premiership win and restore their five-point lead at the top.
Odsonne Edouard's second-half strike settled it after Sam Cosgrove – later sent off for a lunge on Kris Ajer – levelled with his 20th goal this term.
Celtic led early through Christopher Jullien, but struggled to make their superiority count. They have played a game more than closest challengers Rangers, who had narrowed the gap with victory at Hibs on Friday.
The Old Firm rivals meet on 29 December in the final fixture before the winter shutdown, with Celtic first facing St Mirren away on Boxing Day.
Aberdeen are now three away games without a league win and replaced by Motherwell in third place.
Reaction & as it happened
Celtic pressure pays off
Celtic's imperious home record in the league this season – nine wins from nine – looked a certainty to be extended as they flew out the traps.
Jullien had already hit the crossbar by getting on the end of a Ryan Christie corner by the time he put them in front.
The second time he volleyed the ball into the ground and past the despairing dive of Joe Lewis, though he may have been aided by a deflection off Ash Taylor.
The champions were playing with a fluency that did not augur well for Aberdeen, who had been steamrollered in the previous meeting between the sides at Pittodrie.
Edouard was a constant menace, forcing Lewis into action with a shot from the edge of the area before watching a close-range finish deflected wide at the end of another gorgeous flowing move.
So when Aberdeen pulled level, it was to the astonishment of just about everyone inside Celtic Park.
dons stat
Neil Lennon vented his fury as Jeremie Frimpong was penalised for a challenge on Niall McGinn and that was amplified as Aberdeen profited. The initial free-kick was half-cleared but McGinn clipped in a cross that was met by a prodigious leap and emphatic header from a towering Cosgrove.
That did little to stymie Celtic's incessant pressure and they felt they should have had a penalty for James Wilson's last-ditch tackle on Edouard, but referee Euan Anderson was unmoved.
Waves and waves of Celtic attacks continued to yield nothing though, with Lewis dealing with shots – mainly from distance – from James Forrest, Callum McGregor, Mikey Johnston and Christie.
A second Celtic goal did feel inevitable, however, and when it did arrive it was the result of more slick passing – this time between Edouard and Christie – as the Frenchman slipped the ball beyond Lewis to secure the points.
That may have been the case regardless but Aberdeen's chances of a second equaliser were greatly diminished by Cosgrove's dismissal.
There was a time his sliding challenge on Ajer would have been deemed a good one, but in the modern game the speed and force of it caused Anderson to produce the red card.
Aberdeen's performance was a vast improvement on the meek display they turned in against Celtic last time out but their reward was exactly the same.
Man of the match – Odsonne Edouard
Perhaps still not back to full fitness but Celtic are a different team with Edouard leading the line.
His hold-up play, flicks and tricks and awareness, not to mention his goalscoring ability, give Celtic another dimension.
'Of course it's not a red' – reaction
Celtic assistant manager John Kennedy: "It could have been a more emphatic win. Our last few games have been like that – the scoreline hasn't reflected our chances created and quality of play. In terms of performance, we can't ask for much more."
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes: "Of course it's not a red. Sam has won the ball. It's actually a great tackle. 100% we will be appealing against the decision."
BBC
Celtic 2-1 Aberdeen: Kristoffer Ajer 'laughing & winking' at red-carded Sam Cosgrove says Derek McInnes
From the section Scottish Premiership
Celtic's Kristoffer Ajer was "laughing and winking" at red-carded Sam Cosgrove while lying on the ground, said Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes.
The Dons manager also revealed Celtic counterpart Neil Lennon agreed Cosgrove should not have been sent off in his side's 2-1 defeat to the champions.
Aberdeen striker Cosgrove was shown a straight red card after 69 minutes for a challenge on Norwegian Ajer.
"100% we will be appealing against the decision," McInnes told BBC Scotland.
Edouard scores winner as Celtic beat Aberdeen
Reaction and how it happened
The dismissal for Cosgrove, who had earlier cancelled out Christopher Jullien's strike, came three minutes after Odsonne Edouard had restored Celtic's lead as Aberdeen fell to fourth place in the Premiership.
The striker won the ball before his trailing leg caught Ajer on the follow through.
"I have watched it 20 times and Cosgrove has won the ball cleanly," McInnes said.
"If he goes in at speed and hits the player at any point then you could understand maybe the referee sending him off. When you go in at speed like that you have got to make sure you get the ball and 100% it's a brilliant tackle.
"He probably doesn't need to go in as quick as he does but he has won the ball cleanly. It's a brilliant tackle.
"And then you've got big Ajer winking at him and laughing at him lying on the ground. There's nothing wrong with the boy. The boy carries on, I didn't see anything wrong with him, he is running about."
And McInnes, whose side have now only won two of their last six games, said Lennon told him "no way was it a red card" after the game.
"I've been asked if it's like Ryan Porteous' challenge [against Rangers for Hibs on Friday]," he said. "It's nothing like Porteous' challenge."
Celtic 'could have won by more'
Celtic assistant manager John Kennedy felt Cosgrove had been taking a risk with his challenge.
"I don't think he fully catches him, he just nicks him," Kennedy said.
"But in the modern game when you fly in at that speed, and you leave the ground, and there is a form of recklessness about it, you give the referee a decision to make and in his eyes it was a red card. So that's up to him."
Celtic had 28 efforts at goal to Aberdeen's two and Kennedy always felt the winner was coming as he side moved five points clear of Rangers at the top of the Premiership.
"It could have been a more emphatic win," he told BBC Scotland. "Our last few games have been like that – the scoreline hasn't reflected our chances created and quality of play. In terms of performance, we can't ask for much more."