So, after the first title decider of spring, the first title winners - Celtic are now six points ahead of Aberdeen with a game in hand. For all Aberdeen’s efforts in the first half, Celtic were deserved winners, taking advantage of defensive mistakes to take a 2-0 lead, and then killing the game with some impressive counter-attacking play.
Aberdeen offered more creativity and guile than their hosts for much of the game, but unravelled spectacularly after Leigh Griffiths’s penalty. Nobody wants to lose a title decider 4-0, but Derek McInnes will try and pick out the positives from the first hour; they gave Celtic far more problems than the scoreline suggests.
Celtic, without wanting to sound glib, haven’t had too many crunch league games in the last few seasons; after a ponderous start, it was they who handled the occasion better, and made their chances count. The Scottish Premiership title race - it was fun while it lasted. Thanks for joining me. Bye!
Full-time: Celtic 4-0 Aberdeen
That’s the end of that; Celtic, who struggled so badly in the first half, tore their opponents apart in the second - but Aberdeen will wonder what might have been, were it not for the errors made by Brown and Reynolds. Deila punches the air in front of the home faithful; whatever he might tell us after the game, he must know the title is a near-certainty now.
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90 mins: One added minute.
89 mins: Keep-ball from the hosts here. Despite the scoreline, this is the most relaxed Celtic have been all afternoon; Aberdeen have certainly made a game of this, but you know, something about taking your chances.
86 mins: Jack goes into the book for a foul on Biton, surely borne of frustration. Celtic, having put their title rivals to the sword in fifteen mad minutes, are now taking it easy. They’ll be six points clear at the top when the whistle blows.
84 mins: Rooney, who has scored 23 goals this season but was kept very quiet by Celtic’s central defenders, is replaced by centre-back Ash Taylor, Derek McInnes trying to make sure this doesn’t get out of hand. Jack curls an ambitious effort wide of Gordon’s right-hand post, as they search for a consolation goal.
82 mins: Rooney picks up a booking for a foul on Mackay-Steven - not that it does much good, as Celtic break away, denied a fifth only by supreme indecision on the part of John Guidetti. One way traffic here - Aberdeen’s discipline has crumbled.
GOAL! Celtic 4-0 Aberdeen (Johansen)
After an hour of struggle, Celtic have absolutely blown Aberdeen away in less than twenty minutes. Matthews, finally able to break away from his defensive duties, collects an expert through ball from Mackay-Steven, and rolls a simple cross to Johansen. The Norwegian has all the time he needs, and sweeps the ball into the far corner.
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77 mins: Flood is caught cold in the middle of the park, and suddenly Celtic have three players advancing on the Aberdeen goal. Guidetti underhits his through pass to Johansen, though, and the move breaks down.
75 mins: A spell of midfield possession for Aberdeen, who now go about the business of salvaging some pride. They work the ball well, until Flood, in space inside the area, can only prod a cross at Gordon. It rather sums up Aberdeen’s efforts in the final third.
72 mins: Anthony Stokes is on for Armstrong; he’s scored 13 goals in previous games against Aberdeen for Celtic. Guidetti is the latest Celtic player to get a shot on goal, but it ripples the side netting.
70 mins: Ten minutes ago, Ryan Jack had a presentable chance at an equaliser - which at that stage, was the least Aberdeen deserved. Now, it’s a case of how many, with the visitors looking ragged at the back. Celtic have got stronger as the game has gone on; given, their Euro League exertions, you imagine Ronny Deila will be happy with that.
GOAL! Celtic 3-0 Aberdeen (Mackay-Steven)
You sensed the tide had turned, and now the task is surely beyond Aberdeen. Mackay-Steven carries the ball forward, picks his spot, and drills a left-footed shot across Brown, and in off the far post. Finish!
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67 mins: David Goodwillie will be coming on imminently, as Aberdeen look to strike back. What an exceptional display of own-foot-shooting this has been from the Dons defence.
66 mins: Johansen is the latest man in green and white to burst unopposed into the Aberdeen area, and his shot is turned beyond the near post by Brown. This game could get away from the visitors very quickly.
64 mins: That’s the end of Griffiths’s involvement, as he’s replaced by John Guidetti, on loan from Man City. The striker is almost on the scoresheet immediately, but can’t reach Mackay-Steven’s delivery.
GOAL! Celtic 2-0 Aberdeen (Griffiths)
Leigh Griffiths tucks the penalty away, and Celtic have a decisive advantage.
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Penalty to Celtic!
Celtic break away again, and Mackay-Steven finds Johansen in the box. Reynolds clatters into the back of the midfielder, and that’s a penalty.
60 mins: Moments later, McGinn puts in a teasing delivery from the right, and after half-hearted handball shouts, the ball falls to Jack on the edge of the area - but his shot goes wide! You have to hit the target. Have to.
59 mins: That said, Aberdeen are still a threat - and Rooney isn’t far off connecting with a clinical McGinn through ball from tight on the left flank.
57 mins: A brief lull after a breakneck start to the second half, but Celtic will be happier, having preserved their lead and found their attacking edge. Johansen in particular is wielding a greater influence in the second period, as the visitors’ midfield opens up.
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55 mins: Ball in net for Celtic – but Griffiths, who raced onto Johansen’s flicked header and slid the ball past Scott Brown, was a good yard offside. Commentators suggest Griffiths didn’t hear the whistle - sure he didn’t.
53 mins: The problem for Aberdeen now is that Celtic, much more direct going forward, can break on them every time an attacking move breaks down. This time, Griffiths scampers in on goal from the right, and tests Brown with a well-struck shot - but the keeper gets behind it.
52 mins: Aberdeen continue to dazzle down the right, with Logan, Pawlett and McLean all linking up, before the latter heaves a cross in, which Considine heads over. Some of Aberdeen’s build-up play has been so good to watch - but they’ve nothing to show for it yet.
50 mins: The game has opened up virtually from the kick-off, and Johansen breaks away down the left. Suddenly, Celtic have two forwards to one defender, with Griffiths waiting patiently for Johansen to roll the ball across goal. The pass, when it comes, is woeful - the angle and pace so badly judged, Griffiths can’t even keep the ball in play. Poor.
49 mins: It’s been a brisk start here, with Pawlett bamboozling Bitton, who concedes a free-kick and picks up a booking. Again, Aberdeen can’t find a killer ball from the free-kick, as van Dijk heads away.
47 mins: Celtic break away, and Armstrong can’t quite feed the ball to Mackay-Steven, with Logan scrambling the ball away. That’s the first time Celtic’s front men have stretched the Aberdeen defence - under their own steam anyway.
46 mins: Aberdeen go straight on the offensive, Pawlett diverting Logan’s pass with a cute flick to find McLean, whose cross is headed behind. From the corner, van Dijk clears out to Jack, who finds McGinn on the right. His low cross is backheeled wide of the near post by Daniels, who perhaps could have tried something less showy.
Peep! The second half is underway...
Celtic leading by a goal to nil. This game is still there for Aberdeen, if their front four can keep causing the home defence problems - although they have missed Johnny Hayes since he went off with an injury. Celtic can surely play much better, but they’re winning anyway, so may not bother.
Half-time, and 11-year-old Celtic fan Jay Beatty is on the field to accept his SPFL goal of the month award. Confused? More info here.
Half-time: Celtic 1-0 Aberdeen
That’ll do for the first half. Aberdeen have had the better chances, and played the better football. Celtic have had one chance, and taken it. It’s finely poised - back in a few.
44 mins: McLean hits a swerving speculator from the free-kick, around 25 yards out. Gordon doesn’t look comfortable, but does enough to tip the ball over the bar. The corner is seen off with greater ease by the Celtic defence.
43 mins: Aberdeen look a little forlorn, with McGinn trying to get the visitors going again. They’re given an opportunity before half-time, as Ambrose bundles Pawlett to the floor.
39 mins: A penny for Aberdeen goalkeeper Scott Brown’s thoughts. After an excellent first half, his error has handed Celtic the initiative. The game has suddenly become very scrappy, with Brown’s namesake in green and white picking up a caution, and Willo Flood joining him in the book.
GOAL! Celtic 1-0 Aberdeen (Denayer)
And just like that, it’s Celtic who lead. Armstrong whips a terrific ball across the six-yard box, and Denayer thumps home the header.
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35 mins: A fourth corner for Aberdeen is headed away by van Dijk, and after a failed long pass, the ball ends up with Dons keeper Scott Brown. His clearance is awful, played straight to Johansen who finds Griffiths, and Brown is forced to push his shot away. A first corner, from nothing, for Celtic...
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33 mins: A few strange bounces from the Celtic Park pitch, and one helps Mackay-Steven control the ball in the Aberdeen area. He has to go out wide to Ambrose, whose cross is overhit. Celtic have had very little joy in the final third in the first half an hour.
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31 mins: A blow for Aberdeen, as Johnny Hayes, probably their standout player so far, has picked up an injury - he’ll be replaced by Peter Pawlett. The winger’s last involvement is to play in McGinn down the right flank. His cross is cleared by van Dijk, but is worked back to Ryan Jack. His shot from 25 yards has power, but is fired straight at Craig Gordon.
28 mins: Griffiths tries to slip a through ball into the path of Johansen, but it’s overhit, and draws a few groans from the home contingent. The striker then slides in heavily on Logan, and is lucky to escape a booking.
25 mins: Aberdeen take a more agricultural approach, with Considine hoiking in a long throw that unsettles the Celtic defence. The ball rebounds to Jack, but his shot, from twenty-five yards out, is weak as a kitten.
24 mins: Aberdeen continue to torment their hosts down the flanks; this time, Ryan Jack clips the ball beyond Denayer, winning a corner, which Mackay-Steven clears away. Goes without saying, but Aberdeen will need to make their dominance pay sooner rather than later.
22 mins: It’s been sluggish, to say the least, from Celtic so far; this time, Ambrose pushes down the left side, but with limited options ahead, wafts a long ball towards Griffiths that’s never reaching him. Gary Mackay-Steven, often a creative spark for Celtic, has been periphal so far.
20 mins: Another opportunity for Aberdeen to make a breakthrough, as Hayes is fouled by Ambrose close to the corner flag. The ball in, perhaps for the first time from the visitors, is wasteful, drifting over the frame of the goal.
18 mins: Hayes appears to have Ambrose’s number, once again surging beyond the Celtic left-back, and picking out Rooney with an inviting cross. The centre-forward - the Scottish league’s top scorer, no less - gets a head to the ball, but it lacks the power to test Craig Gordon.
16 mins: Johansen, who has been a key cog in Celtic’s recent winning run, tries to find Griffiths with a looping diagonal ball, but the forward is outnumbered. Celtic enjoying a spell of comfort after that aggressive opening spell from Aberdeen.
14 mins: Celtic attempt to hold possession higher up the pitch, with Ambrose bringing the ball forward. Flood is there to intercept the ball. The hosts are huffing and puffing to little effect in the early stages.
12 mins: Yet more Aberdeen pressure, as McGinn, operating effectively on the left, wins a corner off Matthews. Hayes offers up another dangerous delivery, but Gordon punches clear.
10 mins: Another opening for Aberdeen as Hayes finds space down the right, but his low cross evades both Rooney and McGinn in the middle. Aberdeen’s front four have the run of the Celtic half at present.
9 mins: Celtic negotiate that early scare without conceding, but they do suffer an early setback; Kris Commons is injured, and will be replaced by Stuart Armstrong.
8 mins: From the free kick, McGinn controls the ball wide left, and tries an ambitious lob over Gordon. It’s mishit, but spins over the goalkeeper, who has to stretch supernaturally to tip the ball over. From the corner, Considine has a free header - but puts it over! Early opportunities aplenty for the visitors.
7 mins: It’s been a scrappy start, with Celtic having most of the ball, but understandably looking a touch edgy. Scott Brown oafishly bundles McLean over in the middle of his own half, and Aberdeen have another free kick.
5 mins: An early goal for Celtic would really take the wind from Aberdeen’s sails; Leigh Griffiths is the first to shoot on goal, but his effort is dragged wide of Brown’s near post.
4 mins: Willo Flood, once of Celtic, is lucky to escape a booking after a late, clumsy tackle on Ambrose. Any later than four minutes, and he’d have surely gone into the book.
2 mins: An early opportunity for the visitors to put in a set-piece, as Kenny McLean is bundled over on the left hand side. The winger whips a tempting ball across goal, but nobody in a red shirt can get a decisive touch
Peep!
We’re off.
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5 minutes to kick-off. At the start of the season, you could get odds of 40-1 on Aberdeen winning the title, and they were second favourites. It’s been a remarkable achievement by Derek McInnes to even get the Dons, who last won the title under Sir Alex Ferguson, into something resembling a title race. With Aberdeen having eight days’ rest, compared to less than three for Celtic, there’s definitely a chance for the dream to continue beyond today.
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The teams
Ronny Deila makes three changes from Thursday’s defeat at the San Siro, with to Leigh Griffiths, Efe Ambrose and Kris Commons coming in for John Guidetti, Emilio Izaguirre and Stuart Armstrong. For Aberdeen, winger Jonny Hayes makes an early return from injury, replacing Peter Pawlett in the starting eleven.
Celtic: Gordon; Matthews, Denayer, van Dijk, Ambrose; Brown, Bitton; Commons, Johansen, Mackay-Steven; Griffiths.
Subs: Zaluska, Guidetti, Stokes, Armstrong, Wakaso, Forrest, Henderson.
Aberdeen: Brown; Logan, Considine, Reynolds, Daniels; Flood, Jack, McGinn, McLean, Hayes; Rooney.
Subs: Langfield, Taylor, Smith, Robson, Pawlett, Goodwillie, Shaughnessy.
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Preamble
Hello, and welcome to the beginning of the end. Today is 1st March – as good an arbitrary date as any to mark a watershed in the football season. We’re leaving winter behind and heading for the home straight - and where better to begin than sun-kissed Glasgow, and perhaps the first bona fide title decider of the season?
Leaders Celtic welcome second-placed Aberdeen, with just three points separating the teams; last season, the Dons finished 31 points behind champions Celtic. Should the hosts win, they will lead by six points with a game in hand. If Aberdeen prevail, it will be level, with Celtic’s long unbeaten run shredded by their nearest rivals.
So, today is more of a title-race-decider - will Scotland see a genuine battle for the title after recent processions for Celtic? If Aberdeen’s attacking side can snatch a win today, it is very much on. Kick-off is at noon sharp; team news to follow imminently.
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