Aberdeen 0-1 Celtic: Callum McGregor scores late winner for champions
Aberdeen #Aberdeen
Callum McGregor’s 87th-minute strike proved decisive on his first game for two months
Returning captain Callum McGregor scored a fantastic late winner as Celtic eventually broke down a stubborn Aberdeen side to restore their nine-point lead in the Scottish Premiership.
McGregor – who was making his comeback after two months out with a knee injury – lashed into the net from 20 yards with three minutes of the 90 left.
It was Celtic’s 33rd shot at Pittodrie as they finally wore down Aberdeen’s deep defensive block, which ultimately proved fruitless as they ended the match with two efforts on goal.
Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic move back nine clear of Rangers, while Aberdeen will end the day in third place due to postponements elsewhere.
It was fitting for Celtic that their lynchpin McGregor grabbed the crucial goal, having been out since early October, but it was just the latest example of the champions finding something at the death.
Ross County, St Johnstone, Motherwell and Dundee United have all been downed in the dying moments of games so far this term, and McGregor’s low shot into the bottom corner added Aberdeen to the list.
And while it took until the 87th minute, in truth Celtic should have had the game sewn up long before. Kyogo Furuhashi had the best chance of the lot, but somehow side-footed Liel Abada’s cross wide from a few yards out.
Aberdeen goalkeeper Kelle Roos denied Abada, Reo Hatate, Jota and others as the home side went close to clinging on to a valuable point.
But the fact they didn’t throws into question their defensive approach, as they barely completed 100 passes in the game and mustered two attempts on goal, both of which were well off target.
Celtic motor on as Aberdeen approach raises questions
Celtic scoring a late winner comes as absolutely no surprise, it’s what they have done so regularly in the last three months.
They were frustrated at times by the sheer number of bodies in the Aberdeen box, and probably could have played with some more width in the first half to try to stretch the opposing back five.
Abada made a difference in that regard after coming on at the break, and his great run and cross ought to have led to Kyogo opening the scoring earlier. But overall the champions had total control and could have won more comfortably on another day.
Despite coming with minutes of claiming a point, this performance will draw plenty of criticism towards the tactics of Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin.
He spoke openly about taking inspiration from his old club St Mirren, who are the only side to beat Celtic domestically this season.
The set-up was identical, with a back five and midfield three shuttling across to outnumber Celtic’s wide players.
It worked to a point, except Aberdeen put far less pressure on Celtic when they had the ball than St Mirren, and were far less useful in the rare moments they did have the ball.
Goodwin has spoken openly about the confidence he has in his players and the attacking football they want to play, and have played at home, this season. This approach was contradictory to that.
Last time they played an Old Firm side they were far too open and were picked apart at Ibrox, but here they offered nothing.
Goodwin needs to find a happy medium against the Glasgow’s big two, starting with the visit of Rangers to Pittodrie on Tuesday.
What’s next?
Celtic are at home to Livingston on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), with Aberdeen hosting Rangers the previous night (20:00).
Player of the match
McGregorCallum McGregor
Aberdeen
Squad number24Player nameRoos
Squad number3Player nameMacKenzie
Squad number2Player nameMcCrorie
Squad number33Player nameKennedy
Squad number5Player nameStewart
Squad number11Player nameDuk
Squad number16Player nameRamadani
Squad number8Player nameBarron
Squad number20Player nameClarkson
Squad number22Player nameCoulson
Squad number9Player nameMiovski
Squad number17Player nameHayes
Squad number7Player nameMorris
Squad number23Player nameDuncan
Celtic
Squad number42Player nameMcGregor
Squad number11Player nameAbada
Squad number20Player nameCarter-Vickers
Squad number49Player nameForrest
Squad number3Player nameTaylor
Squad number33Player nameO’Riley
Squad number4Player nameStarfelt
Squad number17Player nameJota
Squad number41Player nameHatate
Squad number1Player nameHart
Squad number8Player nameFuruhashi
Squad number38Player nameMaeda
Squad number14Player nameTurnbull
Squad number7Player nameGiakoumakis
Squad number13Player nameMooy
Squad number56Player nameRalston
Line-ups Aberdeen
Formation 3-5-2
24Roos
2McCrorie5Stewart3MacKenzie
33Kennedy8Barron16Ramadani20Clarkson22Coulson
9Miovski11de Barros Lopes
Substitutes
Celtic
Formation 4-3-3
1Hart
56Ralston20Carter-Vickers4Starfelt3Taylor
42McGregor33O’Riley41Hatate
38Maeda8Furuhashi17Neves Filipe
Substitutes
Live Text
Match ends, Aberdeen 0, Celtic 1.
90’+5′
Second Half ends, Aberdeen 0, Celtic 1.
90’+5′
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jack MacKenzie.
90’+3′
Substitution, Aberdeen. Shayden Morris replaces Anthony Stewart.
90’+3′
Attempt missed. Ross McCrorie (Aberdeen) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Duk.
90′
Substitution, Celtic. Aaron Mooy replaces Matt O’Riley.
87′
Goal! Aberdeen 0, Celtic 1. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by James Forrest.
87′
Attempt blocked. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum McGregor.
86′
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Kelle Roos.
86′
Attempt saved. Liel Abada (Celtic) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by David Turnbull.
84′
Attempt missed. Giorgos Giakoumakis (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Matt O’Riley.
78′
Attempt saved. David Turnbull (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Giorgos Giakoumakis.
78′
Attempt missed. Giorgos Giakoumakis (Celtic) header from the centre of the box misses to the right.
76′
Substitution, Aberdeen. Ryan Duncan replaces Leighton Clarkson.
74′
Foul by David Turnbull (Celtic).
74′
Matthew Kennedy (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
73′
Substitution, Aberdeen. Jonny Hayes replaces Bojan Miovski because of an injury.
73′
Substitution, Celtic. James Forrest replaces Jota.
72′
Substitution, Celtic. Giorgos Giakoumakis replaces Kyogo Furuhashi.
72′
Substitution, Celtic. David Turnbull replaces Reo Hatate.