NEWS
OLD DAYS
(HONOURS)
Aberdeen gave the red army a great early Christmas present as they beat champions Celtic by 2-0 at Pittodrie. Few of the home fans cared that it was now nine home wins in a row as the three points and Skovdahl�s first win against Celtic were enough to send them into raptures. After an average first half, the game erupted into life in the second period with referee Dougal showing nine yellow cards and dismissing captain Derek Whyte. The ten men held out though and sealed the victory with a late goal.
Aberdeen kicked off, but the early exchanges bought little of note except target practice for the snowball throwers in the crowd and a misplaced clearance by Douglas, that Winters was unable to capitalise on. Aberdeen won a free kick wide right in the 8th minute and despite good play by Winters the danger was comfortably dealt with by the Celtic defence. Aberdeen should have taken the lead in the 11th minute when a brilliant turn by Dadi on the left of the box created an opening. The Ivory Coast born striker then delivered a cross which both Winters and Derek Young miss kicked before the ball was scrambled clear for a corner.
Petrov was booked in the 13th minute after an over elaborate fall to the ground inside the Aberdeen penalty area. A minute later, Larsson went close when he hit an effort wide of Kjaer�s left hand post. The match had burst into life and every decision was questioned as no ground was given. Whyte was the next player to be booked after a challenge on Larsson in the 17th minute. Celtic went close in the 23rd minute after Aberdeen gave the ball away cheaply and Petrov swung in a dangerous cross that was scrambled clear for a corner.
McAllister was lucky to escape a booking in the 28th minute after a late challenge on Petrov. Aberdeen almost took a sensational lead on the half hour mark when Douglas fumbled a Robbie Winters miss kicked shot. Fortunately for the Celtic keeper the ball slipped wide of the post for a corner. In the 33rd minute the Dons back four got in a bit of a tangle before finally scrambling the ball clear. There was controversy a minute later when Darren Young set up his brother Derek. Just as Derek was set to shoot, Alan Thomson tackled the youngster amid claims of a penalty kick.
Celtic started to turn up the heat before half time and Dadi did well to clear a corner kick before Kjaer had to look sharp to palm away a Larsson effort in the 40th minute. In between, a Thompson cross had went begging as Aberdeen held firm. The Dons did break in the 43rd minute and Bisconti had a dig from 25 yards, but his effort went well over the cross bar. Controversy erupted again on the stroke of half time when Sutton elbowed Bisconti in the face. When the arguments had died down Dougal booked both players and awarded Celtic a free kick.
Aberdeen should have taken the lead in the 46th minute when a deep cross into the box found Winters. Dadi met his knock down, but Douglas easily held his weak effort. Seconds later Larsson shot inches wide of Kjaer�s post. Referee Dougal was not endearing himself to the home crowd as he continually denied the home side free kick�s. Darren Young went close in the 50th minute when Douglas fumbled a 25-yard effort. Dadi tried to latch on to the loose ball, but Douglas cleared and despite Dadi�s claims for a spot kick, Dougal rightly waived play on. Celtic went close again in the 54th minute from a free kick wide right. Keeper Kjaer was alert however and grabbed the ball.
The Dons took the lead in the 58th minute from another Winters spot kick. Hartson had handled in the box after McGuire had taken a wild fresh air swing at the ball following a �follow the leader� corner kick. Dougal had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Winters hammered the ball into the centre of the goal. As expected Celtic came storming back, but the Dons defence put on a back to the walls display to keep them at bay. Celtic won a free kick in the 65th minute, but the wall blocked Larsson�s effort.
In a repeat of the corner kick that lead to the opening goal, McGuire collected on the edge of the box, but hit his shot over the cross bar. Celtic went close again in the 71st minute when Larsson broke forward. Once more the Dons held their nerve to clear the danger. Two minutes later Balde should have done better as he ballooned the ball over from six yards. At this point the Dons were struggling to get out of their own half. In the 77th minute Skovdahl introduced Mackie�s pace to the match as he replaced Derek Young.
In a quite shocking bit of unsporting play, Celtic almost drew level. Celtic failed to return a throw in after the ball was put out. They broke into the box and McGuire headed a Larsson effort off the goal line. The game then erupted as arguments raged all over the pitch. After the dust had settled Petta and McAllister were booked. The South Stand linesman then spoke with the referee and Derek Whyte received a second yellow card and an early bath. In a nail biting finish, Balde headed over deep into injury time. Sensationally Mackie sealed the victory in the dying seconds when Douglas failed to control a Valgaeran pass back. The speedy forward pounced and had the simplest of tasks to put the ball into the empty net.
Aberdeen Teamsheet: Kjaer, McAllister, Whyte, McGuire, Anderson, Guntveit, Bisconti, Darren Young, Derek Young, Winters, Dadi.
Celtic Teamsheet: Douglas, Valgaeren, Balde, Mjalby, Lambert, Lennon, Petrov, Thompson, Larsson, Sutton, Hartson.
Subs: Aberdeen : Mackie for Derek Young (77)
Celtic : McNamara for Hartson (62), Petta for Lambert (72)
Yellow cards: Aberdeen : Whyte (17) , Bisconti (45), Anderson (56), Dadi (74), McAllister (84)
Celtic : Petrov (13), Sutton (45), Petta (84), Lennon (90)
Red cards: Aberdeen : Whyte (85)
Referee: Stuart Dougal
RESULTS,
LEAGUES,
FIXTURES
SCOTTISH CUP