Benjamin Nygren got here off the bench to attain the winner as Celtic moved up into second place within the Premiership with a 2-1 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
This fixture was re-arranged after a waterlogged pitch put paid to the sport in early February and the guests knew a win within the Granite Metropolis would see them leapfrog Outdated Agency rivals Rangers and transfer 5 factors behind league leaders Hearts.
Martin O’Neill determined to begin with Reo Hatate who scored and had been so influential in his facet’s comeback in opposition to Rangers on the weekend however it was Celtic’s different goalscorer from that recreation who gave them then the lead right here when Kieran Tierney struck early on.
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Kieran Tierney scored the primary purpose of the match
Kevin Nisbet pulled Aberdeen again on stage phrases from the penalty spot after Liam Scales was penalised for fouling Toyosi Olusanya within the field however it was substitute Nygren who was the matchwinner when he prodded dwelling from shut vary.
How Celtic moved 5 factors behind Hearts with Pittodrie win
Celtic picked up the place they left off in that late draw at Ibrox and broke the impasse after simply 5 minutes. Luke McCowan’s nook picked out Scales in acres of house within the field and his acrobatic flick-on discovered Tierney who prodded the ball into the web from shut vary.
Kieran Tierney put Celtic forward at Pittodrie
Aberdeen couldn’t get out of their very own half with Celtic taking part in at a a lot increased depth within the opening levels. Callum McGregor went shut shortly after the opener with a stinging effort from vary which was properly held by Dimitar Mitov.
Regardless of Celtic’s early stress, the hosts did settle into the sport earlier than getting their equaliser which got here from the spot after Scales was adjudged to have kicked by means of the again of Olusanya within the field by referee Nick Walsh.
Nisbet stepped as much as ship Viljami Sinisalo the improper means with a cooly taken penalty to get Aberdeen again on stage phrases together with his eighth purpose of the season.
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Kevin Nisbet scored a penalty to equalise
Aberdeen had knocked Celtic out of their early rhythm, however the guests did have a very good likelihood to regain their lead when Sebastian Tounekti reduce inside after a very good break, however he drove his effort simply extensive.
Benjamin Nygren scored Celtic’s winner at Aberdeen
The house facet thought that they had taken the lead simply two minutes after the break when Nisbet received on the top of Mitchel Body’s cross, however his highly effective header was tipped excessive by Sinisalo at full stretch.
Scales then had a terrific alternative to nod Celtic again into the lead when he received on the top of McCowan’s nook however, regardless of discovering himself unmarked, he could not direct his header on the right track.
Kevin Nisbet celebrates together with his team-mates after scoring Aberdeen’s equaliser from the penalty spot
Martin O’Neill made a bunch of adjustments because the half wore on and it was substitute Nygren who put Celtic again in entrance.
The Swede was available to poke the ball into the web after a intelligent supply throughout the six-yard field from James Forrest. VAR checked the purpose for offside, however Nygren was adjudged to have been simply on.
It almost received worse for the house facet shortly after that when Jack Milne slipped in possession permitting Daizen Maeda to run by means of on purpose, however he received his effort all improper and by no means troubled Mitov.
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Benjamin Nygren scored Celtic’s winner
Aberdeen struggled to get out of their very own half as the sport wore on and Celtic might have put the outcome past doubt within the latter levels when Tounekti fed in Marcelo Saracchi, however the Uruguayan blasted his effort over.
O’Neill: Nonetheless a protracted technique to go
Celtic supervisor Martin O’Neill on Sky Sports activities:
“We talked before the game about a difficult evening and I thought that’s exactly what it was. We saw it through and won and that’s three points, very important for us and keeps us in the hunt, if nothing else.
“Once we received the purpose I felt we surrendered the sport and did not actually make the purpose depend. Aberdeen get again into the sport after which within the second half Nygren scores a purpose however I believed we should always have had a penalty earlier than that. I believed it was a handball, it appeared fairly clear however it wasn’t given. We needed to wait a second or two to see if our purpose was onside or offside however fortunately it was onside.
“I thought Aberdeen played strongly today, caused us plenty of problems during the course of the game which I knew they would do. We squandered a couple of chances at the end to make it 3-1 and then you are holding on pretty nervously towards the end.
Celtic’s Benjamin Nygren scores to make it 2-1 in opposition to Aberdeen
“It’s the third game in six days, it’s been pretty tough but it’s been a great effort by the team to win this game tonight and it’s very important for us. There is still a long, long way to go.
On Benjamin Arthur’s late call-up after Dane Murray picked up an injury in the warm-up:
“It was very late – he has proven good attributes in coaching. I feel he’ll be a participant in time, however this was a giant recreation for him to be thrown in. In case you are a substitute, you suppose you may get on throughout the sport, however you aren’t eager about 15-20 minutes earlier than kick-off you’re simply going to step into the sport. So, I believed he did very properly. General, I used to be delighted with him.”
On returning to Ibrox for the Scottish Cup quarter-final against Rangers this weekend:
“I am not so certain I’ve relished these video games in all my time. It is the league off for a short time and now let’s go. We’ll have a giant crowd behind us, and we do not need to allow them to down.”
Leven: Aberdeen need to be more streetwise
Aberdeen interim manager Peter Leven on Sky Sports:
“Irritating. I believed we began okay after which clearly lose a purpose from a set play.
“We came into a little bit and got the goal through Kevin [Nisbet]. Second half, early on, we started really well. It’s a great header [from Nisbet] and a good save [from Sinisalo].
“However general, we must be a bit extra streetwise… there are a pair pushes the place we do not go down, Lyall [Cameron] has to ask the questions on the finish there within the field…
Aberdeen’s Kevin Nisbet scores to make it 1-1 from the penalty spot in opposition to Celtic
“A lot of other teams would’ve crumbled when Celtic got the early goal and I thought there were a lot of positives, but it’s zero points at the end of the day.
“The boys by no means gave up and stored on going proper to the top, so I can not fault their effort. We’re doing alright we’re simply not getting the breaks or the outcomes.
“On Saturday, we’re the holders [of the Scottish Cup], we want to retain the title, so we’ll look forward to that.”
Boyd and Sutton analyse Celtic striker woes
Sky Sports activities’ Chris Sutton:
“Celtic have got to this stage in the title race without a centre forward. It’s unbelievable!”
“They don’t look like scoring but they’re finding a way.”
Celtic’s Daizen Maeda drags a shot extensive in opposition to Aberdeen
Sky Sports activities’ Kris Boyd on Daizen Maeda, who’s with no purpose in 12 video games.
“It’s someone going through lacking in confidence. You can’t fault his work rate, it’s incredible.
“Final season he was excellent, all the things he hit went at the back of the web. This season he is most likely again to the Maeda of the season earlier than final.”
