SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Aberdeen 4 Celtic 2:CELTIC'S DEFENSIVE deficiencies were brutally exposed at Aberdeen yesterday but the controversy surrounding the hosts' crucial third goal will get just as much attention.
The Celtic coaches Garry Pendrey and Neil Lennon accosted the referee, Dougie McDonald, as the teams left the field at full-time, adamant that the official had blown his whistle before a Zander Diamond header hit the net.
Jimmy Calderwood, the Aberdeen manager, agreed with his opposite number, Gordon Strachan, that the whistle had sounded. Celtic believe the referee had chosen to give them a free-kick after a tussle between Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Diamond, before changing his mind.
But he may in fact have been poised to award Aberdeen a penalty only to have second thoughts when the goal was scored.
Television pictures produced little evidence to support either theory.
What was clear here is that Celtic may be worse off without Artur Boruc than with their wayward goalkeeper after all. The error-prone Poland international was injured in the warm-up and therefore a spectator.
All four Aberdeen goals emanated from set plays but it was the third one on which Strachan spoke at greatest length.
Such decisions will matter little to Rangers, who have now cut Celtic’s lead at the summit of the Scottish Premier League to two points.
The referee had denied a seemingly legitimate Aberdeen penalty claim, Scott Brown tripping Gary McDonald, by the time the latter put his team in front. Stuart Duff was the provider, a sublime cross dropping right to his fellow midfielder’s head, although McDonald is due credit for a composed finish.
Celtic’s response was as swift as it had appeared unlikely. Within 30 seconds, brilliant wing play from Aiden McGeady opened up the Aberdeen defence; Scott Brown prodded home the winger’s cross from eight yards.
Duff ghosted in at Celtic’s right-back position before slamming Mark Kerr’s pass beyond Mark Brown to hand Aberdeen a well-merited interval lead. Celtic responded in the second period though, their dominance enforced by Scott McDonald’s conversion of a Barry Robson cross. General bemusement proved the order of the day thereafter, even if the first of two expert free-kicks from Charlie Mulgrew should not be ignored.
Fresh from heading his team back in front, Diamond capitalised on another Mulgrew delivery by bundling home at the back post. Mark Brown, while not afforded a chance to dirty his gloves from open play, had twice and fatally failed to command his area.
Guardian Service
ABERDEEN: Langfield, Foster, Severin, Diamond, Mulgrew, Duff, McDonald, Kerr, Aluko (Maguire 74), Miller, Mackie. Subs not used: Bossu, Wright, Vidal, De Visscher, Mair, Considine. Booked: Kerr, Mackie.
CELTIC: Mark Brown, Hinkel, McManus, Caldwell, Robson, Nakamura, Scott Brown, Hartley, McGeady, Samaras (Vennegoor of Hesselink 67), McDonald. Subs not used: Misun, Loovens, Mizuno, Crosas, O’Dea, Caddis. Booked: McGeady, Scott Brown.
Referee: D McDonald (Scotland).
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