It was an unfamiliar Celtic starting line-up at Pittodrie this afternoon which resulted in the visitors dropping league points for the first time in four months. Andre Blackman and Mikael Lustig made their Celtic debuts at left and right back respectively, while Charlie Mulgrew played central midfield alongside Joe Ledley.
Neither full back got forward as often as we are accustomed to see Celtic play, which perhaps contributed to the disjointed performance.
Charlie Mulgrew almost opened the scoring on 5 minutes when his swerving free kick rebounded back off the inside of Jason Brown’s far post in Celtic’s only genuine chance before the 28th minute goal. Mulgrew was key again in the move that counted, controlling a difficult ball before twisting his marker and knocking the ball forward to Kris Commons. Commons spun before playing a perfectly weighted pass into space inside the box for Anthony Stokes to run onto. Stokes first touch took the ball past Brown in the Aberdeen goal before he slotted his shot into the net.
Aberdeen were well out of the contest in the first half and had to wait until near the end of the half before they managed an attempt at goal, a Fyvie shot which was blocked. Then, only seconds from the break, a long ball forward to Fallon brought Aberdeen level. Fallon turned and his forward run drew Blackman, Wilson and Rogne, leaving the right back space unattended. Gavin Rae ran 70 yards to fill that space and fired a shot which was going narrowly wide before Blackman’s block bounced over Forster into the net.
A minute into the second half Ryan Jack almost reached a cross from the right as Aberdeen seemed to take encouragement from their goal.
Anthony Stokes looked Celtic’s best player but whenever he linked with strike partner, Gary Hooper, the ball invariably bounced out of play or to an Aberdeen player, most notably on the 55th minute when Hooper failed to control on the edge of the six yard box.
Aberdeen’s best chance to win the game arrived on 63 minutes when Meganson evaded Lustig but shot wide when clean through inside the box.
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Quite a negative blog today. Yes, our great run of wins came to an end, and yes, that was a poor performance. But, a bit of context, guys.
We have a fine squad. If Neil went with his strongest team every week, then we’d never be able to give some of our new guys a game.
I also see Kelvin Wilson getting it on the neck. A bit harsh, I would say. While I think Rogne and Mulgrew is our best CB pairing, Kelvin was decent today. A bit of an over reaction, I would suggest.
Biggest disappointment for me was Hooper and Commons’ inability to hold the ball up. When it keeps coming back at you, it is difficult for a midfield to get a grip of the game.
On the subs, I think Neil was correct in getting both FB’s off. Their game was going downhill, and even just for their confidence’s sake, I thought it was wise to replace them.
Let’s face it folks, quite a few of us have been VERY wrong about Neil Lennon this season. I think he has earned the right to the odd dropped point.
Changing subjects. What’s the score with rangers?
Negativity is good sometimes. If things are not right it’s good to have someone brave enough to pipe up and say.. “that rope looks a bit dodgy” or “no I don’t think we need another meeting” or “this is minging, give me another pie, give us all a better pie!”.
Then again… after 3 months of by turn scintillating, gutsy, dynamic and exhilerating football I think it behoves us all to be constructive in our criticism. It’s not a disgrace or ‘teh worst EVER111’ — it’s just the inevitable damp squib at the end of a great run. If it becomes a pattern then pipe up by all means.
Praecepta – take it you backed them in-play at 1-0 down?
I took the 11/2 on Wednesday and was waiting for the admin guys doing the dirty, but it didn’t happen!
C’mon the Minis indeed !
T4
Motherwell gaining ground?
Dunfermline 0 – 1 Motherwell L
Hibernian 0 – 0 St Mirren L
Kilmarnock 0 – 0 St Johnstone L
Rangers 1 – 1 Hearts
As things stand, 20 points ahead, the huns about to die. but some people on here are still moaning! Every silver lining has a cloud and all that.
Anyhoo, Viz Top Tip: FELLAS. Pretend that you are TV’s Anthony McPartlin out of Ant and Dec, by looking at yourself in the back of a spoon
Mothers closing in on sec as it stands. obviously it wont be head to head games.lol
KLV
Dushanbe bit like saying to I prefer a redback to a funnelweb
Kelvin Wilson and Dan and Dutch Derek whyte Should not be near Celtic reserves
Heeeeheee Orcs denied stonewall peno
Aluko off, (mon the) Cellick on
Aluko handed a towel, lucozade and his P45 as he departed the pitch
I was WRONG about Neil myself but today the subs did confuse me with Brozek on the bench and brought on Mcgeough
KLV
I do think Blackman is potentially a great player; he’s only young, hasn’t played much – has a bit of bite about him, uses the ball well. Some coaching to improve his positioning, and I reckon there’s a right steal of a player we’ve got for the future there.
Karma ? Olach.
lol
KLV
The Orc Stumbanfurhers are pure ragin’ that the brother in black didn’t give them a penalty
ian mccall sounds is if he’s needing the Samaritans.
KLV
GscBhoy. I have said ignore rfc concentrate on us building
If we don’t do that !!!!
GG @ 15.44
Not looking for perfection just the best performance from the players / resources available.
I thought we started slow but played some good stuff later on in the first half. However the bottom fell out of the team when they scored their goal.
I think NL has to work on this as it has happened before, he needs to be able to re-group, re-organise and re-energise the team when we are either flat or we have lost a goal. Too many times for my liking we have been under pressure in the second half from a team that has been able to make better use of half time than we have.
Young team with fragile confidence and he needs to be able to handle it better. Unfortunately both the team and NL have a lot of maturing today.
All the talk in the SPL is about young managers.
AMcC is 10 years older than NL.
Changing both full backs was a mistake.
Putting on DMcG for KC was a mistake.
Being at the mercy of injuries, CT in full sleekit “honest mistake” mode and a very physical Sheep side for the best part of 30 minutes was a mistake.
CT was working up to us playing with 10 men.
NL offered up a chance that he might not be needed.
For what it’s worth I think the the SPL / SFA Ludge will be happy with the draw to stop the unbeaten run.
I fear they will be saving the “Honest Mistake” for one of the two cup ties. Experience suggests that the SC game will be the one to watch.
Disappointed the winning run is at an end but it had to end sometime. This looked a tricky fixture weeks ago with international week etc. We’re still unbeaten and we’re still going to be champions. We can’t get it right every week.
Hail hail.
Minis looking for a winner?
KLV
Ive just received an email from the f f website lookin for peepil to hand out leaflets and guess what? Thers a big NO SURRENDER flashing across the screen.
kevinlasvegas on 3 March, 2012 at 16:30 said:
Fair enough, Kevin. I would have had Victor in there, to protect an unfamiliar back 4. However, that is just an opinion, as is yours. It is a long way from saying Neil was ‘wrong’, as others are suggesting.
And I see that Kelvin Wilson is being ‘declared’ a dud by some. Strange.
More ground gained by Motherwell on 2nd place?
Dunfermline 0 – 2 Motherwell L
Hibernian 0 – 0 St Mirren L
Kilmarnock 0 – 0 St Johnstone L
Rangers 1 – 1 Hearts L
For once wee Nevin on B.B.C. makes a sensible comment he said Jock Stein never accepted a draw as good result and Neil Lennon is following big Jock in not accepting a draw as a good result.He also said that to say if Celtic win the SPL it will be devalued due to the Rangers situation he said that is nonsense Celtic can only beat what is put in front of them.H.H.
TET & TTTT
Doing my usual – got Arsenal @ 4/1 so:
5 x £2 daft in-plays @ 4/1 thru to minis @ 22/1.
if results stay the same, mother only 4 points behind the monsters.
KLV
Anton. We know that blackman is learning
Wilson is not. He is poor and has been for 5 years
penalty to hearts
Peno to the Jambos – stramach in box
ps Got to laff at the sadOH’s.
minis pen????
lol
KLV
Penalty to Hearts
And breath……….Aberdeen’s sole intent today was to play route one and put us of our game. Couldn’t touch us until deflected goal. Fallon & Vernon’s every challenge were appalling. No concern whatsoever for the player they were challenging. Given all the facts and circumstances, upset with 1-1. And it’s a pen to hearts!!!!
Dodds abt to slash his wrists!!
I predict a riot. oooft..
KLV
Big gordon, greetin never a pen.lol nugget.
KLV
YA BEAUTY!!!!!!!!
Brothers in Black disagree – Assistant and Ref ? Still a Pen yessssssssssssss
2-1 hearts
Scores on the rebound 1-2 Hearts