RONNY DEILA was delighted with crisis club Celtic’s display as they swept Premiership rivals Aberdeen aside in a 3-1 victory.
Leigh Griffith scored twice and James Forrest added the third to put the Hoops in control of the battle between Scotland’s top two clubs, before Adam Rooney netted a late consolation for the visitors.Deila’s side have responded positively to the recent defeat in Molde with three successive victories.The Celtic crisis deepened last weekend when they beat Dundee United 5-0 last Sunday and with yesterday’s win over the Dons added to the gloom, they now have only a six-point lead over a rampant Hearts, who defeated Patrick Thistle yesterday to heap more pressure on Ronny Deila’s hapless team at the top of the table.
The crisis wasn’t eased in midweek either with Celtic suffering a 2-1 victory in the League Cup tie at Tynecastle, with yet another loss from a set piece due to the dreadful zonal marking insisted upon by the manager who has never won the Scottish Cup.Deila praised his players for their high-tempo display and performance.
The Norwegian said: “I’m very happy and proud because it has been four games in nine days and it was a very good 90 minutes where we should have scored more.”They had rested and prepared for a week and it was a better chance for them to get something.
“But we showed that we were the best team and now we are seven points clear of Aberdeen and that is very good as we go into November.”Griffiths netted twice and looked impressive, but 18-year-old left-back Kieran Tierney also shone for the Hoops, with both combining for the opening goal.
Deila’s only criticism of the striker was his failure to set up Stuart Arnstrong when the midfielder was well placed to possible add a fourth goal late in the match.
He said: “He is getting more and more mature. He still can lose concentration a little bit, but he smells danger all the time, he sees when things are happening and he is a great finisher.
“The only thing I was angry with today is that he didn’t play in Stuart Armstrong, instead of taking a shot himself from 19 yards.”Apart from that, the first goal was high class and the cross from Kieran Tierney was very nice, as well.”Former league leaders Aberdeen dropped into third place in the table behind Hearts, who beat Partick Thistle 4-0 across Glasgow, following the defeat.
The Dons have lost five of their last six matches, with last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Motherwell being their best result during that run.
The Dandy Don Derek McInnes said: “Only someone really foolish who doesn’t know what they are talking about would say at the minute that anybody else but Celtic will win the league.
“But I think it is wrong to say it is over and think it is disrespectful to the rest of the teams, not just ourselves, to think that a league can be won in October.
“I think there was a similar points difference last season and everyone said the same thing and when we met again there was still something on the game.
“We have to manage our own game and own position. Our fight has never been with Celtic, our fight is with ourselves, to improve, and nothing changes.”
McInnes remains favourite for Scottish Football Writers Manager of the Year after starting the league campaign with 8 consecutive wins.
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