ABERDEEN 3 CELTIC 4 (Wed, Dec 26 2018)
SCOTT SINCLAIR was the Celtic hero with a scintillating hat-trick in the champions’ hard-fought pre-Christmas cracker over the Dons at Pittodrie on Boxing Day.
The Hoops battled all the way to their third successive victory over Derek McInnes’ team and the three points that keep them on top of the Premiership.
Sinclair netted the opener in the sixth minute, but the home side levelled with a Stevie May penalty-kick. Substitute Odsonne Edouard, a replacement for Callum McGregor, combined with James Forrest to set up the English attacker for his second in the 76th minute.
Moments later, it was all-square when ref Willie Collum awarded the Dons a second spot-kick and Sam Cosgrove, on this occasion, accepted the responsibility before firing beyond Craig Gordon. But Edouard put the Hoops ahead again in the 86th minute and two minutes later Sinclair completed his trio.
Lewis Ferguson scored his side’s third goal in the fading moments.
TEAM: Gordon; Lustig, Boyata, Benkovic, Izaguirre (sub: Hayes 46); Brown, McGregor (sub: Edouard 70), Rogic, Forrest (Sub: Ajer 89), Sinclair; Christie.
*TOMORROW: Another key game on the way to title No.8.
