Celtic 1 - 0 Aberdeen

Aberdeen made two changes from the side which won at Easter Road on Tuesday night. Niall McGinn came in for Max Lowe and Stevie May replaced Sam Cosgrove who picked up a knock in midweek.

As usual at this venue the Dons played from right to left in the first half.

In the second minute the home side had a decent chance. Celtic moved the ball down the right after a period of possession. Lustig cut it back for Forrest who fired over. In the fourth minute Shinnie was forced to make a good tackle as Celtic pressed again.

In the seventh minute Celtic won a free kick midway inside the Aberdeen half. It was an opportunity for them to put all their big players inside the box, but Michael Devlin defended the situation well.

The central defender had started the game strongly. McGregor then put over a dangerous cross from the left and Considine did well to get to the ball ahead of Forrest. A vital touch from the left back.

In the 11th minute Aberdeen managed to put together their first proper break. Mackay-Steven was able to run from the edge of one box to the other and put over a cross but he could not find May. Aberdeen maybe should have done better because they had a three on two momentarily.

15 minutes in and Aberdeen won the first corner of the afternoon after McGinn whipped in a cross which was headed behind. The corner was worked to GMS on edge of the area but his right footed shot was off target.

In the 19th minute Aberdeen put together a lovely move down the left after a Devlin interception. Considine chipped it forward for May who flicked it on for GMS who got in down the line. His cross went all the way through to McGinn at the back of the area and his first tie shot whistled just past the post. Aberdeen then had a really good spell and put over a couple of dangerous crosses, but they were all frustratingly slightly too strong.

At the other end, Celtic breaking this time, Griffiths danced his way into the area but McKenna stood up to the threat. Nitcham and Edouard then put together the first inventive move of the game but Lewis was off his line quickly to cut out the through ball.

25 minutes gone and plenty of steel from the Dons.

In the 26th minute a shot out of nothing from Edouard hit the post before McKenna cleared the rebound. It was a great shot that was curling away from Lewis. Celtic then enjoyed another good spell of possession which ended with Boyata heading a cross over the bar. A well worked move but he had little control of the header.

Tierney then had treatment after a tackle from McGinn which gave Aberdeen a chance to regroup.

The manager will have been pleased with the performance in the opening half hour.

On 34 minutes Celtic won their first corner. The referee blew for a foul as the ball came over. Two minutes later referee Madden was in the spotlight when the home side were screaming for a penalty when there was a coming together between Edouard and McKenna on the edge of the area. It was outside the box anyway.

Edouado was injured and had to be replaced by Sinclair.

The Dons were doing well in midfield ? both Shinnie and Ball were stopping Celtic anything through the middle. Both had really solid games.

On 42 minutes Aberdeen so nearly scored after Mackay-Steven glided through the Celtic defence, he beat four players and looked certainly to score but Gordon made himself big and made a great stop inside the six-yard box. An outstanding run that deserved a goal. Then McGInn?s corner was knocked on by Wilson and Griffiths on the post had to clear the ball off the line.

In the final minute of the half Brown lifted the ball over the bar from a Celtic corner. A very even first four-five minutes.

Half time: Celtic 0 Aberdeen 0

Celtic started the second half strongly. There was more urgency in their play. In the 48th minute a low shot from McGregor had to touched round the post by Lewis. Diving low to his left it was good save from big Joe. Henry headed the resulting corner over the bar.

In the 50th minute Aberdeen again worked a good break. McGinn, after a lovely lay off by Wilson, played over an early cross looking for May but Lustig managed to intercept. Then Wilson worked another move which resulted in the striker putting in a curling shot and Gordon had to make a good save. A great shot from Wilson.

Shortly after that Shinnie burst into the area and found May. His shot was blocked by Boyata. A good spell from Aberdeen, they were well in this game with an hour gone.

With 61 minutes gone Rogic replaced Nitcham. Shortly after that Wilson had to come off with an injury so was replaced by Cosgrove.

All Aberdeen?s good work was undone when they gave away a really unlucky goal on 63 minutes. Aberdeen failed to clear their lines when Forrest beat Considine and got a cross over. Griffiths battled for it and then Sinclair, aware that there was no one behind him, back heeled it into the net.

Celtic then put Aberdeen under real pressure and the Dons central defenders had to get in a couple of good blocks before Griffiths put a free kick well over.

On 68 minutes McGinn almost got on the end of May cross before Stevie was replaced by Max Lowe.

In the 74th minute Griffiths had another opportunity from a free kick about 20 yards out. The striker fired in a low shot which Lewis met. Really good save as he would not have seen the ball coming through the wall till late.

With fifteen minutes to go Aberdeen had a free kick in a good area. GMS played it into the near post but the ball was flicked wide by Devlin. It was a really well worked free-kick because a couple of Aberdeen players had lost their markers. On 77 minutes GMS might have done better when he intercepted a loose header.

On a couple off occasions in the closing stages GMS just took the wrong option but it was encouraging the areas he was picking up the ball. The winger had a really good game. With seven minutes to go Anderson replaced McGinn. On 86 minutes Cosgrove headed a corner over. He was unable to get any direction on the ball. With two minutes to go Aberdeen wasted a free kick in a good area ? McKenna could only knock it down for Gordon.

In injury time Leigh Griffiths missed a chance as Aberdeen failed to mount any late pressure.

Disappointing afternoon as Aberdeen deserved to get something from the game. They matched Celtic for long spells and had some good moments.

Full Time: Celtic 1 Aberdeen 0