MATCH REPORT:      ABERDEEN  4   CELTIC  2  

PRE-MATCH COMMENT: The day started off so well. Found a lovely little church in Calahonda and then just up the road an Irish pub showing the game. The first cloud appeared when I learnt that Boruc had picked up an injury during the warm up and was to be replaced by Brown (I always associate him with the ICT game!). The second cloud was when the stat was read out that Aberdeen were going for six wins in a row (a feat last achieved when they beat Celtic several years ago to achieve the same feat.)

BROWN ….……....5  A top class goalie may have prevented the second and fourth goals but is the lack of a commanding presence that is the main reason that he will never be good enough for Celtic.

HINKEL..... ……..4  We only saw glimpses of the attacking player in the second half and it was down his flank that the first two goals came. In the first half he rarely, if ever, released Naka to attack from the wing, it was all hopeful deep crosses.

CALDWELL......... 4 One of his poorest games and he was the main architect behind the punt up field.

McMANUS…. … ..3 Couldn't win a ball in the air and couldn't pass a ball on the ground.

ROBSON...…. ……5  At the sake of repeating myself but his only real value to Celtic is in the hard tackling midfield role. It's not his fault that he was in at left back and he did produce a great bit of skill to set up the second goal.

HARTLEY......... 5 Had an anonymous game apart from putting a good chance over the bar.

BROWN…..…......7  Scored a goal as a result of his aggressive running but again he faded out of the game. He'll have to learn to pace himself.

McGEADY.... …….5 Produced only one spell of real magic to set up the first goal.

NAKA.................4 He didn't even manage one piece of magic.

SAMARAS..........4  Was very surprised that he started the game, he hasn't been in form for weeks.

McDONALD....... 7 MOM  Worked hard for the team and scored the goal I felt sure was going to lead us to victory.

SUBS:

JVOH............4 

REF…………...... (McDonald) 7  He might have sent off an Aberdeen player for a bad tackle but overall was sound..

THE GAME ……5 Exciting in terms of goals but in reality it mainly consisted of two teams firing in high balls all day.

GOALS ………. 1.A good cross from the left was cleverly lobbed over Brown. 

                         2. An immediate reply by Celtic which came about by some wonderful footwork by McGeady allowing him room to cut back the ball for Brown to score

                         3. A poor piece of defending by Robson and Samaras allowed the ball to be sent across our defence allowing Duff the opportunity.

                        4.  A great piece of work by Robson saw him deliver a great ball to McDonald which he headed into the net.

                        5.  Another foolishly conceded foul allowed Mulgrew to send over a cross which was not dealt with by the Celtic defence.

                        6.  Another foolishly conceded foul allowed a similar free kick from the other side to be bungled in.

                                 

COMMENTS ….. 1.  G.S. must take a lot of the blame for this performance. It was obvious that the team was playing to orders by their long ball tactics. Why was Crosas not brought on? Calderwood on the other hand got it spot on by recognising the blatant weakness in a lack of commanding presence in the center of our defence when asked to deal with high balls.

                             2. The time has come to rest McManus and play Loovens or O'Dea.

                                    3. I hope that our reserve goalkeeper (Mizun) gets to play at left back soon.

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MARTIN