Injury-time penalty ensures Dons share spoils in Pittodrie thriller

Neil Lennon was again d i s m ay e d by C e l t i c’s defending in the 3-3 draw with Aberdeen at Pittodrie yesterday which saw them drop two points in the Premiership title race.

The Hoops went into the game after losing 2-1 at home to Rangers last weekend and 3-1 to AC Milan at Celtic Park on Thursday night and fell behind to a Lewis Ferguson penalty just before the interval.

A spectacular second half ensued with Callum McGregor levelling before Dons attacker Ryan Hedges restored the home side’s lead.

Hoops substitute Leigh Griffiths equalised with a drive in the 75th minute and Ryan Christie scored with a penalty two minutes later but Derek Mc I n n e s ’ men were awarded a second penalty in added time and Ferguson was again on the mark.

The Celtic boss said: “I was disappointed not to come away with all three points. When you score three goals away from home, you think you are going to win the game.

“I think there is a little bit of fragility with a few of them, not playing with a major amount of confidence but again plenty of positives.

“The response second half was tremendous but we need to tidy up defensively. That’s eight goals in three games, it’s not good enough.

“In the main I was satisfied, particularly with the second-half performance but defensively we need to do a lot better.

“We will improve, there is no question of that, I’m confident of that and we will get players back from Covid and injuries.”

Scott Bain took over from regular number one Vasilis Barkas who has a back injury which will be assessed before the Europa League clash with Lille on Thursday night.

Lennon revealed that French striker Odsonne Edouard and Israel defender Nir Bitton, both missing with Covid issues along with Hatem Elhamed, are on their way back.

Dons boss Derek McInnes admits he could not have stood to have come away from the game with nothing.

He said: “If we hadn’t got something from that game it would have been an absolute travesty.

“We were so good in the second half for long spells.

“We h av e had late winners against us on a couple of occasions, not just here but at Celtic Park as well against Celtic.

“We needed to get something from that game and I was glad we got something.”