Scottish roundup: Jota scores twice as Celtic win thriller at Aberdeen
Jota struck twice as Celtic emerged from a thrilling Pittodrie encounter with a 3-2 win over Aberdeen as Rangers stayed close behind with victory over Hibernian.
Celtic looked well in control following Jota and Matt O’Riley strikes until two goals in five second-half minutes from Christian Ramirez and Lewis Ferguson drew the Dons level. Jota quickly scored a dramatic second to snatch the points for the visitors. The result keeps Celtic one point ahead of Rangers at the top of the cinch Premiership.
Ange Postecoglou, whose side already have the Premier Sports Cup in the trophy room, said: “It has been a big part of our way of doing things, we obviously want to be a team who dominates the game and scores goals. But at times over the last three or four months we have had to dig in. “We had to do that again today, we’ve had two tough away games since the derby and we’ve taken six points from them.
“From our perspective that’s a positive but the second half showed we still have things to improve on. Everyone was good in the first half but in the second we had to take control of it better. It’s not an easy place to come and win - it was important to come here and continue our form.”
Dons boss Stephen Glass was unhappy with Willie Collum and his officials for allowing Celtic’s third goal to stand, claiming Liel Abada blocked defender David Bates to allow Jota to get his shot away.
The home players protested long and loud and Glass said: “I was (furious) as well. “From the side he looks offside but regardless, he fouls Batesy and stops him running back to deal with Jota who scores the goal. Again, I say it every week, I don’t want to talk about referees but there is a reason you ask me these questions.
“I was warned or told before the end of the game by the fourth official (Craig Napier) not to go on the pitch and speak to the referee but he didn’t tell both managers, he told one manager and maybe because he realised he made a mistake. The fourth official was told to tell me not to speak to him on the pitch after the game but both managers didn’t get treated the same, maybe there is a reason.”
James Tavernier scored one goal and set up another as Gers beat Hibs 2-0. Tavernier’s fifth-minute penalty set Rangers on their way to victory at Ibrox, before Alfredo Morelos put the game beyond the visitors with a smart finish in the 57th minute.
Hibernian manager shaun Maloney felt his side were denied a clear penalty. Maloney said: “Rangers were probably the better side for long parts but there were still some parts I really have to give our players credit for.
“Going 1-0 down really early, we regrouped defensively. We didn’t give up too many really big chances. The chances we create, and it sounds like I’m saying this a fair bit at the moment, it does change the dynamics of the game if we take them.
“The penalty (claim) was a big decision. That would have changed the dynamic too. But that’s done. At the time, I couldn’t quite see it. But, looking back, it’s quite clear it was a penalty. I know it’s difficult for referees with no VAR, mistakes can happen, but it was a clear penalty for me.”
Rangers boss Giovanni Van Bronckhorst was happy with his side after
they followed up Sunday’s 5-0 win over Hearts. “We were good,” he said. “We started the game really well with the penalty and also some chances were created.
“We put a lot of energy into the game and a lot of pressure. We won a lot of balls in their half, especially in the first half, so the overall performance was really good.
“We created chances. It was 2-0 and we could have scored more, but the performance was really good and that was good for us because we needed the points.”
St Mirren extended their unbeaten start to the new year after coming from behind to claim a 2-1 win against St Johnstone. Callum Hendry had given the visitors the lead through a retaken penalty which was then cancelled out by another spot-kick scored by Connor Ronan. Alex Greive then claimed the winner early in the second half to move Jim Goodwin’s men into the top six, while St Johnstone slumped to the foot of the table.
Danny Mullen struck the winner as Dundee came from behind to beat Hearts 2-1 at Tynecastle and move off the bottom. The home side looked on course to tighten their grip of third place when they led at the break through Ellis Simms, but a Toby Sibbick own goal brought them level.
Dundee United returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Motherwell at Tannadice. The home side took the lead in the first half thanks to a strike from on-loan Manchester United midfielder Dylan Levitt. The Tangerines then increased their lead after the break with Tony Watt coming back to haunt his former club.
Kayne Ramsay claimed a stoppagetime equaliser to snatch Ross County a point in a 1-1 draw with Livingston after Alan Forrest had opened the scoring.