IT’S DON AND DUSTED
Bhoys far too good again for Aberdeen and stretch lead at top to eight points FROM CELTIC PARK DOOR AJER FOR RISING STAR IN OLD FIRM INSISTS RODGERS
Twenty-five league visits and 13 years since Aberdeen won here. Celtic’s ninth straight win over them in all competitions.
The Dons have established themselves clearly as Scotland’s second force – but they’ll never need reminding of who’s first.
And although this may have ben less of a burial than the 3-0 at Pittodrie in October, it served the same purpose. The Hoops won via a deflection and two horrible self-inflicted wounds from the Dons, bring
goals f r o m Mikael Lustig, Jonny Hayes’ first in competition for the club, and a coup de grace from Olivier Ntcham. But they had to graft hard to make the breakthrough in a game that was a contest at least until half time.
But how often have you seen it against this Celtic side? Just when a manager thinks his game plan has bought him an upbeat half-time team talk, Celtic produced from nowhere before the interval.
When they goal did come, it was a big break and a sigh of relief as much as a celebration.
Lustig’s shot from outside the box may well have been on target but the defection it took off Dom Ball’s back was one of those horror moments for a BRENDAN RODGERS is ready to pitch Celtic kid Kristoffer Ajer into his first derby. The Norwegian teenager kept his place ahead of Jozo Simunovic as keeper going one way and watching in agony as the ball flies in the other direction.
The second half was a whole different world because of it.
Inside the first 10 post-break minutes, Moussa Dembele volleyed inches wide, Ntcham fizzed a shot just past the other post, Armstrong smashed one
PREMIERSHIP TABLE the Hoops’ 3-0 top-of-thetable triumph over Aberdeen stretched their league lead to eight points.
Celtic face Rangers on Saturday, after a Boxing Day trip to Dundee and Rodgers said: “I thought he just the wrong side of the top corner and Kieran Tierney was on to the end of a great move but was denied by Lewis.
Kenny Mclean’s 30-yarder took a nasty deflection in the 66th minute for Aberdeen - but this one went outside the post rather than in and after Kari Arnason missed a header the game was gone for them.
Mark Reynolds’ attempt to head Sinclair’s cross out cannoned straight back off Arnason and Hayes made up great ground to finish two yards out.
The third was even more painful. Mclean cut out a Hayes ball, but his backpass was woefully short and Ntcham scented blood, dropping the shoulder beautifully to round Lewis. was brilliant. I said it in the changing-room. And I’ll have no hesitation playing him next week.
“At six foot five, he’s fast, he can carry the ball and now he wins his aerial challenges, so he’s a big prospect for us.” With Celtic now eight clear at the top Rodgers added: “It was a very convincing win, I felt. The first half was a battle which you would expect. But I thought second half we were outstanding.”