4 keymatches... and 4 key men for 4 in a row
ROSS COUNTY 0 CELTIC 5 OCTOBER 18, 2014
DISQUIET had been growing after Ali Crawford’s goal the previous week had secured Hamilton’s first win at Celtic Park since 1938. Coupled with poor European results, questions were starting to be asked of the Norwegian boss after that loss to Alex Neil’s men. But the sense of crisis was swiftly dismantled with this Dingwall demolition of an admittedly struggling Ross County. On the score sheet in the Highlands against the Staggies were Swedish striker John Guidetti, youngster Callum McGregor, Anthony Stokes — who bagged himself a brace — and Jason Denayer.
ABERDEEN 1 CELTIC 2 NOVEMBER 9, 2014
VIRGIL VAN DIJK’S last-minute goal earned 10-man Celtic victory at Pittodrie in a controversial clash. Parkhead captain Scott Brown was sent off in an ill-tempered affair which was preceded by a disrupted Remembrance Sunday silence. Adam Rooney’s close-range finish put Aberdeen ahead in the first half before Stefan Johansen equalised. But van Dijk tapped home from two yards to seal Celtic’s win. However, the match was arguably most memorable for the birth of the Ronny Roar afterwards. Ronny Deila earned criticism for ‘over-celebrating’ at full-time but the Ronny Roar is now an after-match routine in victory.
CELTIC 4 ABERDEEN MARCH 1, 2015
DEREK McINNES’ men could have drawn level on points at the top of the Premiership with Ronny Deila’s side if they had sealed a win at Celtic Park. Aberdeen had also arrived in the east end of Glasgow on a formidable run of 13 unbeaten matches in the league. After weathering a first-half storm by the Dons, though, Jason Denayer headed Celtic into a 37th-minute lead and Deila’s men did not look back. Celtic simply blew away the Pittodrie side in the second half with goals from Leigh Griffiths (penalty), Gary Mackay-Steven and Stefan Johansen. Aberdeen looked a beaten, dispirited lot by the merciful arrival of the final whistle.
DUNDEE 1 CELTIC 2 APRIL 22, 2015
THREE days earlier, Celtic’s Treble dream had died in the most controversial fashion imaginable. Deila’s men had suffered a spirit-sapping 3-2 Scottish Cup semi final to Inverness Caley Thistle at Hampden. Still sore from referee Steven McLean and his team missing a handball on the line by Caley Thistle’s Josh Meekings at 1-0 for Celtic, Deila’s men headed north 72 hours later to face on-form Dundee, who had caused Celtic problems in a 1-1 draw at Dens Park in August. But goals from Gary Mackay-Steven and Virgil van Dijk saw the Parkhead club march eight points clear of Aberdeen, despite Jim McAlister’s late goal for Dundee.