2012-03-03: Aberdeen 1-1 Celtic, SPL

Match Pictures | Matches: 2011 – 2012 | 2011-2012 Pictures

Trivia

• Celtic 21pts clear after Huns lose to Hearts at home. Scottish cup and league cup games next two weekends then Huns at Ibrox (if they're still around).
• Debuts for Blackman and Lustig. Poor game for both. Blackman yellow carded after 6mins and scores own goal (deflection) but Lustig at fault for that goal as his side and nowhere to be seen.
• Surprising team changes mostly due to the international games in midweek (time off for some to recover from travel stuff).
• Joe Ledley captains Celtic for first time.
• Celtic fans singing at the Aberdeen fans: "We'll be shagging a sheep when Rangers die!!!!"
• Celtic's 17 win streak ended. We conceded first goal for 7 games. Aberdeen on 12 match unbeaten run.
• Cracking week as Rangers administration continues. Redundancies postponed till Monday.
• Celtic release statement setting record straight after Daily Record apocryphal story that we were….. Slapdown for the paper.
• Danny Majstorovic injured whilst in training on international duty. Ruled out for rest of season and European Championships with Sweden. Commiserations for him. Likely end to his Celtic career also as contract up in June.
• David Craig jailed over Neil Lennon abuse on Facebook.
  His trial had been shown a photograph he copied onto his Facebook page, of Mr Lennon wearing a Celtic top and with several bullet wounds on his torso and one on the centre of his head.
  On the front of his body were the words "Dead man walking" and underneath was a caption reading: "Neil Lennon dead man!!!!!! UVF1". (see BBC report below)
• Youth Celtic Player Paul George had reason to celebrate some trophy success this week because the young Celt was delighted to see his dad´s cousin, Terry George, scoop an Oscar on Sunday night in the live action short film category for his film, ‘The Shore’.
• Paul McBride QC died on 4th March 2012. He defended Celtic in the past year, and for his efforts was sent a bomb in the mail! Luckily it didn't go off. Paul McBride died in his sleep. RIP. See link.

Review

Radio Shortbread Interviewer: "Do you think you've been getting the credit for your perfrmances this season?"
Neil Lennon: "No."

(Jonhybhoy of KDS)
Not an absolute disaster. Was bound to happen at some point.

Aberdeen were well organised and defended really well…for having 10 men in their own half most of the time.

Celtic…well…lets just say that we've been far more solid at the back. Rogne and Mulgrew did fine, but Blackman and Lustig were poor. Put it down to shellshock.

Great last 5 minutes to the game. Commons was disappointing as well, never really looked interesting. Where's his mind right now, where's it been all season? 24 goals in all campaigns last year and practically nothing this year?

Two cup games and then the huns…bring them on!

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Aberdeen v Celtic

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46 v 54

Articles

Aberdeen 1-1 Celtic: Dons peg back a jaded Celtic

The Scotsman

By RICHARD BATH
Published on Sunday 4 March 2012 03:54

This was one for the statisticians, a day when Celtic’s run of not having conceded a goal for over ten hours was surrendered when debutant Andre Blackman put through his own net, an afternoon when Aberdeen extended their unbeaten run to 12 games, a run dwarfed by Celtic’s own record of not having lost any of their last 25 domestic games.

This was the first time Celtic have dropped points since October, and was Aberdeen’s eighth draw in their last 12 games, but there were also enormous upsides for both sides. Celtic’s position at the top of the SPL remains unassailable and Aberdeen’s drive to secure a place in the top six remains alive, so this should surely have been a result that spread joy and harmony at both Pittodrie and Celtic Park. Some chance.

“It was no surprise [that we drew] considering the call-offs and the schedule,” said a clearly angry Celtic manager Neil Lennon, whose humour wasn’t improved when his side’s beauty sleep was disturbed by the midnight music from a wedding party staying at their hotel on Friday night. “There was tiredness there, physical and mental, and a lack of quality in the final third, so it [a draw] was totally understandable in the circumstances. The schedule played as much of a part in this result as Aberdeen.”

If Lennon was rightly aggrieved at having to field a side shorn of five usual starters thanks to a midday kick-off on the Saturday after many of his best players were involved in midweek internationals, his assessment was also more than a little harsh on an Aberdeen side which is sorely depleted by injuries but played with a gumption and desire which augurs well for the rest of their season.

In fact, so well did Aberdeen play in the game’s second half that it was their manager Craig Brown who seemed to be the most irritated that his side couldn’t claim all three points.

Charlie Mulgrew, who was still fielded by Lennon despite seeing service for Scotland, was the fulcrum around which Celtic operated, the midfielder showing no ill-effects from his midweek outing as he ran the show against his old club. The former Dons player almost put the visitors ahead as early as the fourth minute after James Forrest had been upended by Rory McArdle out on the right, with Mulgrew’s free-kick from just outside of the box beating keeper Jason Brown and smacking off the far upright. Mulgrew was nearly the agent of Aberdeen’s demise four minutes later when his cute ball into the Aberdeen box almost allowed debutant Thomas Lustig to get his side off the mark, the home defence flapping madly before finally clearing. When the breakthrough finally came it was almost inevitable that Mulgrew would play a part, although he was, in truth a bit player. It was his pass, however, which put Kris Commons into space, the chunky little midfielder threading a beautiful defence-splitting ball in for Anthony Stokes, who worked his way in between Andrew Considine and Brown, and rounded the keeper before firing in from an acute angle with less than half an hour on the clock.

Perhaps it’s because it had been so long since they’ve conceded a goal on the road, but when the next breach came it wasn’t thanks to a moment of virtuosity on the part of the league leaders but thanks to a lapse of concentration at the back when Aberdeen launched their first meaningful attack of the game moments before the whistle for the interval. There looked to be little danger when Rory Fallon won a header just inside the Celtic half and flicked it on, but Scott Vernon beat Thomas Rogne to the ball and, after holding it expertly, delivered the ball perfectly into the path of Gavin Rae on the edge of the box, the former Rangers player unleashing a shot which looked to be going well wide until it struck the leg of the onrushing Blackman and wrongfooted Fraser Forster.

From a side which had struggled to retain the ball, Aberdeen suddenly looked completely in control.

This wasn’t lost on Celtic, and as the home side visibly blossomed, the visitors did everything they could to wrest back the initiative, with Stokes putting in a wonderful weaving run into the box down the left one moment, and the next minute scything down Jack in a horribly late challenge that inexplicably went unpunished when on another day it could have earned him a red card. Lennon reshuffled his side, bringing on Victor Wanyama, who Lennon said “only arrived back from Togo at seven o’clock last night”, in a successful bid to bolster his side’s defensive resolve.

Even after the midfielder’s return, Aberdeen remained in the ascendant and in the second half there was only going to be one winner, with Brown not having to make one serious save after the interval. But it was a gilt-edged chance for young Mitchel Megginson midway through the second half which should have been the tipping point, Rae putting him one-on-one with Brown only for the youngster to display a horrible lack of composure and shoot lamely wide.

Craig Brown said afterwards: “We only got one point so I’m only moderately pleased,” he said with a smile. “The best team drew.”

BBC

By Martin Conaghan BBC Scotland

Aberdeen brought Celtic's run of 17 successive league wins to an end with a spirited draw at Pittodrie.

Running on to a Kris Commons pass, Anthony Stokes rounded Dons keeper Jason Brown to squeeze home a shot in the 28th minute.

But Andre Blackman diverted Gavin Rae's shot into his own net just before the half-time interval.

In a match of few chances, Aberdeen striker Scott Vernon came closest in the second half, heading narrowly wide.

Aberdeen and Celtic are now the only clubs in the Scottish Premier League unbeaten in 2012, with the Dons remaining in seventh place on 33 points, while Celtic have a 21-point advantage over Rangers at the top.

The versatile Charlie Mulgrew was given a central midfield role and went close to opening the scoring with a fabulous curling free-kick that cannoned off the upright, with Brown flapping at thin air.
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The visitors were claiming a penalty when Rae appeared to handle but referee Craig Thomson allowed play to continue.

The deadlock was broken when Commons slipped a great pass through to Stokes inside the Dons penalty area and the Irishman skipped past Brown to strike a low shot that evaded Andrew Considine on the line.

Shortly after the half-hour, Rory McArdle brought Blackman down on the edge of the Aberdeen box but Brown got down smartly to beat away a low curler from Stokes.

Moments later, Fraser Fyvie's shot from 12 yards was deflected over the bar for a corner as the Dons desperately tried to find a leveller before the interval.

And that goal duly arrived when Blackman turned the ball into his own net after Rae aimed a shot towards the Celtic goal from Vernon's threaded pass.

Shortly after the restart, Dons striker Rory Fallon missed a chance to give his side the lead after Ryan Jack crossed from the right, then Stokes was lucky to avoid punishment for angrily clattering into Jack.

A long-range effort by Kari Arnason sailed over the visitors' bar as Celtic struggled to find any passing fluency.

With an hour played, Mitch Megginson blundered a chance to hand the Dons the lead when he broke free inside the Celtic penalty area and sent a shot wide of the mark.
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Aberdeen continued to look dangerous when Vernon sent a header wide of the target from close range.

Stokes could have netted his second of the afternoon in the 77th minute, but his half-volley from a tight angle far on the right was smothered by Brown.

In a frantic final 10 minutes, Celtic found themselves under pressure – Peter Pawlett failing to connect with a pass inside the visitors' penalty area as Aberdeen sensed an opportunity to snatch a winner.

A Mulgrew cross from wide on the left failed to find a Celtic jersey in the Aberdeen penalty area as Considine made the clearance, then Victor Wanyama's shot was deflected from the edge of the area.

A flurry of Celtic corners failed to yield a winner in the four minutes of added time and Celtic's long winning run came to an end.

Live Text Commentary
90:00 +4:07

The final whistle goes and the game is over.
90:00 +3:09

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Charlie Mulgrew from the right by-line.
90:00 +2:43

Dylan McGeough takes a shot. Blocked by Mitchel Megginson.
90:00 +2:12

Charlie Mulgrew takes a outswinging corner to the near post, clearance by Gavin Rae.
90:00 +0:42

Victor Wanyama takes a shot. Gavin Rae gets a block in.
88:43

Mitchel Megginson takes a inswinging corner to the near post, clearance by Charlie Mulgrew.
88:16

The ball is sent over by Mitchel Megginson, blocked by Dylan McGeough.
87:21

Charlie Mulgrew sends in a cross, save by Jason Brown.
86:31

Charlie Mulgrew delivers the ball, clearance made by Andrew Considine.
83:20

Anthony Stokes fouled by Ryan Jack, the ref awards a free kick. Charlie Mulgrew restarts play with the free kick.
83:02

Scott Vernon takes a shot. Save by Fraser Forster.
82:20

Victor Wanyama challenges Scott Vernon unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Andrew Considine.
81:53

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Victor Wanyama by Peter Pawlett. Victor Wanyama takes the direct free kick.
80:13

The free kick is delivered left-footed by Charlie Mulgrew from left channel, Ryan Jack manages to make a clearance.
80:13 Booking

Booking The referee shows Youl Mawene a yellow card.
80:05

Foul by Youl Mawene on Victor Wanyama, free kick awarded.
79:22

Rory McArdle crosses the ball.
78:44 Substitution

Substitution (Aberdeen) makes a substitution, with Youl Mawene coming on for Rory Fallon.
78:14

A cross is delivered by Du-Ri Cha, Gary Hooper takes a shot. Save by Jason Brown.
76:49

Rory McArdle crosses the ball, save by Fraser Forster.
76:15

The ball is swung over by Anthony Stokes, save by Jason Brown.
76:07

James Forrest crosses the ball.
74:53

Victor Wanyama concedes a free kick for a foul on Rory Fallon. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Kari Arnason from right channel, save by Fraser Forster.
70:19 Substitution

Substitution Peter Pawlett replaces Fraser Fyvie.
69:07

Shot from just outside the penalty box by James Forrest misses to the left of the target.
68:37

Free kick awarded for a foul by Rory McArdle on Dylan McGeough. Du-Ri Cha takes the direct free kick.
67:26 Substitution

Substitution Du-Ri Cha on for Mikael Lustig.
66:39

Close range header by Scott Vernon goes wide of the left-hand upright.
65:19 Substitution

Substitution Dylan McGeough joins the action as a substitute, replacing Kris Commons.
64:08

Victor Wanyama fouled by Rory Fallon, the ref awards a free kick. Thomas Rogne restarts play with the free kick.
62:51

Mitchel Megginson has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.
62:02

Mitchel Megginson concedes a free kick for a foul on Mikael Lustig. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Mikael Lustig from right wing, clearance made by Andrew Considine.
60:35

The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Jason Brown.
60:19

Rory Fallon challenges Thomas Rogne unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Thomas Rogne.
59:56 Booking

Booking Caution for Mikael Lustig.
59:44

Unfair challenge on Mitchel Megginson by Mikael Lustig results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Andrew Considine.
59:24

Corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew, Jason Brown makes a save.
58:32

Inswinging corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew, clearance by Rory McArdle.
58:32 Substitution

Substitution Victor Wanyama replaces Andre Blackman.
57:52

Unfair challenge on Kris Commons by Mitchel Megginson results in a free kick. Mikael Lustig takes the direct free kick.
56:16

Shot on goal by Kari Arnason from long range goes harmlessly over the target.
54:55

The ball is sent over by Andre Blackman, save by Jason Brown.
54:44

A cross is delivered by Anthony Stokes.
53:29

Unfair challenge on Kris Commons by Kari Arnason results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Kris Commons.
50:53

Free kick crossed left-footed by Mark Reynolds from right channel, clearance made by Andre Blackman.
50:53 Booking

Booking Caution for Thomas Rogne.
50:45

Foul by Thomas Rogne on Rory Fallon, free kick awarded.
49:50

Kari Arnason has a volleyed shot. Charlie Mulgrew gets a block in.
48:29

Ryan Jack fouled by Anthony Stokes, the ref awards a free kick. Ryan Jack takes the free kick.
46:53

Mitchel Megginson crosses the ball, blocked by Mikael Lustig.
46:08

Ryan Jack crosses the ball.
45:01

The game restarts for the second half.
45:00 +0:29

The match has reached half-time.
43:52

The assist for the goal came from Gavin Rae.
43:52 Goal scored

Goal – Andre Blackman – Aberdeen 1 – 1 Celtic Own goal by Andre Blackman. Aberdeen 1-1 Celtic.
39:17

Joe Ledley fouled by Andrew Considine, the ref awards a free kick. Fraser Forster restarts play with the free kick.
38:29

Corner taken by Fraser Fyvie from the right by-line, Thomas Rogne makes a clearance.
38:13

Fraser Fyvie takes a shot. Mikael Lustig gets a block in.
36:05

Free kick awarded for a foul by Ryan Jack on Andre Blackman. Shot comes in from Anthony Stokes from the free kick, save by Jason Brown.
35:35

The assistant referee signals for offside against Gary Hooper. Free kick taken by Jason Brown.
34:39

Charlie Mulgrew takes a outswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, Gavin Rae makes a clearance.
34:30

Centre by Kris Commons, Gavin Rae gets a block in.
31:25

Rory Fallon produces a left-footed shot from just outside the area that goes wide left of the goal.
29:11

The ball is swung over by Rory McArdle, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Rory Fallon misses to the right of the goal.
27:58

Assist by Kris Commons.
27:58 Goal scored

Goal – Anthony Stokes – Aberdeen 0 – 1 Celtic Anthony Stokes fires in a goal from close in low into the middle of the goal. Aberdeen 0-1 Celtic.
25:19

The ball is crossed by Andre Blackman, Jason Brown makes a save.
24:59

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kris Commons by Scott Vernon. Free kick taken by Kris Commons.
21:17

The official flags Gary Hooper offside. Jason Brown restarts play with the free kick.
20:35

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Charlie Mulgrew, Gavin Rae manages to make a clearance.
19:39

A cross is delivered by James Forrest.
18:36

Rory Fallon challenges Andre Blackman unfairly and gives away a free kick. Andre Blackman takes the free kick.
14:54

Free kick awarded for a foul by Scott Vernon on Charlie Mulgrew. Direct free kick taken by Fraser Forster.
14:20

Unfair challenge on Mitchel Megginson by Mikael Lustig results in a free kick. Jason Brown takes the direct free kick.
13:04

Corner taken right-footed by Fraser Fyvie from the right by-line, Anthony Stokes manages to make a clearance.
12:50

Ryan Jack crosses the ball, Andre Blackman gets a block in.
11:01

The assistant referee signals for offside against Rory Fallon. Fraser Forster takes the indirect free kick.
10:48

Centre by Gavin Rae.
8:11

Andrew Considine gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Anthony Stokes. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Charlie Mulgrew from left channel, Ryan Jack manages to make a clearance.
7:34

The ball is delivered by Mikael Lustig, Jason Brown makes a comfortable save.
6:24

Free kick awarded for a foul by Andre Blackman on Kari Arnason. Kari Arnason crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance made by Anthony Stokes.
5:09

Free kick awarded for a foul by Mikael Lustig on Mitchel Megginson. Free kick taken by Rory McArdle.
4:00

Rory McArdle gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on James Forrest. Shot on goal comes in from Charlie Mulgrew from the free kick.
0:00

The referee gets the game underway.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association

BBC
1 March 2012 Last updated at 11:18
David Craig jailed over Neil Lennon abuse on Facebook

A man who admitted posting a picture of Neil Lennon covered in bullet wounds on a social networking site has been jailed for 14 months.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court, David Craig, 24, was also banned from all football grounds in the UK for three years.

Craig posted abuse about the Celtic manager and Rangers slogans on his Facebook page after the so-called Old Firm "shame game" in March 2011.

Sheriff Martin Jones told Craig that his actions were "vile and hateful."

Craig, from Paisley, moved to Northern Ireland after receiving death threats.
Hostile atmosphere

His trial had been shown a photograph he copied onto his Facebook page, of Mr Lennon wearing a Celtic top and with several bullet wounds on his torso and one on the centre of his head.

On the front of his body were the words "Dead man walking" and underneath was a caption reading: "Neil Lennon dead man!!!!!! UVF1".

Sentencing Craig, Sheriff Jones called his actions "hateful". He added: "There is no place for them in an enlightened society. This sort of thing leads to more of the same."

The sheriff said that Craig's posting came amidst escalating sectarian hostility after an Old Firm match.

He added: "You placed an image and comments which continued to fuel that atmosphere. Access to your site was fully available to the public."

Sheriff Jones added that the bullet-riddled picture of Lennon, a Catholic from Northern Ireland, prompted responses from others.

The sheriff said Craig's behaviour was "unacceptable" and needed to be marked with a jail sentence.

Craig has already spent nine months in jail on remand, so the sentence means he will will serve a further five months in prison.

Advocate Duncan McPhie, defending, said: "Sectarianism casts a shadow over Glasgow now it seems to have caused a shadow over the life of David Craig."

At an earlier appearance at Glasgow Sheriff Court, Craig admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear and alarm by posting images and messages of an offensive, threatening and sectarian nature.

Supt David Brand, head of the Football Coordination Unit Scotland, said: "On the day that the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012 has come into force, this sends a strong warning to others who might think about posting such vile, abusive and threatening comments on Facebook, Twitter or indeed any other online site."

He said he was encouraged by the response from members of the public and media who report this kind of behaviour.