Aberdeen 0-1 Celtic

A moment of quality attacking play decided a very keenly contested football match which belied its status as as Championship after party.

Aberdeen were game for a first victory of the season over the champions and came flying out of the traps. Their approach was characterised by a full press on the Celtic backline, preventing a lot of the comfortable building from the back that has been such a key part of Celtics style of play this season.

The pace of McGinn was a huge threat throughout the whole game with both Fisher and Matthews seemingly unable to handle him on that right hand side. Too often McGinn had them done for pace around the outside though he also showed why he didn't make it at Celtic with a lack of end product in a number of promising situations.

This game was a real battle for Celtic, as it always seems to be when we come to Pittodrie these days but whenever you are faced with an uphill fight you want to rely on your captain to marshall the troops. Scott Brown did exactly that in an all action display in the centre of the park. Harrassing the opponent, putting tackles in, chasing lost causes, going box to box, being that vocal presence to motivate the troops, today he gave everthing you want, going box to box for the cause.

Its not been too often that our defence has been tested in this league but it is worth mentioning that our central defence earned their corn today. VVD and Denayer were put under serious pressure through cross balls, pacy runners and those balls in behind all game which they coped admirably with. Key headers were always won in the box, crucial blocks from shots or passes and those all important tackles to stop the likes of McGinn or Hayes from causing havoc through the middle.

Griffiths, I think, worked hard to try and get in behind. He was caught offside on a number of occasions but he seemed to worry their defenders with his presence. He had a few shots which were well saved by the keeper and he helped the winning move to flow by controlling an overhit pass and keeping the momentum of the move going forward.

So, to the moment of quality play that decided the game in Celtics favour. I always feel we look at our best when we are looking to counter attack against teams. Players like Griffiths, Armstrong, Johansen and GMS lend themselves to high tempo football attacking the spaces in behind a team. That doesn't happen ever game, I realise that, but we've scored some cracking goals from winning the ball during an opponents attack.

It was typically industrious work from Scott Brown to slide in and win the ball from Barry Robson, striding forward with pirpose to start the break. He did overhit the pass into Griffiths who did well to control it and slide the ball into the wide area for Armstrong on the left to attack the isolated defender. Boy did he do that, dribbling inside with pace and purpose, round the defender and even past the covering man before cutting back the ball from right on the byline for the onrushing Brown to slide the ball into the net. Wonderful individual play from all 3 players involved to make the goal happen.

Delighted with the win, so easy for a team to switch off now the season is effectively done.

Man of the Match goes to Scott Brown, superb throughout.