Extended highlights as Celtic beat Aberdeen | OneFootball

Celtic beat Aberdeen to reduce Rangers’ gap at the top of the table to just four points after goals from Jota and Callum McGregor wrapped up all three points on an emotional afternoon in Glasgow’s East End. Captain Callum McGregor and former skipper Scott Brown came onto the pitch with wreaths for Bertie Auld, who recently passed away. The full stadium saluted the recently-departed Lisbon Lion before the action kicked off.

Despite Aberdeen starting brightly, Celtic turned up the intensity and began to control proceedings. Ange Postecoglou’s side took a deserved lead through a Jota goal, who linked up well with Callum McGregor before firing beyond Joe Lewis.

Shortly afterwards, Aberdeen pulled one back from the spot thanks to Lewis Ferguson, levelling things up at the break. David Bate was adjudged to have been fouled by Liel Abada but replays seem to suggest that there was little contact between the Israeli winger and Dons defender.

Celtic got a deserved lead in bizarre circumstances with Callum McGregor netting, even if the skipper didn’t know too much about it. James McCarthy slid a tidy ball into the path of Liel Abada, who was spurned by Joe Lewis before Jonny Hayes went to hook the ball clear. His ball thundered off of McGregor and rippled the net.

It was a hard-fought win but one that was thoroughly deserved by the side.