Aberdeen 1-2 Celtic – Time for Some Definitive Ratings

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Benjamin Nygren celebrates.

Benjamin Nygren celebrates. Aberdeen v Celtic, Scottish Premiership. Wednesday 4th March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

Q: It looked like a really tight call for offside at Nygren’s goal?

Martin O’Neill: “Yeah, absolutely, because it took a long time. And then when the fourth official was saying to me that they’re looking at perhaps two events in the thing, but then you start to really worry about it. But thankfully we saw it through. I don’t know about you, but I thought it looked a penalty for us in the first half. You haven’t seen it yet? His hand was out there, I thought, in an unnatural position. It was a tough game, we saw it through and it keeps us going.

Benjamin Nygren celebrates.

Benjamin Nygren celebrates. Aberdeen v Celtic, Scottish Premiership. Wednesday 4th March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

Q: Were you always confident the goal would come, Martin?

Martin O’Neill: “No, no. It’s hard to score goals. I thought that when we scored the first goal, and it came very, very early on, I thought that’s the time for us to really push forward and try and get the second goal if we can. I thought that we came off the game a little bit, allowed Aberdeen into it, they got the penalty and scored. That’s a tough old second half, you have to try and create things, you have to take risks and you have to take chances. I think that’s what you try to do, but at the same time, try and not concede a goal. That was always possible anyway. But Nygren comes out big with the goal, which was great.”

Brian Wilson, Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay

Brian Wilson, Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay at Pittodrie. Aberdeen v Celtic, Scottish Premiership. Wednesday 4th March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

Q: What did you think of James Forrest who made an impact as well?

Martin O’Neill:  “James did very well, James. Very well. He’s ready. He made the penalty for us on Sunday, and he can make an impact. I think he looks at me as if, do you think I’m really too old for proceedings like this here? But he’ll never get to my age.”

Q: On the back of the comeback on Sunday, did that feel like a big win?

Martin O’Neill:  “It was a big win. I don’t know whether you say on the back of, but it certainly helps. It keeps us, at least for a little while, it keeps us in the race.”

Q: You’re up to second as well, that’s a nice boost as well?

Martin O’Neill:  “Yeah, that’s true. I hadn’t thought about that.”

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About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor David Faulds has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email [email protected]

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