There’s a fair bit of bleating coming from the Aberdeen camp after Celtic’s 3-2 win at Pittodrie last night.
In what was an enthralling game, there appears to have been controversial moments for both sides to consider, however most of the complaining appears to surround Jota’s winning goal, as Celtic having led at the break 2-0 had been pegged back to 2-2 by a Dons side who regrouped, changed shape and caught Celtic off-guard at the beginning of the second half.
Now Stephen Glass may wish to look closer to home for the reasons behind his side’s defeat – the criminal back post defending by goalkeeper and defender for instance that allowed Jota to steal in and open the scoring, or the statuesque approach to defending David Bates exhibited, as Matt O’Riley’s shot struck the player and deflected the ball into the net for the second goal.
Or Glass could consider the fortune the Dons received as they got back into the game. As having had advantage afforded to them when Callum McGregor’s arm hit the ball from a crossed delivery, Aberdeen’s Matty Kennedy missed the opportunity to score, and then referee Willie Collum brought the game back for the initial foul. And from the dubious award of the free-kick Ramirez was left apparently unmarked when he scored, however that was in the main due to Scott Brown illegally holding off Carl Starfelt’s attempts to reach the striker.
Not that the Aberdeen manager took any of that into account as he whined to the press, as reported by Daily Record, after the game.
Instead, it was time to bite the hand that fed him and complain about the winning goal, a phantom offside, and a player, in Liel Abada, who was apparently interfering with play, despite making no attempt to do so and remaining entirely passive as the Aberdeen defender ran into him as the Dons tried to close down Jota on his way to scoring the winning goal.
“From the side, I thought Abada blocked Batesy and stopped him going back and defending against Jota. I thought he was offside as he did it but even if not he was still blocking a player.
“We continually get done for blocks every week, sometimes even when they don’t happen so it’s disappointing. I come in and say it every week but don’t want to talk about referees. There are reasons you ask me these questions.”
And Glass wasn’t finished there as he felt Ange Postecoglou received preferential treatment post-match, with the Aberdeen manager advised not to enter the field of play to approach the referee, meanwhile Postecoglou was apparently given no such direction.
“I was warned or told before the end of the game not to go on the pitch and speak to the referee. He didn’t tell two managers he told one. Maybe he has realised he has made a mistake.
“The fourth official was told to tell us not to speak on the pitch after the game. Both managers didn’t get treated the same. Maybe there is a reason for that.”
Well yes there probably is a reason for it. Despite frustrating decisions going against both sides Ange Postecoglou kept his cool, he didn’t berate the officials from the sidelines, unlike Stephen Glass, and he appeared completely in control of his senses, unlike Stephen Glass. Perhaps then, there was only one manager who needed to be saved from himself and the possible repercussions of his actions should he have entered the field of play at the final whistle, and I’m assuming the officials didn’t think that would be Ange Postecoglou.
In the end Celtic prevailed with a show of character to match their creativity that maintains their position at the top of the league.
There will no doubt be complaints from Aberdeen lasting for days on this one, however there is little merit in any of it, no matter how much they bleat about it.
Niall J
Watch all the unique angle highlights from Celtic TV below…
⏰ 𝑼𝒏𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒆 𝑨𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆 ⏰
⚽️ 𝑱𝒐𝒕𝒂
⚽️ 𝑶’𝑹𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒚
⚽️ 𝑱𝒐𝒕𝒂𝑨 𝑷𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒐𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒉𝒐𝒚𝒔 𝒃𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚#ABECEL pic.twitter.com/IBHMPPFDwp
— Celtic TV (@CelticTV) February 10, 2022
Here are a few video from the back row at Pittodrie…watching Glasgow Celtic, putting on a show!
Here are the teams coming out…
“We’re at the Top of the League, looking down on the Rangers…”
We Shall Not be Moved…The Post Match Celtic celebrations…
Happy Hoops heading for the exits..
