Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin is hoping his side can spring a shock as they host Celtic on Saturday. The Scottish Champions are in the Granite City for their first game of the second part of the season after the World Cup break.
Goodwin hopes to replicate his former club, St Mirren, who inflicted Celtic’s only domestic defeat of the season so far as the Dons host Ange Postecoglou’s league leaders. As reported by STV, Goodwin is looking to copy his successor Stephen Robinson’s gameplan as his Paisley side took points from Celtic.
“Celtic have only one defeat this season and the only points they have dropped is against St Mirren away from home, so we have to take a little bit of encouragement from that result.
“I thought St Mirren’s game plan on the day was excellent. They frustrated Celtic for large periods and deservedly won the game. So, what that proves is that they can be beaten if you get a number of things right on the day.”
The Irishman was quick to pay Celtic respect as he talks up why the Parkhead side are so dangerous.
“We respect them as an opposition. They are a very, very good side, they have scored in excess of 50 goals this season already but our form has been excellent.
“We have won six out of our seven league games here at Pittodrie, we have scored the same amount of goals at home as Rangers and Celtic and our defensive record is something that people have been quick to point the finger at us for and deservedly so because our away record defensively has been poor.
“But, here at home, we have only conceded six goals, with only Celtic and Rangers having a slightly better goal difference than us at home.
“So, we have to take all the positives and all the confidence from those things I have mentioned, albeit we know exactly how difficult it is going to be.
“The results in the last decade against Celtic haven’t made for great reading from an Aberdeen perspective and that is something that me and this new group of players want to put right.”
Celtic will travel to Aberdeen with the Granite City covered in snow with further low temperatures forecasted in the next few days. The gap for the World Cup in Qatar came as Celtic opened a nine point gap up over Rangers; however, they will head North knowing that they need a win to restore their lead after Rangers came from behind to beat Hibernian at Ibrox.
