Match ends, Aberdeen 0, Celtic 1.
Aberdeen 0-1 Celtic
- From the section Football
- Scott Brown scores only goal of the game
- Celtic stretch lead at top to 14 points
- Ronny Deila's side already confirmed as champions
Celtic made it four wins out of four against Aberdeen this season, but were made to fight all the way at Pittodrie.
The Dons' Mark Reynolds, Niall McGinn and Lawrence Shankland all wasted chances.
And they were made to pay for their lack of ruthlessness as Scott Brown poked home Stuart Armstrong's cutback.
They could have made it more comfortable but Stefan Johansen and James Forrest were denied by Dons goalkeeper Scott Brown late on.
It was harsh on Derek McInnes' Aberdeen players, who again ran Celtic close, but, much like the Scottish Premiership title race, they fell just short.
Celtic arrived in the Granite City having already been confirmed as champions following Aberdeen's failure to beat Dundee United last weekend, and the home side welcomed them onto the pitch with a guard of honour.
The hosts did not soften their approach, however, as they tried to earn their first victory of the season over Ronny Deila's side.
Ryan Jack's early cutback was intercepted in the box by Johansen with Adam Rooney waiting to take advantage, before Barry Robson sent a shot wide from distance.
The Dons continued to keep up the pressure. Reynolds knocked wide from Aberdeen defender Andrew Considine's knockdown, before Robson drove a free-kick through the wall and straight at goalkeeper Craig Gordon.
It took Celtic until the 30-minute mark to pose a threat, with Johansen the main outlet as he pulled a shot wide before trying to chip the goalkeeper when played through by Emilio Izaguirre.
Darnell Fisher fired over from inside the box as the visitors started to gain control with Aberdeen's early fluency disrupted, and three minutes into the second half Celtic were in front.
Brown started and finished the move, winning the ball from Robson outside his own box and launching a sweeping attack. Armstrong reached the byline and cut back to the Celtic captain, who slid the ball into the net.
McGinn was becoming more of a threat for the home side, though, and twice he cut in from the left-hand side in quick succession, but could not hit the target.
Aberdeen goalkeeper Brown had to make a double save from Leigh Griffiths and Kris Commons, shortly after Aberdeen's Jonny Hayes felt he should have had a penalty at the other end when he went down under defender Jason Denayer's challenge.
The Dons were pressurising Celtic's defence without testing the goalkeeper, and they always looked vulnerable on the counter attack.
Their best chance to level came with two minutes left when Shankland's diving header from Hayes' cross went wide of the post.
Celtic should have added to their lead when first Johansen then Forrest fired straight at the goalkeeper from inside the area with the Dons defence stretched.
Line-ups
Aberdeen
- 20Brown
- 2Logan
- 5Taylor
- 6Reynolds
- 3ConsidineBooked at 72mins
- 11HayesBooked at 62mins
- 22JackSubstituted forShanklandat 87'minutes
- 15RobsonBooked at 60minsSubstituted forPawlettat 69'minutes
- 10McGinn
- 7McLean
- 9RooneySubstituted forGoodwillieat 56'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Langfield
- 8Flood
- 14Smith
- 16Pawlett
- 17Goodwillie
- 25Shankland
- 28Daniels
Celtic
- 26Gordon
- 41FisherSubstituted forMatthewsat 57'minutes
- 22Denayer
- 5van Dijk
- 3Izaguirre
- 6BittonBooked at 89mins
- 8Brown
- 15CommonsSubstituted forForrestat 81'minutes
- 25Johansen
- 14ArmstrongSubstituted forAmbroseat 82'minutes
- 28Griffiths
Substitutes
- 2Matthews
- 4Ambrose
- 12Scepovic
- 16Mackay-Steven
- 18Rogic
- 24Zaluska
- 49Forrest
- Referee:
- Craig Thomson
- Attendance:
- 16,742
Match Stats
Home TeamAberdeenAway TeamCeltic
- Possession
- Home51%
- Away49%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away7
- Corners
- Home5
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away16
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Aberdeen 0, Celtic 1.
Kenny McLean (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
Foul by Kenny McLean (Aberdeen).
James Forrest (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Attempt saved. Stefan Johansen (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner.
Shaleum Logan (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
Booking
Nir Bitton (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.
Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Aberdeen. Lawrence Shankland replaces Ryan Jack.
Foul by Kenny McLean (Aberdeen).
Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Kenny McLean (Aberdeen) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Efe Ambrose replaces Stuart Armstrong.
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. James Forrest replaces Kris Commons.
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Emilio Izaguirre.
Attempt missed. Niall McGinn (Aberdeen) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Foul by Kenny McLean (Aberdeen).
Kris Commons (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Peter Pawlett (Aberdeen).
Nir Bitton (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Adam Matthews.
Shaleum Logan (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Stuart Armstrong (Celtic).
Booking
Andrew Considine (Aberdeen) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Andrew Considine (Aberdeen).
Stefan Johansen (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Jonny Hayes (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jason Denayer (Celtic).
Substitution
Substitution, Aberdeen. Peter Pawlett replaces Barry Robson.
Attempt blocked. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Kenny McLean (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic).
Foul by Barry Robson (Aberdeen).
Stefan Johansen (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Niall McGinn (Aberdeen) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Emilio Izaguirre.