The prolific James Keatings fired Celtic’s youth side back into the title race with a second half double in a 3-0 win at Aberdeen.
Rangers win over Dundee United on Friday turned up the pressure on Stevie Frail’s side but after picking up all three points at Aberdeen Celtic trail their city rivals by seven points with three games in hand.
A heavy pitch and a biting wind tested the character of the visitors but the classy finishing of Keatings ensured that there was only going to be one winner.
“Being honest Keats was a bit quiet today but he’s a striker and strikers are judged by their goals,” Frail admitted. “His finish for the second goal was class.”
If strikers are judged on their goals 13 in 5 appearances is a fair strike rate from the Wishaw bhoy.
The pick of the goals was undoutedly the third. After Callum McGregor won possession in midfield he laid the ball out wide to Kieran Brennan who crossed into the penalty box.
Taming the ball on his chest as he turned round Keatings fired an unstoppable shot past the home keeper before being mobbed by his team-mates.
The first half hour was easily forgettable as Aberdeen closed down and harried their visitors at every opportunity.
New bhoy Tony Watts was given little chance to impress but as Celtic began to press in on the home goal the former Airdrie striker saw a close range header strike the crossbar.
In the 64th minute Liam Gormley replaced Watt with McGregor moving in to play behind Keatings with Gormley moving onto the left flank with Celtic taking the lead three minutes later.
McGregor released a pass into the penalty box for Filip Twardzik to race onto. An Aberdeen defender managed to block the ball but it bounced in front of Keatings who rifled an instinctive shot into the net.
With ten minutes left to play McGregor was again involved as Filip Twardzik doubled Celtic’s lead. Shielding a pass from the right McGregor held the ball up perfectly before releasing Twardzik who took one touch to take the ball into the penalty area before netting with a low left foot drive.
The best goal was saved to the end however with Keatings volleying home Brennan’s cross allowing Jordan Lowdon and Bahrudin Atajic to replace Keatings and Callum Bagshaw.
“Overall I’m really satisfied, we’ve got games to catch up on but to come up here against a very strong Aberdeen side and control the game is really pleasing,” Frail added.
“Defensively we were very sould. The two centre-backs were terrific and we worked with the two full-backs to prevent Aberdeen putting crosses into the box.
“They can put in good deliveries but I don’t think Aberdeen got a single cross in.
“We didn’t create a great deal in the first half, there were a few near things towards the break but at half time we told them that we needed more from our attacking players.
“They responded with three great goals. During the second half we tweaked it with a substitution. We put Callum McGregor in the hole where he influences games, he picks out passes and he had a hand in three goals and we’re delighted by that.”
Next weekend Celtic return to cup business with a home tie against Stenhousemuir for a place in the semi-finals of the SFA Youth Cup.
Keatings record 2010/2011
Celtic 8-0 Hamilton Accies 5 goals
Celtic 3-0 St Johnstone 1 goal
Hearts 0-1 Celtic 1 goal
Celtic 8-0 Kilmarnock 4 goals
Aberdeen 0-3 Celtic 2 goals
CELTIC 4-4-2 Thompson; O’Donnell, Hughes, Toshney, Brennan; P Twardzik, Bagshaw, F Twardzik, McGregor; Watt, Keatings
SUBS: Feely, Jones, Lowdon (Bagshaw 87), Atajic (87) Gormley (Watt 64), Herron, George
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