Bahrudin Atajic goal not enough to earn youths three points
Despite having the incentive on knowing that a win would take them to the top of the league none of the Celtic players did themselves justice with Neil Lennon looking on from the sidelines.
With all sorts of false allegations going on the Celtic boss would have been looking for a pleasing distraction from recent events but other than some flashes from Filip Twardzik there wasn’t much to get enthusiastic about from the home players.
The biting wind across the pitch didn’t make for pleasant playing conditions but from early on it was clear that Aberdeen were capable of causing problems.
Less than a month ago Celtic had won 3-0 at Aberdeen but that scoreline never looked likely to be repeated.
Half of the Celtic side had followed Saturday’s 5-0 win over St Mirren with a 45 minute appearance against Finn Harps the next day but having set themselves high standards the players will be more disappointed than anyone by today’s performance.
Stevie Frail’s side were along familiar lines with Callum Bagshaw restored to central midfield but it was the other Callum, McGregor, who put Celtic ahead in the sixth minute with a great sweeping shot across the Dons keeper from 20 yards out after the ball had been worked to the midfielder down the left.
Despite that early boost chances were at a premium throughout the first half with McGregor missing a decent chance in the 37th minute when he miskicked after James Keatings had cut in from the right.
Seven minutes into the second half Aberdeen equalised when Low sent a well placed free kick round the Celtic wall into the net.
Atajic replaced Jordan Lowdon shortly afterwards and it was the substitute that restored Celtic’s lead in the 66th minute.
Kieran Brennan’s cross into the box was headed to Filip Twardzik, the Aberdeen keeper did well to block Twardzik’s shot but Atajic anticipated the rebound and drilled the ball into the net.
With 12 minutes left to play Aberdeen equalised when Gibson found space in the six yard box to notch a deserved equaliser.
Celtic pushed for a winner in the closing stages but were only able to put in a couple of hopeful crosses from the left which found no takers.
The draw leaves Celtic two points behind Rangers having played the same number of games.
On Friday Aberdeen travel to face Rangers at Murray Park with Celtic playing Kilmarnock at the Kilwinning Sports Centre the following day.
CELTIC: Thomson; O’Donnell, Toshney, Hughes, Brennan; Irvine, McGregor, Bagshaw, Lowdon, F Twardzik; Keatings,
3>SUBS: Feely, Atajic (Lowdon 56), Jones, P Twardzik (Irvine 58), Gormley (Keatings 83), Ordish, Watt3>