Aberdeen 0 - 1 Celtic: Superb Tom Rogic strike seals win

Celtic's Tom Rogic scores the only goal of the match during the top-of-the-table clash versus Aberdeen. Picture: SNS/Rob Casey

Tom Rogic’s superb winner was enough to see off any threat after a lively start from the hosts.

Derek McInnes sprang a surprise by dropping Adam Rooney and James Maddison to the bench, opting for a pacier front three in Niall McGinn, Jonny Hayes and Wes Burns.

It worked initially as Aberdeen took the game to their opponents. They failed, however, to capitalise on a dominant opening 20 or so minutes, and there was a feeling of inevitability when Celtic began to enjoy a spell of pressure.

With 23 minutes on the clock, Tom Rogic controlled a loose ball in mid-air at the edge of the box before slicing a side-footed half-volley out of the reach of Joe Lewis and into the Aberdeen net.

Celtic continued to control the match but it remained 1-0 until the break.

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The second half began in a similar manner to how the first had ended with Scott Sinclair cutting inside to pull a stunning save from Joe Lewis in the Aberdeen goal. The former Cardiff custodian using every last inch of his huge frame to tip the ball safely over.

McInnes waited until just eight minutes after the restart before replacing Ryan Jack and McGinn with Rooney and Maddison.

Rogic then spurned a good opportunity to double his personally tally, as well as that of his team’s, after a superb through ball from Mikael Lustig, but he shot straight at Lewis.

The home side showed flashes of good play but didn’t do enough to get back into the game and it was Celtic who seemed the likelier to get the second goal of the match. Even during a late rally, Aberdeen struggled to find the target.

It remained 1-0, meaning Celtic have extended their lead at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership to 10 points.

More to follow...

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