Aberdeen conceded an early goal to Celtic after Stephen Welsh headed home a corner.Aberdeen conceded an early goal to Celtic after Stephen Welsh headed home a corner.
Aberdeen conceded an early goal to Celtic after Stephen Welsh headed home a corner.

Aberdeen player ratings: One 8 but a couple of 4s as big moment passes Dons by

Aberdeen started their cinch Premiership campaign with a 2-0 defeat by champions Celtic in Glasgow.

After an 100 per cent record in the Premier Sports Cup group stages, hopes were high that Jim Goodwin’s new-look Dons could be competitive at Celtic Park.

However, Ange Postecoglou’s men were far too strong for their visitors from the north-east, with an early Stephen Welsh header and then a fine second-half strike from Jota meaning Aberdeen prop up the league table after the first round of fixtures.

"It has been pretty comprehensive for Celtic - they were well ahead,” former Dons defender and manager Willie Miller said on Radio Scotland. “Aberdeen need to have a little more ambition when they come down here. We have witnessed too many occasions where the performance is just trying to not let Celtic play – and, in truth, it's not worked. Celtic easily could've had another two or three.”

Mark Atkinson rates the Aberdeen players out of ten for their performance at Celtic Park ...

"It has been pretty comprehensive for Celtic - they were well ahead,” former Dons defender and manager Willie Miller said on Radio Scotland. “Aberdeen need to have a little more ambition when they come down here. We have witnessed too many occasions where the performance is just trying to not let Celtic play – and, in truth, it's not worked. Celtic easily could've had another two or three.”