Rory McArdle looks to put brakes on Celtic’s striking duo

DEFENDER Rory McArdle faces an obvious but far from simple task as Aberdeen tackle Celtic today – stopping Anthony Stokes and Gary Hooper.

Seventh-placed Aberdeen face a stern challenge to their 11-game unbeaten run which has moved them clear of the SPL relegation zone and into the quarter-finals of the William Hill Scottish Cup.

League leaders Celtic have won 17 successive SPL games and 20 in all domestic competitions and have not conceded a goal in six matches, scoring 15 themselves.

McArdle knows the key to ending Celtic’s streak towards the SPL title is halting strike duo Stokes and Hooper, who have 18 and 20 goals respectively this season. “If you keep those two quiet you’ve got a good chance of getting something out of the game,” he said. “We know it’s going to be hard, it’s not down to individuals. We’ll have to work as a team to try to frustrate Celtic and make it as hard as possible for them.”

McArdle appreciates Celtic have numerous dangers but hopes if the defence can repel the visitors, the Dons can exploit any gaps in attack. The 24-year-old added: “Celtic will be coming here to win. The game will be a little bit open for us, but we know we will have to defend as well as we have done all season, if not a little bit better, with the attacking options they’ve got. If we can keep that tight there’s no reason why we can’t cause them a few problems.”

Aberdeen are four points behind sixth-placed Hearts entering this weekend’s fixtures, with five league games remaining until the split. McArdle appreciates every victory is important and a win over Celtic will provide an ideal boost ahead of next week’s Scottish Cup last eight clash at Motherwell. He added: “At this stage of the season the points are going to make a massive difference because it’s so tight.

“It would give us a massive boost going into the four games, with the cup game as well. We know the task that’s in front and if we do get a result, everyone will be buzzing. For us to have a really good chance of pushing into the top six we have to be aiming to win every game from now until the split. There’s no reason why we can’t do that.”