Aberdeen proved they have the stomach for a title challenge by reducing Celtic’s lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to three points with a well-deserved 2-1 this evening.
Jonny Hayes, playing despite requiring 18 stitches after being bitten by a dog, opened the scoring with a venomous effort from long range before debutant Simon Church netted from close range to double the advantage before the break.
That proved to be enough with a well below-par Celtic struggling to test the Aberdeen defence as they searched for a way back into the match before Leigh Griffiths scored a late consolation goal.
Derek McInnes’ side lost all four of their meetings with Celtic last season but they have already won two out of three this term and this will be a victory that gives his players a major psychological boost for the rest of the season.
Fourteen games remain and there will be plenty of twists and turns to come but this was a night to savour for the Dons support with a crowd of 19,003 crammed inside Pittodrie to watch a nerve-jangling yet entertaining encounter.
The result heaps further pressure on Hoops manager Ronny Deila, who saw his team’s hopes of winning a domestic treble ended with a 3-1 loss to Ross County in Sunday’s League Cup final.
Prior to this encounter, Aberdeen had not lost in the league since a 3-1 defeat at Celtic Park in October. The subsequent 10-game unbeaten run that followed kept them in hot pursuit of the league leaders but it was easy to see why many were billing this as a potential title decider.
It was the ‘proverbial six-pointer’ – a win for Celtic would take them nine points clear, while a home win would put the Dons only three points adrift of the Hoops.
New Aberdeen signing Simon Church, recruited on loan from MK Dons for the remainder of the season, was a surprise starter, replacing David Goodwillie following his departure to Ross County, while Mark Reynolds returned from suspension at the expense of Andrew Considine.
For the visitors, Celtic captain Scott Brown made his first start in two months with deadline day signing Colin Kazim-Richards named on the bench.
The Dons players lined up shoulder to shoulder while the Hoops gathered for their traditional pre-match huddle ahead of the match getting under way inside a noisy and packed Pittodrie.
Derek McInnes named an attack-minded line-up, choosing to exploit Celtic’s defensive frailties, but it was the visitors who conjured up the first attempt with Aberdeen goalkeeper Scott Brown nervously gathering Nir Bitton’s long-range free kick at the second attempt.
The other Scott Brown on the pitch was next to make an impression, having avoided an early booking for two fouls in quick succession, the Celtic captain flashed a powerful drive over the crossbar.
Aberdeen were struggling to get a foothold in the game with Celtic dominating possession and looking dangerous in the final third.
But then, completely against the run of play, a moment of brilliance gave Aberdeen the lead.
Hayes pounced on a loose ball 20 yards from goal following an aerial tussle between Bitton and Church and required no invitation to let fly with a sublime strike that arrowed past Craig Gordon.
It was Aberdeen’s first shot on target and a barely deserved lead but the home support did not care.
The Dons were suddenly playing with confidence and things got even better for the hosts seven minutes later when Kenny McLean’s glancing header from a Hayes corner was turned home by debutant Church.
The decibels had cranked up around Pittodrie with Celtic manager Deila the target for much of the home support’s chanting.
McLean went close to adding a third for the Dons with a well-struck drive as the home side ended the half on top against a shell-shocked Celtic.
Deila would have been dismayed by the way his side capitulated towards the end of the half and made a change at the break, replacing Stuart Armstrong with Kazim-Richards.
But it was Aberdeen who should have augmented their advantage when play resumed with Church fluffing his lines from five yards out.
Celtic began to fight back with Kazim-Richards going close before Griffiths headed wide, while Niall McGinn stung the palms of Gordon with a rasping drive as the Dons pushed for the decisive next goal.
Celtic threw James Forrest and Scott Allan into the fray as they searched for a way to open up a resolute and well-organised Aberdeen rearguard.
The Dons felt they should have had a penalty with eight minutes remaining when Rooney tumbled in the area after colliding with Erik Sviatchenko.
Griffiths pulled a goal back deep in injury time but it mattered little as Aberdeen held on for the win.
