It was seen as Aberdeen’s first major test of the season under new manager Jimmy Thelin – and the 2-2 draw at Celtic Park had BBC Scotland pundits gushing with praise after “a game that did Scottish football proud” leaves the two sides level on points at the top of the Premiership.
The Dons’ 13-game winning streak under the Swede has been brought to an end – they are second on goal difference – but it also ended Celtic’s own 100% domestic start to the season.
And Aberdeen’s ability to come back from two goals behind at the home of the reigning champions was greeted as “brave”, “outstanding”, “refreshing” and real proof that Thelin’s side are narrowing the gap already on Scotland’s big two.
But was it really a point gained through Aberdeen excellence or one lost through Celtic’s defensive frailties?
Celtic ‘punished for being careless’
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers felt his side contributed to their own second-half downfall.
Jamie McGrath’s excellent through ball split Celtic’s central defence as Ester Sokler reduced the arrears before Graeme Shinnie’s deflected effort levelled after Daizen Maeda gifted possession to the visitors.
“We got punished for being careless, I felt, in that 10-minute period,” Rodgers said.
“We had good control in the first half, should have been more in front and then, probably around about that 50th minute to the 60th minute, a little bit passive without the ball, lacked aggression.”
Rodgers pointed out that “really good defending and goalkeeping” prevented a Celtic winner despite “32 shots or something at goal”.
“I knew it wasn’t going to be perfect, coming on the back of all the guys travelling around the world and coming back in together, but I would expect us to see that game through,” he said, referencing international fatigue.
Rodgers, nevertheless, praised Thelin for a double change at half-time, with Sokler scoring with virtually his first touch of the ball.
“You have to give them a big credit for that, and Jimmy and his team, they’re well coached, well organised and the changes worked for him,” he said.
“But, when I look at it from our perspective, he doesn’t get the through ball at all if our press is right.”
‘Players sacrificed themselves’
Thelin has impressed with his down-to-earth approach since arriving from Swedish side Elfsborg and he remained cool amid the emotions involved in such an important result.
He praised the team spirit that denied Celtic in a frantic 10 minutes of stoppage time during which two efforts were blocked on the goalline.
“In the last three, four, five minutes there were some crazy moments on the pitch,” he admitted. “But the players sacrificed themselves – they gave everything they had.”
Thelin explained the half-time team talk that took place as he prepared to add the pace of Sokler and winger Duk.
“We needed to calm down a little bit and focus on our identity,” he said.
Celtic ‘spooked’ by Dons tactics
Former Aberdeen and Celtic midfielder Barry Robson told BBC Sportscene: “Celtic were in total control of the game in the first half and could have scored more but they didn’t cope well with it in the second half.”
Robson, also a former Dons manager, added: “You are never going to get 60% possession at Parkhead – it is about exposing them in the transitions and they did that perfectly. He made a couple of substitutions – put Duk on and he moved Jamie McGrath in the middle of the pitch and put Ester Sokler on, who is brilliant in transition.”
For former Scotland winger Neil McCann, the draw was a reward for Thelin’s “brave management” despite only enjoying 16% possession after the break.
“When you risk four of five players to try to get a goal, you know how good Celtic are on the counter-attack – they counter a counter-attack so well,” he said.
“I think Celtic were a bit spooked in the second half because I don’t think they are used to teams coming at them in those numbers.”
Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner described the impact of Aberdeen’s half-time substitutions as “quite incredible”.
“I have witnessed brilliant games at Celtic Park and this was right up there,” he told BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound. “It had everything.”
So much so that former Aberdeen centre-half and manager Willie Miller admitted to feeling “a bit shaky” after the dramatic finale.
“I’ve waited a long time to see this,” he said, referencing Celtic’s 26-game unbeaten run against the Dons during which the Reds have suffered some heavy beatings in Glasgow.
“It was on a knife edge. I just thought it was refreshing – and you’ve got to give Jimmy Thelin and this Aberdeen team a huge amount of credit for coming down here and making a real toe-to-toe game of it.
“They actually went 4-2-4 in the second half because McGrath was up alongside Sokler for much of the time.”
With Celtic and Aberdeen now six points clear of Rangers, who visit Kilmarnock on Sunday, the question is now whether the Dons can at the very least split the Old Firm by the end of the season.
Former Scotland midfielder Michael Stewart said: “I can’t see the gap between second and third being what it has historically been.
“If Aberdeen don’t manage to break up the Glasgow two and they were to finish third, I don’t see them being 15-20 points behind. I think they will be closing the gap.”
With home league games against Dundee United and Rangers to come before they renew their acquaintance with Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final, Thelin’s revitalised Dons have another three big games in which to continue their transition.
