Reo Hatate was the hero for Celtic as he struck late on to end Aberdeen’s winning streak at Pittodrie and send the champions seven points clear in the Premiership title race with a 1-0 win.
There was no separation between the sides on 78 minutes, but the Japanese broke the deadlock in style in what could have been a key result for the Hoops.
In the first half, Paulo Bernardo took a wind-assisted corner straight into the far corner of the net, but it was disallowed for a foul on Dons goalkeeper Ross Doohan.
Celtic dominated after the break but some heroic defending and brilliant goalkeeping saw Alistair Johnston and Adam Idah denied as the visitors were pegged back again and again by Aberdeen’s heroic defense led by Slobodan Rubezic.
But Greg Taylor’s brilliant cross over the top found Hattie late on and he fired into the bottom corner to put Celtic seven points clear of their nearest rivals with a game in hand.
Celtic overcame the conditions to claim a vital victory
The game was played in poor conditions at Pittodrie
The game was played in heavy rain and winds of around 50mph, so the quality of football suffered in the first half, but both teams had decent chances in the second half.
The Dons have faced Celtic in their opening 11 league games and the only slip-up between the two sides came in a 2-2 draw at Parkhead.
But Jimmy Thelin’s side have picked up just two points from three consecutive away games, snapping their 14-game winning streak at Pittodrie so far.
Alex Valen was given some difficult chances by Duke early on and the wide man forced a save away from the legs of Kasper Schmeichel before Kevin Nisbet pulled the rebound wide.
Duke also conceded a couple of clear-cut chances in the first half.Celtic struggled to get hold of Nicolas Kuhn and only seriously threatened in the latter stages of the half through a series of Bernardo corners.
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Paulo Bernardo was denied a direct goal from a corner after Daisen Maeda was brought down for blocking the keeper.
One flew straight into the net, but Daizen Maeda was penalized for obstructing Doohan on the line and referee Don Robertson ruled that the Japanese international had backed the keeper.
Valle struggled with a shot and Taylor replaced the Barcelona left-back at half-time.
Kuhn almost made a light start to the second lap but spun in the top corner following another Bernardo corner.
Duk and Sievert Heltne Nielsen threatened the hosts before Luke McCowan’s introduction and Ida gave Celtic a further advantage.
The pair were involved in a move that led to Doohan’s first save, a spectacular dive from Hatatey after the Dons defense had made a series of blocks.
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Aberdeen’s Ross Doohan produced a superb save to deny Adam Ida to give Celtic the lead.
McCown then turned Ida in with a curling cross but Doohan made a superb save from the Irishman’s header.
Three of Aberdeen’s substitutes were then involved in a move that ended with Leighton Clarkson missing a good chance from 18 yards.
Taylor drifted inside moments later before picking out Hatate with a superb pass, and right-back Nicky Devlin played in alongside the midfielder before watching him head home.
Esther Sockler had a good chance to equalize soon after, but Auston Trust managed to tip the substitute’s shot over the bar from 10 yards.
“Great Gift”
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Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers praised both sets of players for playing in the wind, but believes his side deserved to win and concede a goal.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers talking to Sky Sports.
“I thought we deserved to win, it was a terrible night for football but we tried to play in the conditions.
“We got a fantastic team goal, a great pass from Greg Taylor that went inside and a great finish from Reo.
“I thought both groups of players gave their all, gave everything to the game.
“I’m very happy for our supporters because to travel all the way here, to be stuck in the corner with the wind and everything coming at them and to see the team win is a great reward for their efforts to get here also for the players because they give absolutely everything to the game.
“We played brilliant football this season, scored a lot of goals. It was going to be difficult for a number of reasons, but the important thing is to go through at the end.
“It’s only 14 games so we’re only a third of the way through the season but to be seven points and one game in front of Aberdeen at the moment is very pleasing.
“We’ve tried all the way”
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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin believes a draw would have been a fair result against Celtic
Aberdeen boss Jimmy Tell on Sky Sports.
“Tense game. Of course, Celtic had more possession, but thinking about the chances, maybe a draw would have been a fair result.
“We had some good chances at the end and I think it was an amazing block from Esther (Sockler) on the last chance.
“We know Celtic are good on the ball but we had good discipline in our team. Their effort, the way Ross did in goal, was good to see.
“The fans, even with the weather, they stuck with us and pushed us to these last chances. We tried all the way and sometimes this is football you don’t get the result you want.”
Lennon: “Celtic” showed their mentality
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Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon believes Celtic are in a healthy state
The former Celtic boss Neil Lennon on Sky Sports.
“The elements played a big role in the outcome of the game.
“I thought they (Celtic) controlled the second half really well. I thought they deserved to win, even though it wasn’t many chances.
“They showed their mentality and keeping a clean sheet is really important. It’s just about momentum, 7 is clear with the game and it’s a really healthy position.
“The defenders had a really positive impact on the game, whether it was Taylor, Aidan or McCown. I was really impressed with the substitutions that were made and the renewed impetus from Celtic in the second half.”
