Celtic v Aberdeen: Post-match thoughts

Celtic ran out onto the pitch as reigning SPL champions to kick off the 2012/13 league season but the game itself failed to match the excitement of the pre-match fireworks.

Celtic looked far from their best, perhaps partly down to feeling the effects of a tough European game on Wednesday night and partly to still lacking match fitness early in the new season.

James Forrest and captain Scott Brown missed out with minor injuries and their absence was keenly felt; Celtic lacked the energy and drive they bring to the team and the pace and directness Forrest provides in the final third is something that no other player in the squad really offers.

In the middle of the park Joe Ledley and Beram Kayal, facing up to Aberdeen’s trio of Osbourne, Hughes and Rae, failed to dominate and take a hold of the game. Kayal, who we are so used to seeing boss the midfield, looked a shadow of himself.

Celtic’s midfield looked much stronger when Wanyama was moved forward from centre back following the introduction of Kelvin Wilson for Samaras after 55 minutes. The 21-year old Kenyan imposed himself on the game in a way that Ledley and Kayal had not, displaying the qualities that have seen him linked with Arsenal and Man United in recent days. Neil Lennon will surely now find it hard not to include him in the midfield on Wednesday in Helsinki.

Signs of rustiness were evident too in the striking department as Hooper and Stokes were not able to demonstrate the link-up play that made them such a deadly partnership in the last two seasons. Stokes was replaced by Murphy with 13 minutes remaining but in his brief cameo he showed little to suggest he might have a more regular role to play this season.

A player accustomed to cameo appearances, Paddy McCourt, was thrown on after 70 minutes, replacing Kayal, as Celtic searched for the opener. The Northern Irish international, however, did nothing to earn the chants of ‘don’t sell McCourt’ that chorused round the stadium regardless.

As disappointing as Celtic were, however, goalkeeper Fraser Forster had a very quiet afternoon with Aberdeen managing just two efforts on target, despite the pre-match talk about new attacking signings Johnny Hayes and Niall McGinn who ultimately had to spend more time tracking back than troubling Celtic’s full backs. Centre back Thomas Rogne was one of the few players in a hooped jersey to impress, helping to nullify the threat of Scott Vernon who was moved wide part-way through the first half by manager Craig Brown.

Celtic’s most threatening player throughout was Kris Commons who drew a couple of good, low saves from Jamie Langfield. It was fitting then that it was Commons – incidentally the only Scot in Celtic’s starting XI today – who won the match, although it came in rather fortuitous circumstances and Langfield will not want to see many replays of his blunder that allowed a cross-come-shot to sneak past him at the near post. Commons’ return to form and fitness is a real boost for Celtic coming into this campaign after a disappointing 2011/12 season.

Aberdeen will rue the loss of what could have been a hard-earned point but Celtic will feel they were the better side and be glad to get their 125^th anniversary season off to a winning start in the league.

Improvement will be necessary come Wednesday for Celtic but, given that today was sandwiched in between those two very important European games, Lennon will be pleased just to pick up the three points and move on.