Aberdeen V Celtic | Match Preview

We preview this Sundays match against Celtic

The Dons take on Celtic at Pittodrie this Sunday. Derek McInnes will be keen to get a response from his players after the disappointing defeat at Easter Road last week, but Aberdeen are unbeaten at home since the beginning of December and will look to cut the gap on the league leaders. The visitors are coming off the back of a defeat in Russia on Thursday, which knocked them out of the Europa League and were held to a goalless draw with St Johnstone last weekend. Celtic are nine points clear of The Dons, who occupy joint-second alongside Rangers.

A big crowd is expected as The Dons go for their fifth home win in a row.

WHAT THE MANAGER SAID

“Any time you get a disappointment you want to get back to winning ways as quickly as possible. Celtic offer the toughest challenge to any team in Scotland so we’re well aware it’s a tough ask, but we’re looking forward to the game. There was a lot about the performance we weren’t pleased with last week, but it’s a total contrast to how the team have been performing with the amount of goals we’ve scored and winning run we’ve been on.

“I think Celtic treat the game the way the game should be treated as well. They’re normally at full tilt with team selection. You see their team selection against other teams and it’s not a criticism, it’s just they’re utilising their squad, but against us they always make sure their big players are always on the pitch. They always have a full motivated performance as they see the importance of playing against Aberdeen, who are normally the closest rivals to them, and trying to give us a slap down and win the game.

It’s a test. Celtic test you more than any other team, but it’s important we have a strength, confidence and an attitude from the team that we expect to get something from the game. You’ve got to go onto the pitch believing that is the case. The real Aberdeen normally turn up.

“We’re ready to get back to winning ways.”

To read more from Derek click here

WHAT NIALL MCGINN SAID

“We’re looking forward to it. Off the back of losing last weekend in the manner we did, it wasn’t good enough on the day from everyone. When you have games like that in the season, although they don’t come too often, we’re hoping to put the wrongs right and there’s no bigger game with Celtic coming to Pittodrie.

“Over the course of the season we’ve been consistent, but against Celtic and Rangers we’ve dropped points, so we want to go out and give a good account of ourselves. On the day we’ve got to be our best to win the game, get a wee bit of luck in the game and if Celtic turn up it’s going to be a hard afternoon. It’s one we’re looking forward to and one we’re capable of winning.

“Two and a half thousand fans came down last weekend and we were very disappointed, not only for ourselves, but the fans travelling all those miles for not getting that all-round performance. We want to put the wrongs right and there’s no better game than Sunday.”

To read more from Niall click here

ABERDEEN V CELTIC | AT PITTODRIE

Sundays visitors have the better record against Aberdeen at Pittodrie with 69 wins in 171 matches. There have been 57 wins for The Dons and 45 draws with the last stalemate coming in March 2012. Under the current management, The Dons have won three matches against Celtic at Pittodrie, with the last coming in 2015/16. The 2-1 win in the September was followed up with a win by the same scoreline in the February, which meant The Dons had defeated Celtic twice in a league campaign for the first time since 1991.

LOOKING AHEAD

This Sunday’s match kicks off a big week for The Dons. After hosting Celtic, The Dons travel to Lanarkshire to take on Motherwell on Wednesday night before Kilmarnock visit for the Scottish Cup Quarter-Final on the Saturday. Everyone associated with the club knows the importance of getting back to Hampden and seeing off the men from Ayrshire would ensure a second Scottish Cup semi-final in a row.

If you can’t make it to the match on Saturday, join us on RedTV with special guest Graeme Shinnie from 1.15pm for live coverage including video on RedTV International. After the match we will have all the reaction, highlights and a full-match replay.