The managers’ reaction
Dons boss Derek McInnes claimed it was Celtic’s “determination” that made the difference.
He said: “It wasn’t quality that beat us and I mean that with all due respect to Celtic.
“They have loads of quality players and they are here because they are winners and more determined, more than anything.
“It was their determination to get the ball over the line which ended up beating us.”
Niall McGinn claimed Forster’s save was “maybe a turning point” in the game.
“If that had gone in, it would maybe have been a different story,” the Northern Irishman said.
“But fair play to Fraser, it was a great save, he just tipped it onto the post.
“Sometimes they go in, sometimes they don’t. But I don’t think that was the be all and end all.
“We gave away two late goals which was the disappointing thing.”
Neil Lennon hailed Celtic’s traditional never-day-die spirit after his side struck twice in stoppage time through substitute Derk Boerrigter and Kris Commons to beat Aberdeen 3-1 in an enthralling Scottish Premiership encounter at Parkhead.
Commons opened the scoring in the 35th minute before former Hoops forward Niall McGinn levelled in first-half added time.
In an entertaining second half, Georgios Samaras hit the woodwork and McGinn had a shot tipped onto the post by Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster with three minutes remaining.
But, in the first of three added minutes, Boerrigter – on for Teemu Pukki – prodded the ball over the line from close range before Commons grabbed his second.
The Hoops boss said the late-late show evoked memories of his time as a Celtic player.
“You need patience at times,” he said. “It is not always going to be free-flowing football.
“I know from my own days under Martin (O’Neill) and Gordon (Strachan) that you get games like that.
“There is many a time we won in the last minute of games at home and this team has the same ingredients and I am delighted with that.
“Teams come here and be hard to break down and the onus is on us to find a way to break them down and we are doing it.”
“Teams come here and be hard to break down and the onus is on us to find a way to break them down and we are doing it.”
“Teams come here and be hard to break down and the onus is on us to find a way to break them down and we are doing it.”
