Celtic player ratings v Aberdeen: Should be final game for 3/10 senior player
COMMENT
Celtic moved nine points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table after a hard-fought 2-0 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Sunday. Brendan Rodgers made two changes from the side which lost 3-0 against Zenit on Thursday, with Scott Sinclair and Tom Rogic replacing Eboue Kouassi and Callum McGregor. Perhaps surprisingly, the much criticised trio of Dorus de Vries, Mikael Lustig and Jozo Simunovic all kept their places in the side. Moussa Dembele missed a great chance to give the Hoops the lead in the first-half, but he took too long getting his shot away and Freddie Woodman made the save, he also saved Tom Rogic's follow-up effort. The Hoops came even closer when an Olivier Ntcham came back off the post, and Dembele was off side from the rebound. The Bhoys took the lead in the 37th minute, when a great James Forrest cross was headed home by Dembele for his 10th goal of the season, and only his second goal in 14 games. The second-half saw Lustig sent-off for a second bookable offence for a foul on Gary Mackay-Steven, before Kieran Tierney made it 2-0, smashing home a shot after a breakaway. Aberdeen sub Sam Cosgrove was then sent-off for a terrible challenge on Scott Brown as the Hoops held on for the victory. Here,
Football Insider
rates the Celtic side who played against Aberdeen.
Click 'reveal' below to see how the goalkeeper and defence rated...
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GOALKEEPER AND DEFENCE
Dorus de Vries - 6:
Didn't always look comfortable but did manage to make a couple of good saves in the second-half, he still isn't the answer long-term though and Craig Gordon is still missed
Mikael Lustig - 3:
The 31-year-old senior player was a red card waiting to happen after a first-half booking, and was eventually sent-off with 15 minutes to go after a ridiculous challenge on Mackay-Steven, should be his last game for the Hoops
Jozo Simunovic - 4:
Looked poor throughout the game, struggled to cope with the aerial prowess of Stevie May, he really could do with a spell on the bench as his confidence looks shot to pieces
Kristoffer Ajer - 8:
Another superb performance from the 19-year-old, who even soldiered on after suffering a nasty head injury, he's currently one of the best players in the team and the rock of the side
Kieran Tierney - 7:
Scored the brilliant second goal which killed the game off, seemed tired but showed great effort to score late on, another good game for the Scotland international
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MIDFIELD
Scott Brown - 7:
Another one of those midfield battles which the Hoops captain excels in, he enjoyed the game thoroughly, was the victim of a terrible challenge by Sam Cosgrave who was rightfully sent-off
Olivier Ntcham - 6:
Didn't impose himself on the game as much as he can, but still unlucky not to open the scoring with a shot off the post, a decent game overall but can do better
James Forrest - 7:
Set up Celtic's goal with a brilliant cross which Moussa Dembele headed home, should have done better with a second-half break but otherwise another decent performance for the Scottish international
Tom Rogic - 5:
Should have scored in the first-half, still doesn't look fully fit as he played on the fringes of the game, wasn't as effective as he usually is against the Dons and was eventually replaced by McGregor
Scott Sinclair - 5:
Returned to the first-team and aside from a first-half pass to set up a Dembele chance which he missed, the had a quiet game, still nowhere near the level he played at last season
Click 'next page' below to see how the forwards and subs rated...
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FORWARDS AND SUBS
Moussa Dembele - 7:
A weird game, he scored the first goal and set up the second but he seemed to play on the fringes of the game, at least he is scoring goals again and hopefully that spurs him on
SUBS
Callum McGregor - 4:
Wasn't involved much when he came on
Jack Hendry - n/a:
Didn't have enough time to influence the game
Odsonne Edouard - n/a:
Was on too late to have any impact In other Celtic news,
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