Brendan Rodgers says Celtic have “dropped points in too many games” after they went from “dominant” to “passive” in their Scottish Premiership draw at managerless Aberdeen.
Nicolas Kuhn came off the bench to net a leveller for the league leaders, deflecting his first goal for the club past home goalkeeper Kelle Roos, but it was not enough to inspire the visitors to a comeback victory.
That fortuitous equaliser cancelled out Bojan Miovski’s stunning opener, scored with Aberdeen’s first shot after an opening half during which Celtic ought to have killed the game.
“It’s disappointing, it’s two points dropped,” Rodgers told BBC Scotland.
“We dominated the first half, we created opportunities and should have been goals in front. We were passive against the ball second half. We’ve dropped points in too many games but we’ve got to keep fighting and working.”
Early signs were ominous for the hosts as poor defending allowed Luis Palma, who was just offside, to eventually turn in a rebound before VAR intervened.
The Honduras winger then clipped the crossbar with a back-post strike, as did Paulo Bernardo with a lofted effort over Roos, who somehow went into the break without conceding.
But within five minutes of the second period, Miovski’s 19th goal of the season, curled beautifully past Joe Hart into the far corner, gave the Pittodrie side a shock lead.
The introductions of Kuhn and debutant Idah, coupled with a change of shape, provided Celtic with more attacking verve as Matt O’Riley struck the outside of the near post just after the equaliser.
Aberdeen did not retreat, though, and could have claimed a seismic victory as Graeme Shinnie’s glorious close-range chance was thwarted by Hart before Miovski saw an offside flag deny him a late winner.
The draw means the hosts remain eighth, while Celtic move six points clear at the top – but a win for Rangers, who have two games in hand, against bottom side Livingston later on Saturday will reduce the gap to three.
Player of the match – Bojan Miovski
Celtic wasteful again amid fan discontent – analysis
This result will do little to cheer up a demanding Celtic support, who displayed their displeasure at the club’s January transfer window business pre-match.
It is now four Premiership draws this term for the league leaders and each one has been plagued by profligacy.
But the positive has to be the influence of new attacking duo Kuhn and Idah, who both injected life into a Celtic attack that had fallen off the pace in the second period.
As for Aberdeen, the first period had the makings of a sobering afternoon for the hosts, who became the first Premiership team this season to go a whole half without touching the ball in the opposition box.
But their second-half transformation proves there is no need for this side to be so passive in games, even against Celtic.
What they said
Aberdeen interim manager Peter Leven: “It’s a good point. First half we needed a bit more belief on the ball. I told them to relax at half-time, you saw that in the second half, we had a good few chances.
“A point overall was deserved. The fans were great today, they really got behind us. The boys were great, it was an even game. Don’t know about Ibrox.”
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: “The players showed great fight to come back. [Kuhn] came on and got his goal, that’ll be good for his confidence.
“We just couldn’t find that finishing touch to get the winner. All we can concentrate on is ourselves. We can only focus on our own game.”
What’s next?
Both sides are in midweek action as Aberdeen go to Rangers on Tuesday (20:00 GMT) before Celtic travel to Hibernian the following day (20:00).
Line-ups
Aberdeen
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 24Roos
- 2Devlin
- 6Gartenmann
- 5Jensen
- 3MacKenzie
- 8Barron
- 4ShinnieBooked at 24mins
- 21PolvaraSubstituted forHenriques de Barros Lopesat 77′minutes
- 18PhillipsSubstituted forClarksonat 62′minutes
- 7McGrathBooked at 54mins
- 9MiovskiBooked at 56mins
Substitutes
- 10Clarkson
- 11Henriques de Barros Lopes
- 17Hayes
- 19Sokler
- 20Morris
- 23Duncan
- 27MacDonald
- 28Milne
- 31Doohan
Celtic
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Hart
- 2Johnston
- 17NawrockiBooked at 25minsSubstituted forWelshat 77′minutes
- 5Scales
- 25BernabéiSubstituted forRalstonat 59′minutes
- 33O’Riley
- 42McGregor
- 28Gonçalves BernardoSubstituted forIdahat 59′minutes
- 11AbadaSubstituted forKühnat 59′minutes
- 8Furuhashi
- 7PalmaSubstituted forVataat 87′minutes
Substitutes
- 9Idah
- 10Kühn
- 15Holm
- 29Bain
- 39Vata
- 48Kelly
- 49Forrest
- 56Ralston
- 57Welsh
Live Text
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Match ends, Aberdeen 1, Celtic 1.
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Second Half ends, Aberdeen 1, Celtic 1.
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Attempt missed. Stephen Welsh (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Matt O’Riley with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Duk.
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Attempt blocked. Rocco Vata (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jamie McGrath.
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Attempt missed. Adam Idah (Celtic) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Rocco Vata with a cross.
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Nicky Devlin.
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Foul by Nicolas Kühn (Celtic).
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Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Rocco Vata (Celtic).
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Nicky Devlin (Aberdeen) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Substitution, Celtic. Rocco Vata replaces Luis Palma.
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Offside, Aberdeen. Bojan Miovski is caught offside.
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Attempt blocked. Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Adam Idah.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Alistair Johnston (Celtic).
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Attempt missed. Matt O’Riley (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Nicolas Kühn.
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Substitution, Aberdeen. Duk replaces Dante Polvara.
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Substitution, Celtic. Stephen Welsh replaces Maik Nawrocki.
Player of the match
MiovskiBojan Miovski
Aberdeen
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Squad number9Player nameMiovski
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Squad number3Player nameMacKenzie
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Squad number7Player nameMcGrath
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Squad number21Player namePolvara
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Squad number8Player nameBarron
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Squad number18Player namePhillips
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Squad number10Player nameClarkson
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Squad number2Player nameDevlin
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Squad number4Player nameShinnie
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Squad number6Player nameGartenmann
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Squad number5Player nameJensen
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Squad number11Player nameDuk
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Squad number24Player nameRoos
Celtic
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Squad number1Player nameHart
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Squad number5Player nameScales
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Squad number42Player nameMcGregor
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Squad number10Player nameKühn
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Squad number33Player nameO’Riley
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Squad number8Player nameFuruhashi
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Squad number2Player nameJohnston
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Squad number9Player nameIdah
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Squad number7Player namePalma
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Squad number11Player nameAbada
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Squad number28Player namePaulo Bernardo
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Squad number25Player nameBernabéi
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Squad number17Player nameNawrocki
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Squad number57Player nameWelsh
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Squad number56Player nameRalston
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Squad number39Player nameVata