Celtic battled on several fronts at Pittodrie today to snatch the three points which took them back to the top of the SPL.
A dogged home side, the usual vicissitudes of the North-east weather (for once it wasn?t freezing with a biting wind but the rain pi ? er, poured down) and, most of all, perhaps the most biased refereeing performance I have ever seen (and I have been watching Celtic for over thirty years so that is saying something).
We Celtic fans are often accused of paranoia, but today felt more like proof as Charlie Richmond (remember the name) left us in no doubt about his preferences. Exhibit A ? Aberdeen player goes down winded after taking a free-kick in the midriff. Richmond immediately stops play as Wallace prepares to follow up with a shot. Exhibit B ? Zurawski is scythed down from behind, Richmond waves play on (although he spoke to the Aberdeen clogger concerned later so obviously regarded it as a bad foul), Hartson stops expecting play to be halted to allow treatment for Magic, Richmond looks at the stricken Pole with disdain but does nothing, Hartson is tackled thus losing any advantage there may have been, Telfer wins the ball back and plays it out. Only then is the trainer allowed on. Unbelievable.
This was just one example of a myriad of decisions which went against Celtic culminating in a complete abrogation of the ref?s duties as he failed to send off Ryan Esson the Aberdeen ?keeper for hand-ball outside the box which clearly prevented a goal. In any other country he would be in real trouble, but in Scotland he will probably get a promotion. At least they have abandoned all pretence of fairness so we know exactly what we are up against.
Given all this it was hardly surprising that the first period saw precious little football but credit to the Celts for overcoming all this and an opening goal for Aberdeen early in the second half which came about as a result of Balde?s fourth or fifth blunder of the day. The lead didn?t last long as McGeady and Petrov scored within a couple of minutes of each other shortly after, and Telfer settled the game with a brilliant first goal for the club.
Sour note of the day came when a home supporter threw a coin at Neil Lennon (and they had the cheek to sing about us being scum!). Obviously someone who took exception to Lenny?s hair or style of play as we all know there is no sectarianism in the North of Scotland is there? Great quote from Strach on the incident though ? ?He’s not mentioned it. He was too busy celebrating.‘
Now the dust has settled we can take stock of the fact that we are a point clear of Hearts, seven in front of Hibs ? who we face next week ? and a massive 17 ahead of the Huns who have slipped down to fifth behind Kilmarnock. In fact, if you check that lovely little table just up on the right there, you will see that they are now closer to the bottom of the league than the top and could even fall out of the top half next week if they lose at Rugby Park, Inverness win at Tynecastle and Aberdeen beat Dunfermline by a few goals. Unlikely I know, but hey ? we all need a dream.
Player Ratings
Boruc
7. Little to do and had no chance with the goal but managed to annoy the home support.
Telfer
7. Great goal and his usual steady self throughout.
Balde
4. Several of his trademark lapses of concentration could have cost us more than one goal.
McManus
6. Unsettled by Balde’s uncertainty.
Wallace
7. In for the (presumably) injured Camara, the first change to the defence in a remarkable 18 games, Rosco did well in an unfamiliar role.
McGeady
7. Got more involved as the game went on, took his vital equalising goal well.
Lennon
7. Harshly booked for his only foul, did his usual effective job.
Petrov
8. Powerhouse performance, and great to hear him pledging his future to the club again afterwards.
Nakamura
8. Some wonderful touches.
Hartson
6. Better than last week but still not anywhere near his best although did have to contend with that referee.
Zurawski
6. Still to regain full match fitness, but missed a sitter in the first half which could have made things easier.
Maloney
7. Lively replacement for Magic, one wonderful flick allowed him to sprint clear but he couldn’t finish.
Virgo
6. On late for BBJ, denied a goal by the goalkeeper’s hand outside his box which should have resulted in a red card.