SPL Saturday December 22nd

Aberdeen 0

Celtic 2

0:1 Hartson (6); 0:2 Petrov (55)

Att:17,029

MIB: Pooh Dallas

Celtic: Douglas Balde, Sutton (Crainey ), Mjallby Agathe, Lambert, Lennon, Petrov, Thompson; Hartson, Moravcik (Maloney )

Yet another rearranged fixture and a trip to the Hill of Dung, to watch Celtic seek retribution for their league defeat here. No snowballs to shower the players with this time and no copy of the coin throwing antics imported by the TFOD, which seemed to make a mockery of all the pre-match hysteria drummed up by rabid hacks.

A whirlwind opening saw Petrov do his usual and fluff an early clean chance, before Hartson scored the opener on the 6 minute mark. To give him his due, he may lumber around like the fat kid in the school playground chasing the ball and not getting a touch, but Hartson, when in the box is a different animal. As Mc Guire found to his cost, Big John's none too inconsiderable bulk packs quite a wallop when it hits you at speed.

Hartson had a chance to grab a second, but poked the ball wide of target when it seemed easier to score. Mjallby also offended on this count and the Dons might have been allowed back into the game.

Bobo, on a penalty roll, dropped Dadi in the box, but the Pooh unbelievably missed it and the kick wasn't awarded.

Celtic eventually went two up following a superb combination between Lubo and Stan and the tie seemed finished as a contest.

The Dons then saw red and Sutton was clattered heavily by Young and had to be replaced by an impressive Crainey. Things came to a boiling point when Hartson lumbered into Mc Allister and proceed to treat him to a 'Berkovic'. The kick to the head resulted in an immediate red card and a resurgent Dons.

Not to out done by Big John, big Bobo got in on the act with a bigblunder in the box.and gave away a penaly , awarded this time and duly missed by Winters.

The Celts weathered the storm into injury time, but we'll have to see what tempest awaits Hartson in the trial by press that surely will follow.