Celtic 1-0 Aberdeen

Apr 20 2008 Mark Guidi At Parkhead

Hero Sam Keeps Celts On Title Trail

GEORGIOS SAMARAS admits Celts were scared they'd blow their chance to go top of the SPL and pile the pressure on Rangers.

The Greek hitman scored the winner yesterday and set the scene for another showdown against Walter Smith's men next Sunday at Parkhead.

It was a far from convincing Hoops' performance - but at this stage of the campaign it is all about getting three points.

Yet Celtic nearly ended up with just one point that would have ended their title chances.

Controversially, referee Iain Brines disallowed Zander Diamond's injury-time strike claiming the defender had controlled the ball with his hand.

Samaras also had two strikes that weren't given and said: "I don't really want to talk about the referee as I wouldn't like him to talk about me.

"From our point of view it was most important to win.

"We were nervous because we didn't want to destroy the big win against Rangers in midweek.

"We are now top of the league but we know the situation.

"Winning the league is not in our hands. We are relying on Rangers making one or two mistakes.

"But this game is over and we deserved to win. We now move on to next weekend and we must win against Rangers."

Celtic almost got off to the worst possible start.

After just five minutes Aberdeen were unfortunate not to take the lead when Scott Severin hit a rasper of a shot from 20 yards.

It hit off Artur Boruc's right hand post, rolled along the line, back off the other post - and into the keeper's arms.

But having conceded four goals to Queen of the South last weekend, the Dons were still a little fragile at the back.

In the 14th minute Andrew Considine was short with a headed passback and Scott McDonald nipped in. However, he just couldn't quite get enough on the ball and it was cleared.

Bobo Balde was just off target as he slid in at the back post as the home team attempted to put more pressure on Jamie Langfield.

That apart, Langfield was pretty much redundant. The guys in front of him were well organised, kept their shape, defended in no-nonsense fashion and in huge numbers.

Derek Young was inside the box in the 33rd minute and looked set to get a shot in on Boruc but Andreas Hinkel made up ground to recover and block his shot. The game lacked goalmouth incident. The first half was tough to watch with neither side able to string three passes together.

With a victory vital, Celtic looked tense and hurried too many balls in the final third.

Samaras was out of sorts in the first 45 minutes. His decision making was poor - although he improved after the break.

It was a first half to forget. There was a lack of invention and spark on and off the pitch. You'd never have guessed the title race was back on after the midweek win against leaders Rangers.

Hinkelwas replaced at the break for Paul Caddis and there was more urgency about Celtic.

Shunsuke Nakamura slipped a lovely pass through for McDonald but his shot was well blocked by Langfield. Aiden McGeady then hit the side netting with a 25 yard effort.

The deadlock was broken in the 55th minute. From the right wing, Barry Robson whipped in a freekick into the penalty area.

Samaras attacked it with more determination than the Dons defence and bulleted home a header from seven yards.

That should have settled Celts but they still appeared on edge.

Aberdeen came more into the game and their players got forward to offer support to lone striker Lee Miller.

In the 76th minute Miller looked a cert to score. Barry Nicholson slid a cross along the six-yard box.

Boruc was stranded and it looked a tap-in for the striker but he could not make contact to put into the empty net.

McDonald forced Langfield into a good save from a one-on-one, then McGeady headed over the bar from eight yards when he should have converted Samaras' cross.

The home fans voiced their displeasure at Celtic's lack of composure in front of goal.

In injury time, Diamond had the ball in the net, firing home from 12 yards. But Brines indicated a handball in the build up to it - however, there did not appear to be any, and it was a decision that saved Celts.

MATCH STATS

SHOTS ON 6

SHOTS OFF 7

OFFSIDE 1

FOULS 12

CORNERS 4

BOOKINGS 2

SHOTS ON 0

SHOTS OFF 3

OFFSIDE 0

FOULS 6

CORNERS 4

BOOKINGS 2

REF WATCH

IAIN BRINES had us scratching our heads with a few of his decisions. Was too keen to play advantage when it wasn't appropriate. His standside assistant Keith Sorbie was no help as he had a shocker.

Rating: 5/10