Darren Jackson marked his first start since undergoing brain surgery by
regaining the goal feeling which encouraged him to go ahead with the operation,
as Celtic eased past the premier division's bottom club Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
Late in August after being diagnosed, Jackson was faced with the decision
whether to have treatment for hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain) or give up his
playing career.
His hunger for goals meant he had only one option, and tonight his bravery was
rewarded with a 73rd-minute strike which doubled Celtic's advantage.
Leading from Henrik Larsson's emphatic 41st-minute opener, Celtic pressed
forward in numbers after the restart, and Aberdeen, with only two league wins
this term, had no response.
For new Dons manager Alex Miller this second game in charge saw his first
defeat, and he will know change is required, especially in central defence, if
his team are to improve.
Celtic needed the win to stay in title contention after dropping 10 points in
their previous five matches - and they looked assured after the break following
a well-balanced first half.
With Hearts drawing 0-0 at Dundee United, Celtic are now just five points
behind the Edinburgh side and more significantly perhaps a mere three adrift of
Rangers.
Coach Wim Jansen will have been delighted with their performance, but he was
still unhappy at a Paul Barnard foul on Jackson which prompted an angry exchange
of words with his counterpart Miller.
Celtic gave Jackson his first start since August 23, with Simon Donnelly
demoted to substitute and Andreas Thom dropped after Saturday's goalless draw at
Kilmarnock.
Jackson had to prove to Jansen that he is fully recovered before Norwegian
Harald Brattbakk's arrival from Rosenborg later this week.
Aberdeen restored unsettled Bulgarian Ilian Kiriakov to their line-up, with
Joe Miller a substitute alongside former Celtic defender Brian O'Neil.
A poor back header from John Inglis was seized upon by Larsson after just
three minutes, forcing Jim Leighton to race from his goal and make a brave
intervention.
Scotland striker Billy Dodds found time and space after 10 minutes, but his
fierce drive was well beaten away by Celtic's Jonathan Gould.
Moments later, Kiriakov played Dodds free on the left but again Gould was
alert to the threat to push the ball wide.
In-form Gould was again at his best after 16 minutes to tip over a Stephen
Glass goalward-bound 25-yard strike.
On the half hour mark, Tom Boyd's cross found Larsson, but the Swede glanced
his header just wide.
Larsson then turned creator after 32 minutes, finding Jackson, who was denied
a comeback goal by Leighton's smart, diving stop to his left.
Glass then forced Gould into another vital save, the goalkeeper refusing to be
deceived by a late deflection from his own defender Marc Rieper.
After 41 minutes, Celtic took the lead when Stephane Mahe's drilled cross was
pushed away by Leighton into the path of Larsson, whose angled drive from close
range broke the deadlock.
Larsson almost put his side further ahead soon after the restart, but his
looping 49th-minute shot went just over the crossbar.
Gould almost ruined his earlier fine work by fumbling an Eoin Jess effort
after 56 minutes but the goalkeeper gathered at the second attempt.
Kiriakov was replaced by Ricky Gillies, while O'Neil came on for David Rowson
as Miller aimed to turn the tide with a double switch.
A neat header by Jackie McNamara put Larsson seemingly clear after 63 minutes
- but Toni Kombouare's late, saving tackle denied him.
Celtic continued to dominate, though, and 10 minutes later got their reward
when Jackson's magic moment doubled their advantage and they never looked like
relinquishing it.
Teams:
Aberdeen: Leighton, Anderson, Rowson (O'Neil 58), Inglis,
Kombouare, Smith, Kiriakov (Gillies 58), Jess, Bernard, Dodds,
Glass (Miller 75).
Booked: Smith, Bernard.
Celtic: Gould, Boyd, Mahe, McNamara, Rieper, Stubbs, Larsson,
Burley, Jackson (Donnelly 90), Lambert, Blinker.
Subs Not Used: Hannah, McKinlay.
Goals: Larsson 41, Jackson 74.
Att: 16,981
Ref: M Clark (Edinburgh).
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