Derek McInnes believes Aberdeen should have been “lucky” to have been punished if they lost 1-0 to Celtic.
David Turnbull’s strike put Celtic 15 points ahead of the Scottish Premier League leaders.
After the goal, Florian Kamberi’s cross met Stephen Welsh’s hand in the Celtic box and the Dons’ goalless run resulted in a sixth record game.
“Wherever we are, we are looking for those little breaks and right decisions,” McInnes told BBC Scotland.
“Sometimes they are looking for a bit of luck and a bit of quality. Luck should come with the penalty we never got, that should be a penalty.”
McInnes’ side in fourth place remains four points behind Hibernian, who has one game in hand, while Neil Lennon’s Celtic and Rangers have both made 29 of their 38 league games.
And the Dons boss accepts that the club must take responsibility for its undesirable records and adds, “Only we can change that.”
Kamberi should have made more tame efforts that Scott Bain had collected just before the Turnbull opener.
The midfielder had way too much room when he received Callum McGregor’s pass halfway into Aberdeen’s half and punished the visitors with a heavy blow past Joe Lewis.
Swiss striker Kamberi unsuccessfully called for a penalty after his cross fell from Welsh hand and Dean Campbell stepped in behind Celtic’s defense to cross for Fraser Hornby, who couldn’t connect.
Kamberi was only a few inches off the level when he picked up a loose ball and fired a powerful shot against the left post.
Odsonne Edouard tested Lewis when Celtic tried to make the goal line more comfortable and Turnbull’s next shot was deflected wide.
McGregor and Turnbull rejoined at the start of the second half, but the latter’s shot was clearly hacked.
Hornby got a good buy for a shot on the edge of Celtic’s box, but Bain wasn’t worried.
Ryan Christie’s praise fell on the Aberdeen bar as a number of changes were made by both sides, with substitute Patryk Klimala turned down by Lewis.
And in stoppage time Aberdeen threw the players forward and Tommie Hoban’s volley was blocked by Welsh.
Man of the Game – David Turnbull
Turnbull has been a driving force always trying to get things going for Celtic and get the big kick off
What did we learn?
Celtic was less dominant than in previous games and rarely threatened to climb the aisles.
Edouard’s return to form sparked their recent resurgence, but Turnbull has consistently impressed since becoming a regular on the starting line-up.
Aberdeen’s performance was a huge improvement on Saturday’s stalemate against St. Mirren, and the persistent lack of goals is not due to lack of try.
However, if they want to hold out at 3-5-2, they have to bring their broad men much further forward to create more opportunities.
What did you say
Celtic “stood strong” in a narrow victory – Kennedy
John Kennedy, Deputy Celtic Manager: “We had to make an effort in the second half, and we felt very comfortable in the first half. A goal that worked really well.
“If the score is 1-0, the teams will always throw everything at it. We were very strong. We defend the box very well.”
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes: “A fantastic goal from Turnbull and Joe might have a save.
“I still felt we had the best chances in the game when Kamberi hit the post and walked through the goal.”
Aberdeen must take responsibility for the gate drought
What’s next?
Celtic is on Sunday (19:30 GMT) on the Scottish Premiership team Ross County. Aberdeen is at home in Kilmarnock on Saturday (3:00 p.m.).
Player of the game
KamberiFlorian Kamberi
Celtic
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Cadre number57PlayernameWelsh
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Cadre number14thPlayernameTurnbull
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Cadre number35Playernameair
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Cadre number17thPlayernameChristie
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Cadre number16PlayernameKenny
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Cadre number29PlayernameBain
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Cadre number42PlayernameMcgregor
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Cadre number3PlayernameTaylor
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Cadre number22ndPlayernameEdward
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Cadre number12Playernameserum
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Cadre number18thPlayernameRogic
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Cadre number11PlayernameWith air conditioning
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Cadre number8thPlayernamebrown
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Cadre number10PlayernameAre you
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Cadre number27PlayernameElyounoussi
Aberdeen
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Cadre number22ndPlayernameKamberi
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Cadre number40PlayernameMcCrorie
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Cadre number19thPlayernameFerguson
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Cadre number4thPlayernameConsidine
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Cadre number3PlayernameHoban
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Cadre number1PlayernameLewis
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Cadre number24PlayernameCampbell
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Cadre number14thPlayernameTaylor
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Cadre number7thPlayernameHornby
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Cadre number33Playernamekennedy
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Cadre number17thPlayernameHayes
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Cadre number18thPlayernameMcLennan
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Cadre number9PlayernameHendry
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Cadre number10PlayernameMcGinn
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Cadre number15thPlayernameMcGeouch
Constellations
Celtic
formation 4-1-3-2
29Bain
16Kenny57Welsh35air3Taylor
12serum
17thChristie14thTurnbull42Mcgregor
22ndEdward10Are you
- 29Bain
- 16Kenny
- 57Welsh
- 35air
- 3Taylor
- 12serumReplaced bybrownat the 72 ‘protocol
- 17thChristie
- 14thTurnbullReplaced byElyounoussiat the 81 ‘protocol
- 42Mcgregor
- 22ndEdwardReplaced byWith air conditioningat the 81 ‘protocol
- 10Are youReplaced byRogicat the 62 ‘protocol
replacement
- 1Barkas
- 4thDuffy
- 8thbrown
- 9Griffiths
- 11With air conditioning
- 18thRogic
- 27Elyounoussi
- 56Ralston
- 93Laxalt
Aberdeen
formation 3-5-2
1Lewis
3Hoban14thTaylor4thConsidine
33kennedy40McCrorie19thFerguson24Campbell17thHayes
7thHornby22ndKamberi
- 1Lewis
- 3Hoban
- 14thTaylor
- 4thConsidine
- 33kennedyReplaced byMcGinnat the 77 ‘protocol
- 40McCrorie
- 19thFergusonBooked at 88 minutes
- 24CampbellReplaced byMcGeouchat the 82 ‘protocol
- 17thHayesReplaced byMcLennanat the 62 ‘protocol
- 7thHornbyReplaced byHendryat the 77 ‘protocolBooked at 83 minutes
- 22ndKamberi
replacement
- 2Logan
- 9Hendry
- 10McGinn
- 15thMcGeouch
- 18thMcLennan
- 23Horse
- 26thVirtanen
- 29MacKenzie
- 43Forest
Live text
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End of the game, Celtic 1, Aberdeen 0.
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The second half ends, Celtic 1, Aberdeen 0.
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Scott Bain (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Lewis Ferguson (Aberdeen).
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Foul by Patryk Klimala (Celtic).
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Connor McLennan (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Corner of Aberdeen. The corner was caused by Kristoffer Ajer.
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Missed attempt. Andrew Considine (Aberdeen) header misses right from the center of the box. Assisted by Niall McGinn with a cross following a corner.
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Corner of Aberdeen. The corner was caused by Greg Taylor.
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Attempt blocked. Callum Hendry (Aberdeen) right footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. Assisted by Andrew Considine with a head pass.
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Missed attempt. Lewis Ferguson (Aberdeen) header missed from the center of the box to the left. Assisted by Ash Taylor with a cross.
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Corner of Aberdeen. The corner was caused by Kristoffer Ajer.
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Attempt saved. Patryk Klimala (Celtic) right footed shot from the center of the box is saved in the center of the box by the goalkeeper. Assisted by Ryan Christie with a through pass.
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Lewis Ferguson (Aberdeen) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Callum McGregor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Lewis Ferguson (Aberdeen).
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Away from Aberdeen. Ross McCrorie tries a through ball, but Niall McGinn is offside.
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Patryk Klimala (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Lewis Ferguson (Aberdeen).
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Foul by Patryk Klimala (Celtic).