Aberdeen vs Celtic. Scottish Premiership.
PittodrieAttendance15,079.
Odsonne Edouard sparks rout at Pittodrie as Celtic remain ahead of Rangers on goal difference at top of Scottish Premiership table
Monday 28 October 2019 11:23, UK
Celtic rounded off a fine week with a 4-0 dismantling of Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.
The Hoops' dramatic 2-1 Europa League win over Lazio on Thursday night followed a 6-0 thrashing of Ross County last weekend and Neil Lennon's side powered to another impressive victory at Pittodrie.
French forward Odsonne Edouard struck in the 10th minute before 18-year-old Dutch right-back Jeremie Frimpong doubled that lead five minutes later with his first Hoops goal in his first away match since signing from Manchester City in September.
Derek McInnes' side offered little resistance and further first-half strikes from attackers James Forrest and Mohamed Elyounoussi ended the contest early, with Celtic cruising the second half.
Lennon had hinted that he would be loath to make many changes to his side but midfielder Ryan Christie dropped out to serve the second game of a two-match ban to be replaced by Tom Rogic, while Frimpong came in ahead of Hatem Elhamed, who started from the bench.
Connor McLennan replaced James Wilson for the Dons but any confidence taken from the fine 3-0 win over Motherwell last week soon evaporated.
The champions started the game ahead of Rangers, who later defeated Motherwell 2-1, at the top of the table by one more goal scored and quickly added to their tally.
Edouard played a one-two with Forrest on the right and glided into the Dons penalty area unchallenged by centre-backs Michael Devlin and Scott McKenna and rifled the ball from 16 yards low past goalkeeper Joe Lewis.
The home side were undone by more poor defending in the 15th minute when Frimpong raced into the box to look for a return Edouard pass and when the ball broke loose after McKenna and right-back Shay Logan got tangled up with Lewis, he had the easiest of tasks knocking the ball over the line.
The visitors dominated possession thereafter, putting the dispirited Dons to the sword.
Forrest all but walked in number three in the 36th minute. Elyounoussi set him up after taking a pass from Rogic, who crossed for the Norway international to fend off Devlin and knock in a fourth from 12 yards seconds before the interval.
Unsurprisingly, McInnes made changes at the break with Craig Bryson on for McLennan and Wilson replacing Niall McGinn, while Nir Bitton took over from Hoops defender Christopher Jullien.
Celtic stepped off the gas but picked their moments to attack. In the 65th minute, after Logan had fouled Edouard 25 yards from goal, Lewis tipped the Frenchman's free-kick around a post for a corner.
Edouard was soon replaced by Vakoun Issouf Bayo before Frimpong fired over on the angle after being set up by Forrest, but the game continued to fade out to another imposing win for Celtic.
Neil Lennon spoke of a "brilliant week" for Celtic after they followed up a dramatic 2-1 Europa League win over Lazio and 6-0 thrashing of Ross County with a 4-0 hammering of Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
"We've had a brilliant week," said Lennon. "That's 10 goals in the league and a fantastic win against Lazio. Mentally and physically it could have been draining for them but they recovered brilliantly and played some outstanding, collective team football. We were red hot today, absolutely red hot.
"It is just outstanding football, outstanding control or the game. We were magnificent, you can't ask any more.
"I thought we could have more in the second half but we had good control of the game. The mentality of the team was brilliant today and the fitness levels were shining through.
"It is a great place we are in at the minute. We are not getting carried away, we know we have another big week coming up. That is the end of a fantastic week for the players and the club."
