Former Celtic and Aberdeen players look forward to Sky Live clash
Friday 30 October 2015 15:47, UK
Former Celtic duo Murdo MacLeod and Packie Bonner believe victory for their old club this weekend will virtually secure the Scottish Premiership title.
Scotland's top two clash at Celtic Park in front of the Sky cameras on Saturday with Ronny Deila's side sitting four points clear of the visitors.
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While Aberdeen have already been knocked out of the Europa League and the League Cups this season, they started their Scottish Premiership campaign superbly, winning their opening eight fixtures.
That included a 2-1 victory over Celtic at Pittodrie in September, despite having Jonny Hayes dismissed 20 minutes from time.
But the Dons travel to Glasgow having picked up just one point, against Motherwell on Saturday, after losing three-in-a-row against Inverness Caledonian Thistle, St Johnstone and Ross County.
Celtic have dropped only one point since the late defeat in Aberdeen, and MacLeod reckons his old club will be full of confidence going into the match.
"Celtic will be looking at it thinking this is a wee bit of revenge back on Aberdeen," he said.
"But I think the way Celtic played, especially against Dundee United, scoring five goals there, they are looking sharp again after that poor performance in Europe.
"They are looking sharp again on the domestic scene, so it's going to be very difficult now for Aberdeen to get back into the winning run that they were on earlier in the season."
Former Celtic goalkeeper Bonner believes the Dons have to get something from the match or the champions will stroll to their fifth successive title.
"If Aberdeen are to really bounce back and challenge Celtic then they have to get a result down in Glasgow," said the Irishman.
"If they don't then I'm afraid it's going to be all over, even at this early stage of the season. I can't see Aberdeen challenging Celtic."
But former Dons captain and manager Willie Miller remains hopeful his old club will stay in contention and offer a decent challenge, after remaining in the hunt until April last season.
"What we are looking for in Scottish football is a challenge to Celtic," said Miller, who spent his entire 18-year professional career at Pittodrie and was voted the Aberdeen's greatest player of all time.
"I think Celtic are still the strongest team in the country and they should win the league title, but we want a wee challenge. If Aberdeen could get the three points or even avoid defeat at the weekend, then I still think we could have that."
