Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers was delighted with his side’s resilience as they came through a tough test against Aberdeen to record their first win in three Ladbrokes Premiership games.
The Dons posed a threat after starting with two strikers and two wingers with Gary Mackay-Steven particularly dangerous.
Celtic lost record signing Odsonne Edouard to a dead leg following a reckless challenge from Scott McKenna but his replacement, Scott Sinclair, proved the match-winner with a back-heeled goal in the 63rd minute.
It was only Celtic’s seventh league goal – by this time last season they had netted 18 and it was 24 at the same stage in Rodgers’ first season.
Rodgers, who expects Edouard to recover in time to face Salzburg on Thursday, said: “For us I think we have shown another side – that’s seven clean sheets in eight games.
“Yep, okay, we have played a couple of years where it’s been all singing, all dancing, lots of chances and goals and records.
“At times in football you also have to show resilience and a spirit. And until we get back to that, and I believe our movement and creativity is returning on the way back to where we want to be, you have got to win games and find a way to win.
“I think that game earlier on in the season could have been 0-0. We kept pushing and eventually we get the win, so I’m delighted for the players.
“Our summer was complicated, we lost key players, we lost goals, but we have to find a way and the players again showed, when they had to, they were strong and tough against a really tough opponent. It was a brilliant win for us.”
Rodgers feels it could be a big goal for Sinclair, who had only netted twice in his previous 31 appearances.
“There’s no doubt players like Scotty really thrive on goals,” Rodgers said. “I always try to reiterate it’s very much more than that.
“But there’s no doubt coming into the game and making the impact that he has, and you saw in his celebration how happy he was and how happy the team are. It will do him the world of good.”
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes was disappointed his side could not record a third win in eight days but he was encouraged by the performance.
“It’s been a tough week for us. It had been a good week for us prior to the game, getting three points and a clean sheet against Motherwell and beating Hibs on penalties and keeping a clean sheet over 120 minutes against a very good Hibs side,” he said.
“We wanted to finish off a brilliant week with a result and I think we’ve been very unfortunate not to come away with at least a point.
“I’m pleased with my team. We’ve had too many draws but that was a defeat that can happen. But there was a lot of good about the side.
“We look forward to the next home game and trying to get a run at it. We’ve got some good home fixtures coming up soon.
“I’m confident with one or two more up to speed that we can be as competitive as we have always been.”
