Celtic

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Brendan Rodgers has been named Scottish Premiership manager of the month after maintaining Celtic's unbeaten start to the season with a flawless November.

The defending champions racked up league wins over Kilmarnock, Hearts and Ross County, scoring 11 goals and conceding one.

Celtic are currently seven points clear at the top having won 13 of their 14 games.

Rodgers, who takes the prize for the second time this season, said: "I am delighted to accept this award again on behalf of our whole team and staff.

"It is a tribute to the consistency which we have shown during the month with some terrific performances leading to such positive results."

Colin Moffat
BBC Sport Scotland

Despite making just three starts for Celtic since his deadline-day move from Dundee, Luke McCowan has made quite a splash.

The 26-year-old midfielder has three goals and three assists in the Premiership and stole the show in last weekend's big win over Ross County.

He was back among the substitutes on Wednesday but came on to help his side get over the line at a stormy Pittodrie.

Having earned rave reviews for recent displays, and with a Champions League visit to Dinamo Zagreb looming, the former Ayr United man may well add to his starts at home to Hibs on Saturday.

Of course, Hibs had hoped to smash their transfer record to sign McCowan before Celtic turned up late to flex their muscle and it would not be a surprise to see him dish out a reminder of what the visitors missed out on.

Read all the weekend's Premiership picks

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Captain Callum McGregor has cited last season's topsy-turvy title race as evidence that Celtic cannot get carried away after storming clear this term.

The midweek win over Aberdeen sent Celtic seven points clear of the second-place Dons with a game in hand.

Rangers are a further four points adrift but a 6-0 win over Kilmarnock at Ibrox, on top of their 4-1 victory in Nice last week, suggests Philippe Clement's side are starting to hit form.

McGregor is refusing to take notice of the table, pointing to last season when Celtic were seven points clear after seven games, then found themselves five behind before recovering to claim a third successive title.

When asked about the league table, the midfielder said: "I think we were seven or eight points clear last year and then ended up seven behind. That shows you how quickly football can change and you have to learn from that experience as well.

"We understand it's a good start, of course it is, but the reason why it's been a good start is because of the way we're approaching the game, the way that we're training, the relentless nature of the coaches and the players.

"Everybody, every day, is giving their absolute all and I think the squad, you can see that when boys come into the team, there's a hunger to do well and everything's in a good place.

"We've ended up in a good position, but we're not even halfway through yet, so we know there's so much football to be played."

Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion are considering a January move for 24-year-old Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn. (TeamTalk), external

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has rejected the suggestion he "bottled it" when offered the Celtic job, saying he turned it down because he could not get all of his preferred backroom team together at the time. (Up Front Podcast), external

Dinamo Zagreb could be without seven key players, including Martin Baturina, the 21-year-old midfielder being dubbed the new Luka Modric, when they face Celtic in the Champions League next week. (The National), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Sportscene pundits Steven Naismith and Marvin Bartley analyse the moment of quality that secured Celtic's 1-0 win against Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Is anyone in Scotland going to beat Celtic this season?

A question many a manager in the top flight and beyond will be grappling with. Another question then springs to mind: How?

As they chase a fourth successive title, Brendan Rodgers' side have already put three past Rangers, won at second-placed Aberdeen, and smacked the same side for six in the League Cup semi-finals. When it comes to domestic dominance, the stats are sobering.

From a possible 42 Premiership points, they have 40. A seven-point lead at the top of the table which will become ten if Celtic win their game in hand. A 100% record away from home thus far in the league, and 65 goals scored in 22 games across all competitions. Defeated just once and that by last season's Champions League finalists, Borussia Dortmund. The bar Celtic are setting is prodigiously high.

Rodgers marshalled his troops to an unbeaten clean sweep of all three major Scottish trophies in his first season in charge eight years ago. The so-called 'invincible treble'. The standard set that season? 106 points from the available 114 in the Premiership. What chance Rodgers repeats the feat?

The vintage of 2016-17 boasted the likes of Kieran Tierney, Dedryck Boyata, Scott Sinclair and Patrick Roberts. By early March, Moussa Dembele had lashed in 32 goals. Rodgers went toe-to-toe with Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in the Champions League and came away with two highly creditable draws.

The current side, however, is one more win away from a place in the latter stages of Europe's elite competition. With a spine of Kasper Schmeichel, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Callum McGregor and Kyogo; the speed of Daizen Maeda, added to the flair of Reo Hatate and Nicolas Kuhn, yet another question springs to mind. Is this Celtic team better than Rodgers' invincible side?

Some supporters are already pondering just that. While the rest of Scotland's clubs are stuck on the original teaser. Namely, how to get the better of a Celtic side going from strength to strength under a manager seeking his third Parkhead treble.

We asked for your views on Celtic's 1-0 win against Aberdeen.

Here's what some of you said:

Fran: Tough conditions, tough tackling, tough night but a great goal from another dominant Celtic performance extends our lead at the top of the table. Long way to go yet but Celtic fans couldn't have hoped for a better start to the season playing some fantastic football.

Patrick: A great result on a rainy Wednesday evening in Aberdeen! This is a very determined side, they've learnt patience and calm will bring points. Aberdeen haven't been this good in years and we still beat them, Celtic will be difficult to stop now.

Andy: That was a game to get through, win the three points however you can and get back down the road. I'm often critical of Greg Taylor but he was the player we want to see, getting into good positions and playing forward. That Taylor I would give a new contract to. The other backwards playing Taylor I would not. Job done and on to the next.

Corbett: What an absolute beauty of an assist from Taylor, a vital component in the team who gets nowhere near enough credit from the fans, get him signed up Celtic!

Jim: They stood up to the physicality, simulations and hostile atmosphere! A victory for footballers. Can't figure out why Aberdeen never had two or three sent off!

Paul: Grinding out the results like this, at a wet and windswept Pittodrie, in hugely inclement conditions for both teams, is what makes you prospective champions at the end of the season. It was a brilliantly executed goal by Reo Hatate, which ultimately sealed a priceless hard fought victory for Celtic.

Mikey: A performance without flamboyance, but with enough grit to keep Scotland's roads clear for the Celtic juggernaut to move onwards and upwards. The only weakness is the choice of Auston Trusty. He's timid, weak in the challenge and always gives opponents enormous chances. Get Liam Scales back in and the rest of the season will bring no surprises.

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• Aberdeen have failed to win in their last 4 games in the Premiership, their last longer winless streak was from 24th January 2024 to 13th March 2024, a run of 11 games.

• Celtic have won their last 6 games in the Premiership, their last longer winning streak was from 13th April 2024 to 6th October 2024, a run of 13 games.

• Celtic have kept a clean sheet in 11 of their 14 games, more than any other in the Premiership this season.

• Celtic have scored in each of their last 23 games in the Premiership, scoring 68 goals in that run.

Reo Hatate's late goal was enough for Celtic to beat closest challengers Aberdeen on a wet and windy night at Pittodrie and move seven points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

With time running out, a delightful pass over the top from Greg Taylor found Hatate, and the Japan midfielder rifled a shot into the bottom corner in what could already be a telling blow in the race for the title.

Ester Sokler had a big chance for the hosts to equalise soon after, but his shot was brilliantly blocked over the bar by Cameron Carter-Vickers after Auston Trusty scuffed his clearance.

Celtic fans, were you at Pittodrie or following along from home? Either way, we want your thoughts.

Have your say on the game., external

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Reo Hatate's goal was the difference between the sides. The Japan international kept his cool when it mattered most to find the bottom corner.

George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

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For large spells at Pittodrie, Celtic were frustrated by both the weather and the stubborn Aberdeen defence. Cross after cross was cleared and the wind made the champions' usual sharp passing play a struggle.

Champion teams find a way though, and that is certainly what Celtic are under Brendan Rodgers.

They continued to push players forward and dial up the pressure on the home side.

Alistair Johnston saw two successive goal-bound shots blocked before Reo Hatate's effort was well saved by Ross Doohan, then substitute Adam Idah's header looked destined for the corner until Doohan sprung to his right.

Greg Taylor's pass was the moment of quality Celtic needed - a brilliant pick-out from the Scotland international - and Reo Hatate, played onside by Nicky Devlin, nervelessly beat Doohan.

Not only are Celtic seven points clear of second-place Aberdeen with a game in hand, they are 11 points above rivals Rangers. Although it seems strange to say with 28 games still to play, Rodgers' side already have one hand on the Premiership trophy.

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers tells BBC Scotland: "Fair play to the players, they were absolutely brilliant. That weather was as bad as I've had it, especially coming up here.

"I thought both sets of players tried to play the game as best they could. I thought we deserved to win. In the first half we took control, we worked it quite well into the final third of the pitch but couldn't quite make it.

"We needed to take a little bit more care in our passing in the second half. It's a huge credit to the players to keep the concentration, to defend that well - especially those few moments at the end - I'm so, so pleased.

"I just felt that in time [a goal would come], we trust our process, we trust our game. Especially after winning 6-0 in the semi-final we knew Aberdeen wouldn't roll over.

"They're a team that are really hard to beat, we knew it was going to be tough and we'd maybe have to take the game into the final half hour."

On whether the league title is done or not: "There are 38 games so it's nowhere near done. I understand people will look at it that way but for us there's such a long way to go.

"We're trying to get through the games, play well, but there's no thought of that [title] in the players' minds.

"Our culture is very much based around winning and we know we have to work very hard in our training and on the pitch to do that."

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Celtic winger James Forrest believes he will end his career at the club and is determined to make the most of the time he has left.

The 33-year-old recently signed a contract extension which will see him remain at Parkhead until the end of next season.

Forrest is currently Celtic's second most decorated player, one behind Bobby Lennox (25 trophies), and could overtake the European Cup winner this season.

"It's unbelievable hearing stats like that," the Scotland international said.

"All the sacrifices you make to play here, there's been so many highs and so much success. I don't know how long I've got left but I'm going to make sure I enjoy it and then once I finish I can really look back at what I've achieved with the club.

"If the club weren't doing well I probably wouldn't have been here for as long as I have.

"I've never really thought about it but as I got older, when you're in the Celtic bubble winning league titles and playing in the Champions League I don't think there's much better.

"My role has changed over the last few years but I've still enjoyed it. I've never thought about it but as I get older I think I will be [at Celtic for the remainder of his career].

"You know you're not going to play forever so you want to enjoy it as much as you can."

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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A peek at the top of the table tells you it's not the usual one-two at the Scottish Premiership summit.

However, Celtic and Aberdeen gone head-to-head for the top two spots a few times in the past decade.

Indeed there were four seasons in a row - from 2014-15 to 2017-18 - when the Dons were Scottish football's second force.

And that meant some tasty trips to Pittodrie for Celtic across those four seasons, with plenty on the line each time. Here are four matches which spring to mind.

Aberdeen 1-2 Celtic (9 November 2014)

Just over 10 years ago, Aberdeen were drawing 1-1 until a last-minute winner from Virgil van Dijk got 10-man Celtic over the line. I wonder what happened to him? The win put Ronny Deila's men top of the table despite captain Scott Brown's red card.

Aberdeen 2-1 Celtic (3 February 2016)

The following season Aberdeen got plenty of revenge. Twice Celtic left the north-east with nothing, beaten 2-1 on both occasions. Derek McInnes' Dons were particularly impressive in the second match in February, with goals from Jonny Hayes and Simon Church putting them two up inside 40 minutes.

Aberdeen 0-1 Celtic (29 October 2016)

Brendan Rodgers' first trip to Pittodrie came eight years ago. The game was tight. It took a cute half-volley from Tom Rogic to separate the sides. The Australia midfielder loved a goal against the men in red, as he'd show later that season in the Scottish Cup final as the Invincible Treble was sealed.

Aberdeen 0-2 Celtic (25 February 2018)

These games can often be fiery affairs. Celtic's Mikael Lusting and Aberdeen's Sam Cosgrove were both sent off in the last 15 minutes of this one. Kieran Tierney's last Premiership goal for Celtic sealed a 2-0 win.

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Aberdeen goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov has been ruled out for six weeks with a hamstring injury while Jack MacKenzie is not quite ready to return from the knock that kept him out of Sunday's defeat by Hearts. Pape Habib Gueye (quad) is still absent.

Celtic back-up goalkeeper Scott Bain will miss the trip through illness but Brendan Rodgers will otherwise have a full squad to pick from.

James Forrest says he turned down an ambitious approach from former team-mate Scott Brown to join Ayr United, with his focus on scoring in 16 consecutive seasons for Celtic to match club heroes Paul McStay and Jimmy McGrory. (Daily Record), external

Celtic have yet to make Daniel Cummings an offer to extend his contract beyond the summer, with English clubs tracking the 18-year-old striker. (Daily Mail, external, subscription required)

Read the rest of Wednesday's Scottish gossip.

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• Aberdeen are winless in 27 meetings with Celtic in all competitions (D6 L21) since a 1-0 victory at Celtic Park in May 2018 under Derek McInnes.

• Celtic are unbeaten in their last 15 away league games against Aberdeen (W12 D3) since a 2-1 defeat in February 2016 under Ronny Deila.

• Aberdeen are currently enjoying a 10-game winning run at home in the Scottish Premiership, earning more points on home soil in the competition this season than any other side (21).

• Celtic have won each of their last nine away league games, last winning 10 in a row on the road from April to November 2017 in Brendan Rodgers' first spell in charge.

• Celtic's Kyogo Furuhashi has scored five goals in his last five league appearances against Aberdeen, while he registered a goal and assist against them in the 2-2 draw in October.

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers believes Luke McCowan has all the attributes to play for Scotland.

The midfielder joined the Glasgow club in the summer from Dundee and has since scored three goals and contributed a further three assists in just 10 appearances, with seven of those coming as a substitute.

Rodgers has seen enough of McCowan in Celtic colours to suggest he would also be at home in the dark blue of his country.

"Every good player can't play at international level," Rodgers said.

"International level for me is about technique, tactical idea and having a level of speed and mobility that allows you to get around the field.

"So you'll have some really good players, but just maybe aren't quite cut out for that mobility and fast pace at international level.

"Luke has that. If I look at him technically, physically, that was the analysis that we did before bringing him in to see where he was at in terms of his running power, his physicality. So that's there at a really, really high level, we know he can do that.

"Technically, he’s finding the comfort now in the game. Tactically, like I said, he's shown that you see how quickly now he's adapted.

"Him and Paulo Bernardo were brilliant at the weekend in terms of how they linked together. So that tells you he's learning all the concepts and principles of how we play. Like I said, he has personality.

"If you play for Celtic, he's going to be able to play for Scotland for sure."