The home crowd are warming up as Aberdeen press but suddenly a long ball out of defence from Kristoffer Ajer has Odsonne Edouard scampering in on goal. Does he get a wee tug from Shay Logan as he shapes to shoot from the edge of the box? He stays on his feet and his effort is well blocked by the advancing Joe Lewis.

Timothy Weah is the next man in John Beaton's wee black book for tugging Shay Logan back near the halfway line.

Scott Brown carelessly gives the ball away and Aberdeen are on the front foot. Greg Stewart dinks a good cross in from the left and it falls perfectly for James Wilson, who volleys into the ground and the bounce off the turf takes the ball over the top, via a slight touch against the crossbar.

The on-loan Manchester United striker should be hitting the net from there - right in front of goal, near the penalty spot.

Dom Ball, sent off against Celtic in the League Cup final, is cautioned early for tripping Callum McGregor.

Celtic break from a rare Dons attack and Timothy Weah cuts past Shay Logan and dips his shoulder to have a pop from the edge of the box. Michael Devlin does well to get across and block the shot.

Aberdeen right-back Shay Logan, who hasn't played since February, looks understandably rusty and is going to need some serious assistance in dealing with the lively duo of Timothy Weah and Kieran Tierney.

The first corner goes Cetic's way but Aberdeen stand firm with little fuss.

It's all Celtic in the early stages. Aberdeen have barely had a touch as the visitors pop the ball around at pace.

Kieran Tierney doesn't look like someone who needs a double hernia operation as he speeds to the byline and loops in a cross for Tom Rogic to meet at the back post area.

The header is weak though and Joe Lewis gets down to save.

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Following a hearty minute's applause in memory of Billy McNeill and Stevie Chalmers, we are up and running.

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Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes tells BBC Sportsound: "You never get your hopes up but I’m disappointed that they went through with that punishment under the circumstances. I’d love to say more about it but today I just want to focus on the job in hand and think that the team that’s been picked today is the most important thing though all of this.

"I’ll have to watch from the stands but it is what it is."

On the recent deaths of Billy McNeill and Stevie Chalmers, Neil Lennon adds: "It brings everyone together. Whether there's been a bit of a disconnect with all of the confusion and agitation with Brendan leaving, I think the last few weeks has brought a real connection back between the supporters and the clubs in really difficult circumstances.

"The club paid tribute yesterday to a great man and they will do it again on Wednesday."

Celtic manager Neil Lennon tells BBC Sportsound: "I'm hoping for a big performance today but we know how difficult it will be. Aberdeen are a strong team with a great manager.

"This is the first opportunity we've had when it's in our own hands. It would be great to play with a bit of a swagger but Aberdeen aren't just going to roll over."

Thousands of people turned out for the funeral of Celtic legend Billy McNeill in Glasgow yesterday.

The Lisbon Lions captain had one season as manager of Aberdeen and there will be a minute's applause in his memory before kick off.

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Derek McInnes won't be in the home dugout today following a one-match touchline ban for his conduct at Hampden.

The Dons boss was sent to the stands for reacting to goading from the crowd with a gesture, while the police said they were investigating sectarian abuse.

"I wish I hadn't responded but I also feel there were a lot of real mitigating circumstances," he said at his media conference before Thursday's SFA hearing.

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One of those goalless draws for Neil Lennon came at home to Aberdeen in early March. However, it was a much more straightforward affair when the teams met in last month's League Cup final as the Dons imploded at Hampden.

Celtic ran out 3-0 winners against nine men after red cards for Dom Ball and Lewis Ferguson, while manager Derek McInnes and assistant Tony Docherty were also dismissed for their touchline behaviour.

James Forrest opened the scoring with one of the goals of the season, with Odsonne Edoaurd and Tom Rogic also on target.

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Image source, SNS

Celtic's march towards an eighth successive title has one major sub-plot: will Neil Lennon stay on?

The interim manager hasn't lost a game since stepping in for Brendan Rodgers.

A treble treble is very much on the cards, with a Scottish Cup final with Hearts to look forward to.

And yet there are doubts...

The champions have not exactly dazzled since Rodgers left, with three 0-0 draws from Lennon's 10 games.

Every game is perceived as an audition, so has he done enough?

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Pat Bonner
Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound

Willie Miller
Former Aberdeen captain on BBC Radio Scotland

Sam Cosgrove and Odsonne Edouard were also on target in that Boxing Day encounter and both can count themselves rather unlucky not to be on the shortlist for PFA Scotland's young player of the year.

Both men have scored 20 goals this season. Can they add to those tallies today?

Motherwell pair David Turnbull and Jake Hastie are on the shortlist for the PFA Scotland prize, along with Aberdeen's Lewis Ferguson and Ryan Kent of Rangers.

Great to see so many good young players strutting their stuff in the Premiership...

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Image source, SNS

Celtic are on a run of five league wins at Pittodrie, their last defeat coming in the days of Ronny Deila, back in February 2016.

Their last visit was a 4-3 thriller on Boxing Day, with Scott Sinclair grabbing a hat-trick in a game that burst into life with a late flurry of goals.

The English winger has not been a regular starter since Neil Lennon replaced Brendan Rodgers in late February and is on the bench today but the club triggered the final 12 months of his contract this week.

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