Summary

  • Sportscene (19:15) - BBC Scotland

Live Reporting

Colin Moffat

  1. Celtic 'staying calm' after back-to-back home defeats

    Aberdeen v Celtic (12:00)

    Following Thursday's 3-1 Europa League defeat to AC Milan, Neil Lennon said Celtic would come back "stronger than ever".

    Having been disappointed by a meek showing in last weekend's 2-0 loss to Rangers, the manager was happier with the performance and attitude against the Serie A leaders.

    "We're not panicking, we're staying calm," he said. "We have a great belief in the players and I have every right to believe in them because of what they have done and what they can do.

    "I am past the stage of my career where criticising players probably works and I don't think they deserve it."

    We'll hear more from the Celtic gaffer before kick off...

    Celtic boss Neil Lennon arriving at Pittodrie this morningSNS

    Celtic boss Neil Lennon arriving at Pittodrie this morning

  2. 'Strong midfield' for Aberdeen

    Aberdeen v Celtic (12:00)

    Willie Miller
    Former Aberdeen captain on BBC Sportsound

    That's a strong midfield for Aberdeen, all three are solid defensively but they can all get forward too

  3. 'Big call' to bench Brown

    Aberdeen v Celtic (12:00)

    Pat Bonner
    Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound

    Scott Brown on the bench is a big, big call. It will be interesting to see how that midfield battle goes without him

  4. No Barkas or Brown for Celtic

    Aberdeen v Celtic (12:00)

    The big news for Celtic is goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas and captain Scott Brown are not included, with the Greece international missing from the squad altogether.

    Leigh Griffiths and Stephen Welsh have to make do with places on the bench alongside Brown as manager Neil Lennon makes four changes from the defeat to AC Milan.

    Scott Bain comes back into the team for the first time since August's 5-1 win over Hamilton, with Mohamed Elyounoussi, Tom Rogic and Ryan Christie the other men coming into the side.

    Still no sign of Odsonne Edouard after his positive test for coronavirus 20 days ago.

    Scott Brown and Zlatan IbrahimovicSNS

    Scott Brown is on the bench for Celtic this afternoon

  5. Hayes & Edmondson fit to start

    Aberdeen v Celtic (12:00)

    Derek McInnes had said there were doubts over the fitness over Jonny Hayes and Ryan Edmondson after they picked up knocks in the midweek win over Hamilton, but both make the Aberdeen starting line-up.

    The Dons make just one change. Ross McCrorie comes back into the first eleven after being on the bench in midweek, with Scott Wright making way.

    Aberdeen also have Sam Cosgrove on the bench who could make his first appearance of the season.

    Jonny HayesSNS

    Jonny Hayes faces Celtic for the first time since leaving in summer

  6. LINE-UPS from Pittodrie

    Aberdeen v Celtic (12:00)

    Aberdeen: Lewis, Hoban, Taylor, Considine, Hedges, Ferguson, McCrorie, McGeouch, Hayes, Watkins, Edmondson.

    Substitutes: Woods, Logan, Ojo, McGinn, McLennan, Cosgrove, Leigh, Wright, Kennedy.

    Celtic: Bain, Frimpong, Ajer, Duffy, Laxalt, Ntcham, McGregor, Christie, Rogic, Elyounoussi, Ajeti.

    Substitutes: Hazard, Taylor, Brown, Griffiths, Klamala, Soro, Turnbull, Ralston, Welsh.

  7. Early days but title race very much in focus

    We're walking into winter now that the clocks have changed, but we have two more Scottish Premiership games to keep you warmed up.

    Champions Celtic have lost ground in the title race and won't want to fall any further behind as they take on an in-form Aberdeen.

    Rangers are cruising along serenely at the top of the table and will be strongly fancied to keep their unbeaten run going at home to Livingston later on.

    The pressure is on Celtic to respond. How will they react?

    Celtic defender Shane Duffy out on the Pittodrie pitchSNS

    Celtic defender Shane Duffy out on the Pittodrie pitch