Neil McCann makes ‘spooked’ claim as Celtic let two-goal lead slip against Aberdeen

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Celtic and Aberdeen tussled and fought their way to an entertaining 2-2 draw at Parkhead on Saturday.

The duo went into the match knowing that at least one of their 100% starts to the new Premiership season would come to a stop, in the end, they both damaged each other.

Celtic have bossed proceedings in the Scottish Premiership, so their opening few months haven’t been a surprise and it was probably expected.

But Aberdeen have shocked many in the Scottish Premiership, as new manager Jimmy Thelin masterminded his team to a second-half comeback.

In the first half, you can’t argue with Celtic being 2-0 ahead, Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi were the goalscorers, and in truth, it could have been more, especially when Arne Engels hit the woodwork.

Neil McCann stated that, at the break, nobody would have given the Dons a chance and how their supposed title challenge would end at the home of the champions.

But Rodgers watched Aberdeen put Celtic in uncomfortable situations, as a fearless, attacking and vibrant Aberdeen side proved why they are the second-best team in Scotland.

The home team made errors, and they have to put their hands up, especially because they allowed the opposition to be so attack-minded and assertive.

Neil McCann says Celtic ’spooked’ by Aberdeen’s attacking approach

McCann feels Thelin’s change of approach in the second half ’spooked’ Celtic as he hailed the Swede’s ‘brave management’, as he told Sportscene.

“I think you would go a far distance to find one person, at 2-0 at half-time, to say ‘Aberdeen would get anything from it,” said McCann.

“I think everybody would have thought ‘I knew it was going to happen, they were going to come to Celtic Park and that’s the end of their challenge’.

“They were fantastic. Brave management and changed it (in the second half). And encourage his team to, in the transitions, to actually go with risk. When you go with risk and you load four or five players to try and get a goal. You know how good Celtic are on the counter-attack. They counter-attack so well. I felt Celtic were a wee bit spooked in the second half because I don’t think they are used to teams coming at them in those numbers. It was a super game for Scottish football.”

Can Aberdeen challenge Celtic for the title?

Those from the outside probably expected Rangers to challenge Celtic, but it isn’t happening and now many are wondering if Aberdeen can do the unthinkable – the Gers are six points behind with a game in hand.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	CelticCeltic	8	7	1	0	24	3	21	22
2	AberdeenAberdeen	8	7	1	0	17	8	9	22
3	RangersRangers	7	5	1	1	12	4	8	16
4	Dundee UtdDundee Utd	8	4	3	1	13	9	4	15
5	MotherwellMotherwell	8	4	1	3	11	9	2	13
6	DundeeDundee	8	2	3	3	13	14	-1	9
7	ST MirrenST Mirren	9	2	2	5	11	18	-7	8
8	ST JohnstoneST Johnstone	9	2	1	6	11	19	-8	7
9	Ross CountyRoss County	9	1	4	4	8	17	-9	7
10	KilmarnockKilmarnock	7	1	3	3	9	17	-8	6

Rangers thought they were challenging last season, but they were put in their place when it mattered most.

READ MORE: Brendan Rodgers rues ‘careless’ Celtic as dramatic draw with Aberdeen ‘feels like a defeat’

As strange as it may sound, from a Celtic perspective, it would be great to see Aberdeen challenge for the title after a very long time.

But regardless of what happens, the champions just look too strong, the depth in quality is as good as it has been and you expect those levels to be maintained as the season wears on.