Balde boost as Sutton puts Bhoys on top

Aberdeen 0 Celtic 1

The Englishman punished Rangers, who leapfrogged the defending champions on goal difference with yesterday’s win over Dunfermline, in the Tennent’s Scottish Cup clash. And a week on he capitalised on a Philip McGuire blunder to hit the winner to move Celtic three points clear of their big rivals.

Meanwhile, Celtic manager Martin O’Neill claimed that the club were “not far” from reaching an agreement with inspirational star Bobo Balde over a new contract.

There had been claims that the defensive giant had rejected their offer of a new deal and was seeking a move away from Parkhead with English clubs monitoring the situation.

However, his manager shot down those reports and is cautiously optimistic that Balde will follow John Hartson in putting his name to a bumper new contract soon.

O’Neill, who watched his side beat Aberdeen 1-0 at Pittodrie to move three points clear of Rangers at the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League, said: “Discussions are going on at this moment and have been ongoing for a wee while now.

“There wouldn’t be many people involved with the football club who would not want him to stay. We wouldn’t be too far away but like everything else these things take some time.

“He has intimated that if everything’s right then he would like to stay at the football club.

“You want to make the offer as attractive as possible. We have been going backward and forward a little bit but discussions are still going on.

“I would obviously like Balde to stay at the football club and today he was wonderful for us and there are a number of signs that he wants to stay here.

“His contribution has been absolutely terrific and I would like him to stay around for a wee while longer.

“There are a lot of things to sort out like finances, but I am hoping that we can resolve it.

“He wants to play games regardless of his situation and injury so the desire is there. I am hopeful because he has showed no desire to leave the football club. In terms of contract negotiations I would be cautious until somebody signs a new contract. I was hopeful of keeping Liam Miller but that didn’t work out.”

ABERDEEN: Esson, Anderson, Diamond, McGuire (Winter 52), Hart, McNaughton, Adams (Tosh 52), Heikkinen, Clark (Kristjansson 75), Whelan, Mackie.

CELTIC: Douglas, McNamara, Balde, Laursen, McManus, Juninho Paulista (Camara 76), Petrov, Lennon, McGeady (Wallace 90), Hartson, Sutton.

Ref: K Clark (Scotland).