Aberdeen put an end to Celtic's unbeaten run

Celtic 1 Aberdeen 2

Dons manager Steve Paterson had confessed just minutes before kick-off that all he had been hoping for was a defeat that was not too painful for his injury-ravaged side that featured nine players under 21.

But when substitute Bryan Prunty, the former Celtic reserve, cancelled out Henrik Larsson's 15th-minute opener the stage was set for an upset no-one had been predicting.

The Dons rode their luck and won it at the death with a fine break that saw Australia international David Zdrilic slot past David Marshall. It was the first time Celtic had been beaten in front of their own fans in 77 games, when Ajax had won a Champions League qualifier in August 2001.

With the title having been wrapped up with Sunday's win at Kilmarnock, there was hardly a competitive edge to the game and the fact that the trophy would not be presented until next month and the news that Lisbon Lion Ronnie Simpson the goalkeeper had died meant there was no carnival atmosphere before kick-off.

Celtic attacked regularly against nervous opponents and so jittery were the Dons that Larsson's 15th-minute goal had seemed a long time coming.

The Dons recovered from their initial nervousness to create a couple of decent chances that were clues to the game's eventual surprise ending.

Celtic were content to meander along happily until Prunty shocked them with a 56th-minute equaliser.

The impressive Muirhead was the man who made it happen with a low ball in from the left that neither Marshall or a defender could reach and there was Prunty at the back post to apply a close-range finish. He celebrated in style near a corner flag.

After Muirhead had passed up a great chance in the final minute, Zdrilic showed him how it was done, slotting past Marshall.

CELTIC: Marshall, McNamara (Balde 49), Varga, McManus (Miller 67), Agathe (Smith 45), Lennon, Lambert, Petrov, Wallace, Larsson, Sylla.

ABERDEEN: Preece, Higgins, Rutkiewicz, Muirhead, Morrison, Tosh (Prunty 23), Heikkinen, Sheerin, Buckley, Zdrilic, Foster.

Referee: I Brines.