'Magic' Zurawski hero of hour for Celtic

FT Celtic 2 Aberdeen 0

The man affectionately known as “magic” by the Celtic supporters conjured up two mercurial moments which were fitting of the 20th anniversary of Jock Stein’s death.

The Parkhead legend was given a moving one-minute’s applause in his memory before kick-off and he would have savoured the match-winning contribution of their latest hero.

Maciej Zurawski took his scoring tally to three in two games, after a slow start to his Hoops career, with a breathtaking strike after combining brilliantly with John Hartson.

He then supplied the pass for Stilian Petrov’s killer goal which gave Gordon Strachan victory against his former club and moved Celtic to within two points of leaders Hearts.

The little Scot restored captain Neil Lennon and Alan Thompson to his midfield while Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood made just one change from the 11 which swept aside Livingston with new signing Stevie Crawford making his debut for Scott Muirhead.

The Italian-style minute’s applause proved far more fitting and successful than the normal 60-second silence but the current Celtic side had to focus on today’s task quickly if they were to keep the pressure on leaders Hearts and avoid defeat to the Pittodrie side.

The last time Calderwood brought his team to Celtic Park they return to the north with the three points and they have already condemned Rangers to defeat this season.

But the side looked buoyed by their win at East End Park and Hartson was within inches of getting a telling head to Thompson’s trademark free-kick in the sixth minute.

Zurawski also proved he was on fire after following up his double against Dunfermline with a brilliant 13th-minute strike to fire Celtic into the lead.

Hartson and the Polish international exchanged passes to leave the Aberdeen defence watching shadows as the summer signing ran through to collect the pass before blasted an unstoppable right-foot shot into the roof of the net with Ryan Esson cruelly exposed.

The Celtic back four were also dodgy at times and they were fortunate in the 18th minute when Kevin McNaughton picked out Steve Lovell, that the Dundee man headed well wide.

Lennon also had a chance to adhere himself to the home fans after his Old Firm shame but he blazed his right-foot shot over from the edge of the box following a Thompson corner.

The game was strangely flat for long periods but Petrov could have breathed life back into it in the 51st minute.

Hartson knocked Thompson’s poor cross into his path but the midfielder failed to get the power he would have hoped for and his right-foot effort was comfortably saved by Esson.

Thompson was fortunate not to be booked in the 55th minute when he sent Zander Diamond sprawling to the ground with a late challenge before Calderwood brought on Andrew Considine for the injured McNaughton.

Aberdeen finally brought out a save Artur Boruc moments later but he dived to his right to save Byrne’s effort before Thompson had a glorious chance to kill the game off.

Nakamura turned Byrne inside out and curled an inch-perfect cross to the unmarked Englishman, who somehow headed over the top from seven yards with just Esson to beat.

But Petrov showed Thompson all about finishing just after the hour mark following more great play from the rejuvenated Zurawski.

The opportunity looked long gone as Zurawski was held up near the goalline but he turned and threaded the ball through to his team-mate inside the box.

Petrov still had plenty to do but he remained composed and feigned to shoot before firing low through a ruck of players and past the rooted Esson.

Calderwood responded by swapping Byrne with Muirhead before Clark whistled a long-range effort high and wide.

Both managers made changes in the 70th minute with Strachan bringing on Shaun Maloney and Craig Beattie for Hartson and Nakamura, after his gruelling midweek trip to Tokyo, while Calderwood brought on John Stewart for Lovell to lift his beaten side.

Scotland man Beattie thought he had won a penalty four minutes later when he was pulled down in the area by former Celtic winger Jamie Smith but the referee ignored the pleas.

But the Celtic players – and in particularly Zurawski – had already done their job.