McManus emerges as Old Firm doubt

03 May 2009 09:23
The Scotland centre-back limped off with a knee injury in the 50th minute before Scott McDonald's clinical double completed the Hoops' comeback. Celtic's second away win of 2009 ensures they will lead the SPL going into next Saturday's Ibrox clash, but McManus' participation is not so certain. An ankle problem has sidelined the Scotland defender in recent weeks. But manager Gordon Strachan said: "It's a different problem; it's his knee this time. "He was maybe overcompensating for his ankle. It was early in the first half when he got turned. "I would imagine it would be (a concern for next week) at the moment. "It's unfortunate because Darren (O'Dea) hurt himself in the warm-up as well. That's a new problem too." Strachan was critical of his side at half-time despite Gary Caldwell's deflected equaliser in the final minute. Celtic fell behind when Chris Maguire headed home a free-kick from Charlie Mulgrew, who set up the two late goals that secured a 4-2 win over the Hoops in January. "We were disappointed with that," Strachan said. "It was a perfect delivery but we spoke about something on Friday. "For some reason, the guys thought they would come up another few yards because of the wind. "Obviously, it wasn't a good choice. "There was high energy and purposeful football from Aberdeen in the first half. "We had a few chances but we were a bit lax with our tackling, heading and a bit indisciplined in giving free-kicks away. "But we stuck at it and reorganised at half-time and got better and better. Their energy was absolutely fantastic and they made a lot of good chances." McDonald finished brilliantly in the 72nd minute after Celtic had assumed control and the Australian netted his 50th goal for the club in injury-time. "It was very pleasing to get the win first and foremost and secondly to get on the scoresheet," McDonald said. "And not just the goals - I was quite happy with my performance, which is number one for the team. "Obviously, we got a talking to at half-time, and we all knew we were quite fortunate to go into the break at 1-1. "We got a lift from that and in the second half we powered through. Our fitness told, we kept driving on and had belief and got the second goal. "We didn't look like we were going to give it up and it was nice to put the game to bed, even though I probably should have done a bit earlier." Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood felt McDonald was the difference between the sides, but he also pointed to the free-kick that led to Celtic's equaliser. Dougie McDonald ruled Richard Foster had barged Aiden McGeady and Andrew Considine could only help Caldwell's header into the net following Shunsuke Nakamura's delivery. "We had three great chances and scored one of them," Calderwood said. "They weren't too dangerous and then we lose a goal 30 seconds before half-time. "We thought the free-kick was harsh. There were a few decisions for both clubs the whole game that were very, very strange. "Celtic got a massive lift, their big players started playing - Nakamura, young Aiden - and I thought Scott McDonald was brilliant the whole game. "Take nothing away from wee Scott, he's brilliant at it, but we got caught out a wee bit on our heels."

Source: Team_Talk