CRUNCH TIME

Celtic begin the first of five crucial matches in their quest for a fourth successive SPL title, with a trip to Pittodrie on Saturday lunchtime to take on Aberdeen, the same side that the hoops faced in their last fixture a fortnight ago.

Goals from Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Scott McDonald helped Gordon Strachan's men to a comfortable 2-0 victory on that occasion, but Celtic will be fully aware that this Saturday's game will be a much tougher proposition.


McDonald strikes in last encounter

Aberdeen are yet to taste defeat on home soil against the Old Firm this season, and the memories of that disappointing 4-2 reversal in January, which incidentally is the last time Celtic failed to take at least a point from an SPL fixture, will still be on the minds of the Celtic squad, especially considering the manner in which the four goals were conceded that day.

Whilst that may have been the last defeat for Strachan's men, recent away form hasn't been great with only one win in six attempts, that coming in the shape of a late Scott McDonald winner at Kilmarnock. Draws at Inverness, Motherwell, Dundee United and Hearts, along with that painful defeat at Aberdeen, have allowed Rangers to close the gap at the top to just a single point as the season reaches it's final stages.

The Bhoys do though, go into the business end of the season refreshed. A 5-day break in the La Manga sunshine aimed at recharging the batteries of those involved heavily in first team action, and to help rehabilitate members of the squad lacking fitness may well prove beneficial come the end of the season, only time will tell...

There is no doubting that tactical plans will also have played a big part during the Spanish getaway, and keeping a tight ship at the back, particularly in away games is something that the Hoops will have to improve upon, if indeed the Parkhead trophy cabinet is to host the SPL trophy for another year.


Brown - a key loss

On the selection front, one change will be enforced on Strachan, Scott Brown, the only ever-present for Celtic in the SPL this season starts the first of a two-game ban, mainly thanks to the SFA's ludicrous disciplinary system, which punishes players for offences commited the previous season.

Barry Robson remains short on match fitness, so Brown's absence could open a place in the starting eleven for either Willo Flood or Paul Hartley, although youngster Simon Ferry could be a surprise contender. The 21-year old, making his way back after more than two years of injury * has been involved with the first team squad in recent weeks, and his wonder goal to help Celtic's reserve side clinch 8-In-a-row at Ibrox on Tuesday will have done nothing to harm his chances.


McManus - set to return

Elsewhere, Stephen McManus should return to the squad after hobbling off at half time in the game at Hearts, and Georgios Samaras may also be involved after missing the last two games through injury.

Aberdeen will be without the suspended Lee Miller, Zander Diamond is out for the rest of the season, whilst Darren Mackie, Derek Young, Lee Mair and Jamie Smith are all rated as doubtful.​