The conspiracy theorists would have enjoyed it.
Celtic’s failure to beat Aberdeen will be seen in some quarters as a favour to ensure that the Pittodrie side held off Rangers’ push for second spot.
It won’t take account, however, of the manner in which Celtic pushed to get back into this game after Andrew Considine’s opening goal just two minutes after the break. At one point Brendan Rodgers looked to have buckled his foot at one stage in the game as he booted the water bottles in frustration while his opposite number, Derek McInnes, was a perennial jack-in-the-box as he barked and shouted from the touchline.
Read more: Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers ready for final push as Hoops eye Cup Final day
In the immediate aftermath of the game as the party got started with the fireworks and tickertape, Rodgers couldn't hide his irritation; "well, we've just lost a game," he said when asked about leading Celtic to their seventh successive title.
It was the first time that the Parkhead side have lost a domestic game at home since December 2015, the first time Rodgers has lost to Scottish opposition on home soil since his arrival two years ago. It was also the first time Aberdeen have beaten Celtic here since 20014.
By the time the full-time whistle went the excitement of it all proved to be too much for Shay Logan who lost the plot entirely.
Beating the badge on his chest and battering back and forward with the Celtic players before heading into meltdown. After exchanging words with Mikael Lustig, Logan slapped the Swede across the face before rampaging around the pitch remonstrating with the Hoops support.
The red card was flashed by Craig Thomson but still it went on, as Logan shouted to his own and the home support. It ended in ugly scenes with the player huckled up the tunnel by one of the watching cops.
Not that it lasted for long. Within minutes a sun-drenched stadium was privy to a rousing rendition of Walk On as the party tunes and celebrations got underway.
Read more: Celtic goalkeeper Scott Bain hints that Craig Gordon will be ready for Cup final
The support and the sunshine set the scene but ultimately the flat performance on the pitch couldn’t match the surrounds.
There was a nod to present and past before the game with Scott Brown’s contribution lauded this season - ‘iconic’, ‘invincible’ ‘irreplacable’ – while there was a fitting tribute too to Tommy Burns whose tenth anniversary is this week.
On the park, though, the performance was largely in keeping with the performances as a whole this term. They have got the job done but without the same fluency and pinache as last term.
Moussa Dembele started the game after missing out midweek and in the early stages he looked lively and in the mood. There was a surging run into the box but his shot was blocked by Aberdeen keeper Joe Lewis.
He looked like being a handful for the Dons defence but despite Celtic dominated much of the possession in the opening period they couldn’t find a breakthrough.
There had been just ten minutes on the clock when Aberdeen, pushing for that second place berth, had cracked an effort off of Scott Bain’s crossbar after Gary Mackay-Steven had been felled at the edge of the box. Greg Stewart’s effort bounced off the woodwork but it served as notice of the Pittodrie side’s intentions to fight for the required points to get them their second spot in the table.
Read more: Celtic winger James Forrest has featured in all 7 title wins for Parkhead club
Still, though, there was a little shell-shock in Celtic’s defence when Considine gave the Dons the lead. Kenny McLean’s run caused all sort of consternation but as Mikael Lustig was caught sleeping, Considine nipped in to drill an effort low into the net past Bain.
Dembele, inevitably, was taken off with just over 40 minutes of the game still to go. With Griffiths coming back from illness and Odsonne Edouard’s season prematurely over with a hamstring injury, it was always unlikely that Rodgers would risk the striker picking up a knock before the William Hill Scottish Cup Final on Saturday.
Griffiths was barely on the park when he received a pass from the roving Krisotoffer Ajer but his final effort was tame as Lewis collected.
With just two goals required for Griffiths to his century, the Celtic striker was desperate to try and get the Parkhead side back into the game.
The forward’s season has been interrupted by illness and injury and Griffiths looked short on energy as the sun beat down on the pitch.
In fairness, it was a lethargic showing all round from Celtic with one eye on the Cup Final next weekend while there was also a fair bit of intrigue in what was going on through at Easter Road.
Read more: Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers ready for final push as Hoops eye Cup Final day
Celtic probed for opening to get back into it with Olivier Ntcham having a shot blocked by Lewis before Anthony O’Connor’s intervention on Callum McGregor blocked the Hoops midfielder as he went to claim the rebound.
At one point Brown put a ball through for Sinclair but the winger hesitated and the chance was lost as Aberdeen got reinforcements back. The Englishman has been Celtic’s top scorer this season but he has played without the same level of belief and swagger that was his hallmark last term, encapsulated in the indecisiveness which marked the way the chance went away from him.
Brown himself tried to find a leveller with an effort that was blocked and went wide well of the post. Interestingly, among all the plaudits and personal awards that the Celtic captain has received this year he has not managed to score a goal.
The Hampden stage is set for him for next Saturday.
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