Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin has responded to criticism of his side’s tactics against Celtic as the Dons prepare to welcome Rangers.
The former St Mirren boss has been resoundingly criticised for his overtly defensive tactics against the Parkhead side, with Aberdeen falling to a late 1-0 defeat to the Premiership leaders over the weekend.
Aberdeen legend Willie Miller was vocally unappeased with the decision to set up defensively and called on the Dons board to let Goodwin know that fans won’t accept this kind of system, especially at home.
The result keeps Celtic nine points clear in the Scottish Premiership title race with Rangers the next club to visit Pittodrie this week.
Jim Goodwin’s tactics were in stark contrast to those employed against Rangers at Ibrox earlier in the season, where Aberdeen where humbled 4-1 by the Glasgow club.
And the Aberdeen boss spoke about this ahead of the visit of Rangers as he responded to criticisms regarding how his team set up against the Parkhead club.
Jim Goodwin talks Celtic tactics ahead of Aberdeen v Rangers
“It’s not the most fun to watch,” said Goodwin [Sky Sports].
“From a fans’ perspective, I understand their frustration at the end of the game. I get that. But we thought that was the best way to go.
“Unfortunately now, in hindsight, when you are sitting here with nothing to show for it, it’s hard to make an argument for it.
“The second half I don’t think we offered enough going forward. The first half we did have three or four dangerous attacks.
“But it’s the first game for five weeks and there was probably a bit of fatigue setting in around the hour mark, and we just tried to see the game out in the end. Celtic are a good side, they kept plugging away and Callum McGregor came up with the goods in the end.
“But if we had come away with a 0-0 and not played particularly well, then everybody probably would have been patting us on the back and saying how organised and disciplined we were.
“Unfortunately that’s not the case because, when you set up that way and come away with nothing, then it’s difficult to argue with.”
Attention will now turn to how Jim Goodwin sets up v Rangers with the Ibrox side having previously exploited a more attack minded Aberdeen at Ibrox.
The trip to Pittodrie is always one of the toughest games of the season for the Gers and let’s hope the club can come through the match with all three points as Michael Beale continues to build at Ibrox.
Meanwhile, some Celtic fans have gone into meltdown over this World Cup Rangers story.
