Aberdeen entertain Celtic at Pittodrie on Sunday – live on Sky Sports at 12.30pm – and neutrals wouldn’t be unhappy to see a repeat of the 4-4 thriller of February 2010.
Robbie Keane and Aiden McGeady were among the Celtic scorers that day, with Steven MacLean netting a late double to earn the Dons a draw. Michael Paton, now with Queen of the South, was also on target for Aberdeen and it is an occasion he remembers fondly.
He said: “That was probably the best game of football I have played in. I was only 19 at the time and I got picked because of my performance at Hibs a few days before. That game ended 2-2 and I had scored one goal, made the other, and got Man of the Match. The manager, Mark McGhee, saw I was on a high and included me for the Celtic game.
“They were the champions, had just signed Robbie Keane and went 1-0 up. We were in the bottom half and there were concerns we could get a hard time but we got over that and I remember my equaliser well.
“I read where a long ball was going and I hit a left-foot shot home from 20 yards. It was probably the best goal of my career but when I see the highlights I know it was not the best haircut of my career as there are a few blond streaks in there!
“It was my first home goal in front of a packed stadium so it was a bit special. It was one of Robbie Keane’s first games for Celtic and Aiden McGeady, who is now at Everton, was there as well - they both scored so I was in good company.
“To play in a game like that is what football is all about. I have still got Robbie’s jersey and to have such a souvenir from a game like that is tremendous. I was surprised when he asked for my top and I had to give him it. I just took his out of courtesy!”
It is likely that only a couple of players from that epic game will be involved this weekend, with Paton saying: “Jamie Langfield and Andrew Considine are still there. Mark Kerr is now with me at Queen of the South and I would imagine there are not many Celtic players left there - probably only Scott Brown - although Charlie Mulgrew played for Aberdeen that day.
“We were a bottom half team then so there is less between the sides now. Celtic have had a slow start to the season but are climbing up the table now. Their manager has started to gel his players together but after last season Aberdeen should not be scared of anyone.
“Derek McInnes has brought good players in. I watched them against Kilmarnock a couple of months ago and they played well. My old flat-mate Peter Pawlett scored that night and that was good to see. He has come on leaps and bounds especially as he has got over the hamstring problem that affected him earlier in his career. He could be a big player for Aberdeen this week.”
Craig Stewart
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