******************************
Aberdeen have made sure that Celtic won't go through the league season undefeated with a close fought win at Pittodrie stadium last night .
Virgil Van Dijk saw red for the visitors after only 12 minutes, and Jamie Langfield produced two excellent saves to keep Aberdeen in the game.
Then two goals in 4 minutes turned the game on its head; HAYES almost burst the net in the 40th minute with a 30 yard piledriver, then ROONEY converted Logan's cross to double the lead.
Leigh GRIFFITHS pulled one back for Celtic as The Dons defended deeper in the second half, but it was ABERDEEN who came away with all three points.
Well done to the Dons COYR, & Stand Free
Aberdeen team | Langfield, Logan (Anderson 83'), Tate (Shaughnessy 83), Reynolds, Considine, Flood, Robson, Pawlett (Vernon 90+1), McGinn, Rooney, Hayes
Substitutes not used | Weaver, Low, Smith, Vernon, Zola.
and at the end of the game Neil Lennon spat his dummy out.
Quotes from the press room,
(From PA Sport and RedWeb)
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes felt his side were well worth their second victory over Celtic this month, having knocked Lennon's side out of the William Hill Scottish Cup at Parkhead.
McInnes said: "The fans have seen their team win and deservedly win with two magnificent goals and loads of effort from every single one of the players.
"It's not easy beating Celtic whether it's against 11 men or 10 men.
"You can see why these players play for Celtic, they never know they're beat. I thought they took full responsibility in the second half and the introduction of Forrest caused us problems.
"We were too deep and it was a bit disappointing that we never kept the ball better. When Celtic score it adds to the anxiety in the ground and belief of Celtic.
"But over the 90 minutes I thought we were the better side and created the better opportunities. It was the right decision to send Van Dijk off."
McInnes added: "We should celebrate a good night for our club because it's a big ask beating Celtic. They are proud of their unbeaten record. They have made that really clear.
"If we didn't get the credit we possibly deserved at Parkhead, I'm sure we'll get it tonight."
Celtic manager Neil Lennon blamed referee Craig Thomson for the end of his side's unbeaten Scottish Premiership run at Aberdeen.
Lennon said: "I thought we were worthy of the win. I thought the referee ruined the game. It's not a sending-off. Pawlett was going across the goal rather than towards the goal. I'm pretty sure Ambrose would have got across.
"And there was a clear handball in the second half. He saw it and said it wasn't deliberate."
"I thought we were the better team first half, we had the better chances anyway," he added. "I said to the players: 'You can't let the run go now. Go out there and take the game to Aberdeen as much as you can.' And they did that. I thought they were fantastic.
"It looked like we had the extra man. We dominated and didn't get the rewards all our good play and mental strength deserved. But sometimes you don't get what you deserve in football."