Sinclair hat-trick sees Celtic edge seven-goal thriller at Aberdeen

Scott Sinclair scored a hat-trick as Celtic struck twice in the final four minutes to beat Aberdeen 4-3 in a Boxing Day thriller and move three points clear of Rangers ahead of Saturday’s Old Firm derby.
Rangers missed the chance to end the year ahead of the champions on points as they conceded four minutes from time to draw 1-1 at home to Hibernian. Celtic also have a game in hand on their Glasgow rivals and will end the year on top as long as they avoid a heavy defeat at Ibrox on Saturday. However, Brendan Rodgers’s men had to show plenty of resilience to see off Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
Sinclair opened the scoring after just six minutes but Celtic were soon pegged back by Stevie May’s penalty and it stayed 1-1 until a frantic final 14 minutes produced five goals. Celtic had started without a natural striker with Leigh Griffiths taking an extended break for personal reasons and Odsonne Edouard only fit enough for a place on the bench.
The 20-year-old Frenchman was introduced 20 minutes from time and made a huge impact to hand the champions a vital victory.
Edouard freed James Forrest down the right to tee up Sinclair to turn home his second of the afternoon from close range on 76 minutes.
There was little doubt over Aberdeen’s first spot-kick when Emilio Izaguirre chopped down May, but the visitors were furious when referee Willie Collum pointed to the spot again six minutes from time when Graeme Shinnie went down under pressure from Mikael Lustig and Sam Cosgrove converted.
But Edouard won the game by first chipping a deft finish into the top corner three minutes later and then skipping past two Aberdeen challenges before squaring for Sinclair to tap in for the hat-trick.
“Young Odsonne coming into the game made a big difference in relation to our penetration in behind,” said Rodgers.
“For his goal, to score with that composure and poise was a brilliant finish to dink the keeper. You could see his speed and power to get through to square for Scott’s hat-trick.”