Derek McInnes believes Aberdeen should have enjoyed the “fortune” of a penalty in their 1-0 defeat by Celtic.
David Turnbull’s strike took Celtic to within 15 points of Scottish Premiership leaders Rangers.
After the goal, Florian Kamberi’s cross struck Stephen Welsh’s hand in the Celtic box and the Dons’ scoreless run continued to a record sixth game.
“Where we are just now, we’re looking for those little breaks and right decisions,” McInnes told BBC Scotland.
“You’re looking for a bit of fortune at times and also a bit of quality. The fortune should come with the penalty kick that we never got that should be a penalty.”
McInnes’ side, in fourth place, remain four points behind Hibernian, who have a game in hand, while Neil Lennon’s Celtic and Rangers have both played 29 of their 38 league games.
And the Dons boss accepts the club need to “take responsibility” for their unwanted record adding: “It’s only us that can change it.”
Reaction & as it happenedKamberi should have made more of a tame effort that Scott Bain collected moments before the Turnbull opener.
The midfielder was afforded far too much space when receiving Callum McGregor’s pass midway inside Aberdeen’s half and punished the visitors with a fierce low strike past Joe Lewis.
Swiss striker Kamberi claimed unsuccessfully for a penalty after his cross came off Welsh’s hand and Dean Campbell then got in behind Celtic’s defence to cross for Fraser Hornby, who could not connect.
Kamberi was inches away from levelling when he collected a loose ball and fired powerfully against the left upright.
Odsonne Edouard tested Lewis as Celtic looked to make the scoreline more comfortable and Turnbull’s next shot was deflected wide.
McGregor and Turnbull combined again early in the second period but the latter’s shot was hacked clear.
Hornby got decent purchase on a shot on the edge of Celtic’s box but Bain was untroubled.
Ryan Christie’s lob dropped over the Aberdeen bar amid a raft of changes from both sides and substitute Patryk Klimala was denied by Lewis.
And, in stoppage time, Aberdeen poured players forward and Tommie Hoban’s volley was blocked by Welsh.
Man of the match – David TurnbullTurnbull was a driving force, always trying to make things happen for Celtic and getting the vital openerWhat did we learn?Celtic were less dominant than they had been in recent games and rarely threatened to move up through the gears.
Edouard’s return to form has been the catalyst for their recent resurgence but Turnbull has impressed consistently since becoming a regular in the starting line-up.
Aberdeen’s performance was a vast improvement on Saturday’s stalemate with St Mirren and their continued lack of goals is not for the want of trying.
However, if they are to persist with 3-5-2, they will need to get their wide men much further forward to create more chances.
What did they say?Celtic ‘stood strong’ in narrow win – KennedyCeltic assistant manager John Kennedy: “Second half we had to grind out, first half we were really comfortable. A really well worked goal.
“When it’s 1-0, teams are always going to throw everything at it. We stood really strong. We defend the box really well.”
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes: “A fantastic strike from Turnbull and Joe’s maybe had one other save.
“I still felt we had the best couple of chances in the game with Kamberi hitting the post and running through on goal.”
Aberdeen must ‘take responsibility’ for goal droughtWhat’s next?Celtic are away to Scottish Premiership bottom side Ross County on Sunday (19:30 GMT). Aberdeen are at home to Kilmarnock on Saturday (15:00).
Player of the match
KamberiFlorian Kamberi
with an average of 6.34
CelticSquad number57Player nameWelsh
Squad number14Player nameTurnbull
Squad number35Player nameAjer
Squad number17Player nameChristie
Squad number16Player nameKenny
Squad number29Player nameBain
Squad number42Player nameMcGregor
Squad number3Player nameTaylor
Squad number22Player nameEdouard
Squad number12Player nameSoro
Squad number18Player nameRogic
Squad number11Player nameKlimala
Squad number8Player nameBrown
Squad number10Player nameAjeti
Squad number27Player nameElyounoussi
AberdeenSquad number22Player nameKamberi
Squad number40Player nameMcCrorie
Squad number19Player nameFerguson
Squad number4Player nameConsidine
Squad number3Player nameHoban
Squad number1Player nameLewis
Squad number24Player nameCampbell
Squad number14Player nameTaylor
Squad number7Player nameHornby
Squad number33Player nameKennedy
Squad number17Player nameHayes
Squad number18Player nameMcLennan
Squad number9Player nameHendry
Squad number10Player nameMcGinn
Squad number15Player nameMcGeouch
Line-upsCelticFormation 4-1-3-2
29Bain
16Kenny57Welsh35Ajer3Taylor
12Soro
17Christie14Turnbull42McGregor
22Edouard10Ajeti
29Bain16Kenny57Welsh35Ajer3Taylor12SoroSubstituted forBrownat 72’minutes17Christie14TurnbullSubstituted forElyounoussiat 81’minutes42McGregor22EdouardSubstituted forKlimalaat 81’minutes10AjetiSubstituted forRogicat 62’minutesSubstitutes1Barkas4Duffy8Brown9Griffiths11Klimala18Rogic27Elyounoussi56Ralston93LaxaltAberdeenFormation 3-5-2
1Lewis
3Hoban14Taylor4Considine
33Kennedy40McCrorie19Ferguson24Campbell17Hayes
7Hornby22Kamberi
1Lewis3Hoban14Taylor4Considine33KennedySubstituted forMcGinnat 77’minutes40McCrorie19FergusonBooked at 88mins24CampbellSubstituted forMcGeouchat 82’minutes17HayesSubstituted forMcLennanat 62’minutes7HornbySubstituted forHendryat 77’minutesBooked at 83mins22KamberiSubstitutes2Logan9Hendry10McGinn15McGeouch18McLennan23Ross26Virtanen29MacKenzie43WoodsLive TextMatch ends, Celtic 1, Aberdeen 0.
Second Half ends, Celtic 1, Aberdeen 0.
Scott Bain (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Lewis Ferguson (Aberdeen).
Foul by Patryk Klimala (Celtic).
Connor McLennan (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Kristoffer Ajer.
Attempt missed. Andrew Considine (Aberdeen) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Niall McGinn with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Greg Taylor.
Attempt blocked. Callum Hendry (Aberdeen) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Andrew Considine with a headed pass.
Attempt missed. Lewis Ferguson (Aberdeen) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ash Taylor with a cross.
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Kristoffer Ajer.
Attempt saved. Patryk Klimala (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ryan Christie with a through ball.
Lewis Ferguson (Aberdeen) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Callum McGregor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Lewis Ferguson (Aberdeen).
Offside, Aberdeen. Ross McCrorie tries a through ball, but Niall McGinn is caught offside.
Patryk Klimala (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Lewis Ferguson (Aberdeen).
Foul by Patryk Klimala (Celtic).