Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin has doubled down on his side's tactics against Celtic.

The Dons boss was roundly criticised by both pundits and his own supporters for how his team played against the Hoops.

A late goal from Callum McGregor was enough for the Scottish champions to come away from Pittodrie with all three points.

The Irishman's team offered very little going forward during the game and opted to set up defensively.

Despite his critics, Goodwin has defended his tactics and explained why his team chose to play that way.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "We were playing against very good opposition in Celtic who have been the best team in the country up to now.

"They have only lost one game in the league. We tried to come up with a game plan that would frustrate them and we denied them a lot of space in behind that the likes of Kyogo and Maeda want.

"I thought we defended really well during the game. Unfortunately, we could not do a lot with the ball when we were in possession. We turned over possession cheaply and in the second half we did not offer much going forward.

"It is not a style of play we have been used to this year. We have been the top scorers at home in the league up to now and our fans at home have been entertained in the main. On Saturday, it just did not work."

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One of the many pundits who criticised Aberdeen's tactics was ex-Celt Kris Commons.

He has claimed that the Dons risk the fury of their supporters once again if they opt to play the same way against Rangers on Tuesday.

He wrote in the Daily Mail: “Given the intense rivalry that exists between Aberdeen and Rangers, there's no way supporters will accept such a negative approach from the Dons. There would be uproar in the stands at Pittodrie if Goodwin's side just sit back and let Rangers have the run of the place for 90 minutes.

“That's pretty much what happened against Celtic at the weekend. It might have taken 87 minutes for Callum McGregor to finally break the deadlock, but Aberdeen were beaten before a ball was kicked.

“Fans turned up and paid good money - only to be served with 90 minutes of absolute dross from their team. It now puts Goodwin firmly under the microscope heading into the clash with bitter rivals Rangers at Pittodrie.

"This can often be a powderkeg fixture when these two rivals collide. The fans at Pittodrie will want their team to play on the front foot and put pressure on Rangers.

“Listen, I know what it means to go into a game as underdogs. One of my best nights on a football pitch came when we were written off and had our backs to the wall.

“But against Barcelona in the Champions League in 2012, I was part of a Celtic side who always carried a threat on the counterattack and from set-pieces. Aberdeen didn't do any of that on Saturday.

"It was a pathetic performance from Goodwin's side and, ultimately, he has to carry the can for that.

“We were playing against Messi, Xavi and Iniesta in their absolute pomp in 2012. Aberdeen were playing against a Celtic side who had just come off a month's break and could have been a bit rusty.

“But the Dons just never had a go at all. They sat back for 90 minutes, barely strung two passes together, and failed to register a single shot on target.

"Regardless of whether you're playing the champions or not, that's just unacceptable for any Aberdeen team - and the fans let Goodwin know about it.

“This is where he's still very much learning on the job as a young manager. He might have got away with that sort of approach at St Mirren, playing it cagey and trying to nick a point.

“But Aberdeen fans demand more. This is supposed to be the third-biggest club in the country. That shows a little bit of naivety on Goodwin's part that he thinks the fans will settle for watching that type of football."