‘Very good’: Derek McInnes praises one Celtic player after 3-3 Aberdeen draw

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Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has paid tribute to Callum McGregor’s stunning solo goal after Sunday’s 3-3 draw with the Scottish Premiership champions at Pittodrie, speaking to the Daily Record.

If any Hoops performance summed up the Neil Lennon era, it was this.

Celtic were once again reliant on individual moments of quality in the den of the Dons, failing to create even a semblance of a chance from open play until McGregor weaved through the home defence with 52 minutes on the clock.

Latching on to Tom Rogic’s sharp pass, Celtic’s captain for the day cut inside and curled a precise shot into Joe Lewis’s net.

Talk about papering over the cracks.

“I think (Callum) McGregor’s goal was a very good goal. It’s the slickness of the play. He goes beyond and gives us that decision to make,” McInnes said of the Scotland international, who now has three goals and two assists this season.

“We know if you give players that Celtic have a bit of time and quality in and around the box they can punish you.”

A Leigh Griffiths stunner and a Ryan Christie penalty looked to have secured three valuable points from a below-par Celtic before McGregor went from hero to villain in stoppage time.

The Hoops’ number 42 clipped the instrumental Scott Wright inside the penalty area, allowing Lewis Ferguson to fire home his second spot kick of a thrilling game in the 92nd minute as Celtic’s disastrous week ended with a disappointing draw.

Rangers can move nine points clear at the top next weekend.