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Celtic defeat ‘tough learning curve’ – Aberdeen’s Graham Shinnie

Celtic defeat ‘tough learning curve’ – Aberdeen’s Graham Shinnie

Graham Shinnie says Celtic’s 6-0 League Cup semi-final demolition was a “tough learning curve” for the Aberdeen side but he is confident they can put the crushing disappointment behind them.

The Dons went into the game unbeaten in 16 games, including a 2-2 draw at Celtic Park under manager Jimmy Thelin, but it was Brendan Rodgers’ domestically unbeaten side that reached the final against Motherwell or Rangers.

“It’s going to hurt for the next couple of days,” admitted midfielder Shinnie. “Loses like this happen, but I think we need to analyze it, then get over it and look forward to next week to turn things around and get back to winning ways.”

“We’ve had a good start to the league and we have a game against Dundee next week at home to a full house so we need to pay that back with a good performance.”

When asked what the difference was between a league draw and a cup capitulation, Shinnie had a simple explanation.

“This is what will happen if we are not at the top of our game,” he told BBC Scotland. Celtic are a good team if you let them play to their strengths.

“When they’re at the top of their game, we need to match that with the top of our game and we weren’t there, so when we’re not playing well and they’re playing so well, it’s kind of a recipe for disaster, so it’s going to take a lot for the team study”.

Aberdeen beat Rangers 2-1 in a tense midweek Premier League match at Pittodrie to move nine points clear of the visitors with Celtic, but Shinnie was not a fan of using that as an excuse.

“We prepared well for the game, we recovered well from Wednesday, we prepared as usual,” he added.

“We didn’t make much of an impression, we had a few chances in the second half but we didn’t do enough on the day to hurt them further and the goals we conceded were very sloppy, so the mixture of it all is a bad day.” .