At half-time, the billing of this fixture as a top of the table extravaganza felt like a breach of the Trades Descriptions Act. What happened next owed plenty to Celtic defensive deficiency and Aberdeen’s refusal to wilt. At four minutes past five, with 101 minutes on the clock, time was called on an extraordinary encounter. The sharing of four goals was fair; if Celtic are as generous in Champions League action against Atalanta on Wednesday, the outcome will be a grisly one for Brendan Rodgers. Jimmy Thelin’s Aberdeen still tie Celtic at the summit of Scotland’s top flight.

Celtic had been so comfortable at the break that it was impossible to see this coming. Aberdeen lacked belief and anything approaching fluency. The visitors’ jitters were clear with 12 minutes played, when the goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov conceded possession directly to Arne Engels. Celtic’s record signing hit the crossbar with an angled effort.