WHAT happens when a readily movable object comes up against a freely stoppable force?

The Stephen Glass and Ange Postecoglou projects have hit so many hitches in their early days that they are starting to make HS2 look a relatively straightforward enterprise. A loss for either here, and they were heading into Millennium Dome territory.

In the end, it was Postecoglou’s men who would give their supporters a typically tough time of it before digging out a massive three points. Celtic are currently producing a curious mix of not very much for long spells, interspersed with flashes of free-flowing attacking football and a consistent inability to defend their box properly, particularly from cross balls. Postecoglou had called upon his men to concentrate for 90 minutes prior to the match in their area, but perhaps their attention wandered as he made the point.

It was enough here though for them to arrest a run of concerning form, giving them their first domestic away win since Postecoglou’s arrival - since February in fact - and he will hope it will alter the mood music around his team.

Kyogo Furuhashi had got his eighth goal in 10 appearances to give the hosts a lead they merited in a dominant first half display, but Lewis Ferguson got his fifth goal against Celtic to deservedly drag the hosts level after the break.

It looked as though the game was drifting away from the visitors once again, but Joao Jota came up with the decisive moment six minutes from time to send the travelling supporters wild. The relief was palpable in the away stand, on the pitch, and in the dugout.

As for Aberdeen, there was enough about most of their second half showing to suggest there may be something in what Glass is trying to produce, but equally, there was enough either side of that spell to cause concern. They were awful in the opening 45 minutes, and their defending is perhaps even more questionable than Celtic’s at times.

Given the disappointing results in the previous matches of both teams, there was some predictable tinkering from both managers for a game that had added significance in the context of their respective shaky form.

What was a little surprising is that Gary Woods replaced Joe Lewis in goal for the home side, though given Lewis’s patchy displays so far this term, you could see Glass’s reasoning. Matty Longstaff and the impressive Austin Samuels replaced the suspended Teddy Jenks and Ryan Hedges.

There was just one change in terms of personnel for Celtic from the chastening result against Bayer Leverkusen, Nir Bitton coming in for Tom Rogic to prompt a slight reshuffle in midfield. The move allowed David Turnbull – the subject of some criticism of late – to operate more off the right, and that would prove a fruitful call.

Celtic were on the front foot immediately, dominating the ball and creating chances. A wonderful deep corner delivery from Turnbull found Bitton outmuscling Brown at the back post, and he simply had to score. Somehow, he didn’t, planting his free header wide from four yards out.

Turnbull was undeterred. His quick throw-in to Liel Abada was returned to him on the right, and he whipped in a pacy, tantalising cross that David Bates dared not touch for fear of putting into his own net. Furuhashi was happier to oblige, and gleefully chested home at the back stick.

Aberdeen looked a mile off it. Christian Ramirez claimed in vain for a penalty when trying to latch onto a Jonny Hayes cross, but Celtic remained the more likely, with Jota drifting in off the left and cracking a long-range strike off the crossbar.

Still, this Celtic defence will always give you a chance, and a deep Ramsay corner just before the break found Ramirez lurking round the back, the striker’s mis-hit volley causing a real problem for Joe Hart. The keeper’s unorthodox fist on the ball looped it into the air and over via the top of the bar.

The resultant corner also caused all sorts of bother for the visitors, but after a frantic 30 seconds or so of the ball ping-ponging around their area, Celtic were let off the hook as Lewis Ferguson screwed a tame effort well wide.

After the break though, he had more joy, dragging Aberdeen level in rather peculiar fashion.

A drilled corner from Calvin Ramsay to the near post saw Ferguson and Bitton wrestle it out to make first contact on the ball. It squirmed up into the air off Ferguson’s shoulder for what seemed an age, before somehow dropping over Adam Montgomery and a static Hart on the line to give the hosts a cheap but most welcome leveller.

It almost got worse for the visitors from the same source, as another driven corner from Ramsay found Scott Brown of all people free in the area, but his header was straight at Hart and Celtic survived. Fool me once, and all that.

Rogic and Albian Ajeti were thrown on by Celtic for Bitton and Abada, while Brown came off for Dylan McGeough to warm applause from all parts of the stadium.

It was Rogic who would make the telling contribution. The Australian took a pass in from Turnbull on the edge of the box and spun his man with ease before releasing Montgomery in behind.

The youngster showed admirable composure to get his head up and square for the arriving Jota to tap home into the empty net.

In that moment, might the Postecoglou project have got back on track? Time will tell. But boy, did Celtic need this.