'Masterful': Celtic duo mimic roles of Kenny Dalglish and Jim Beglin - but in more challenging conditions

In the “Picture This” regular feature, a striking image of Dalglish in action against local hero Willie Miller, from a game between Aberdeen and Celtic at Pittodrie in February 1976, had been selected. “It’s not very often that two of the top ten most capped players in Scottish football come up against each other,” states the caption.

It was a judicious choice by the Aberdeen programme editor – Celtic won that game 1-0 too, with the winning goal scored at the same stage of the game. Bobby Lennox nodded in after 79 minutes, after Aberdeen goalkeeper Bobby Clark failed to collect a cross-cum-shot from Dalglish.

Reo Hatate, meanwhile, struck his winner after 78 minutes on Wednesday and it proved equally decisive. It might be remembered as the goal that set Celtic on the way to another title. If so, it was undoubtedly worthy of the billing and put this writer in mind of a goal scored by Dalglish just under 40 years ago. It was one that actually did secure a title – for Liverpool in 1986 in the Scot's first season as player-manager at Anfield.

The visitors needed to win to make sure of lifting the First Division championship, with Everton still in the hunt on the last weekend. With Gary Lineker added to the mix, the Goodison side seemed on course to win their second successive title until a remarkable late run by their city rivals. Liverpool also lifted the FA Cup the following weekend against....Everton. It was a Roy of the Rovers story made real when Dalglish clinched the first part of this historic double with a volley that he steered into the net after cleverly controlling a lofted ball with his chest.

It’s still remembered as one of Liverpool’s best-ever goals and no one is about to disagree with that. But good though it was, it was scored in May, in comparatively becalmed conditions. The main challenge presented was the bone-dry pitch. Dalglish cleverly navigated this by ensuring the ball did not touch the ground. Indeed, three players were involved in the move and not once was the ball allowed to bounce on this early summer's afternoon in south London.

Not bad. But try doing this on a December’s night in Aberdeen. In winds that were gusting up to 50mph. With lashing rain stinging the face.

Dalglish could probably have managed it but that’s only commending Hatate’s effort further – it was the type of goal you could imagine the Scotland legend scoring, whatever the weather.

The way the Japanese midfielder controlled the ball with his chest before having the poise and presence of mind to direct the ball into the far corner was redolent of Dalglish in his pomp. Okay, it was a half-volley rather than a full volley, and the ball seemed to hit off Hatate's shin rather than foot. It was still a masterful finish from someone who, unlike Dalglish, is not renowned for scoring goals. Nevertheless, Hatate has now weighed in with five this season, including one in October against the same opponents.

The assist deserves to be saluted as well. Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers was sure to do so afterwards. It was understandable if the Celtic manager was feeling pleased with himself. He chose to bring on Greg Taylor for Alex Valle at left back after half-time and watched as the left back popped up in an area of the pitch where a conventional left-back might not be expected to be. The soon to be out-of-contract substitute hoisted a delicious ball over the Aberdeen defence for Hatate.

While some of the post-match discussion featured modern sounding football phrases such as “inverted full-back play”, it’s interesting to note that Dalglish’s strike against Chelsea over 38 years ago was set up by Jim Beglin, who flicked a cute ball over the defence from a not dissimilar area of the pitch. That’s right, he was a left-back.