CRASH 'N BARRY; CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP E CELTIC 0 AALBORG 0 Robson penalty blunder lets Danes off the hook.

Byline: By MICHAEL BAILLIE

CELTIC got it wrong and so did the referee.

There was double blunder at Parkhead as Barry Robson missed a penalty and Italian referee Matteo Trefoloni sent off the wrong man in a 0-0 draw.

Celtic have never won their opening group game in the Champions League and they maintained that unfortunate statistic after being held by on a frustrating evening.

It means they now need to pick up points on the road, something they have only managed once in 15 group games, if they are to progress to the last 16.

Robson was given the ideal opportunity to clinch the three points when Shain Maloney won a penalty after 30 minutes but he blasted his effort straight down the middle and it was blocked by Karim Zaza's legs. Celtic could find a way through Aaborg who had to play the final 12 minutes with ten men after the referee dismissed Michael Beauchamp. However Trefoloni got it wrong as it was Michael Jakobsen who hauled down Georgios Samaras when he burst through. But even with a advantage, Celtic could make the breakthrough.

Just 30 seconds into the second half Celtic created a good opportunity as Nakamura and Hinkel combined down the left and the German's low cross deflected into the path of Scott Brown but the midfielder lifted his shot over the bar.

Samaras was next to try his luck as he spun inside the penalty area but he curled a low shot just the wrong side of the post.

Celtic hadn't clicked, they were lacking ideas or invention as their play became increasingly predictable as they tried to break through Aalborg's defence.

In order to ignite the spark which had been missing from Celtic's play, Strachan turned to McGeady and the winger replaced McDonald after 62 minutes.

Robson won a free-kick in prime Nakamura range after being brought down by Andreas Johansson. The Japanese dead-ball expert normally excels in these situations but his effort was a comfortable save for Zaza.

With a goal now desperately needed, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink came on for Maloney after 72 minutes.

Gordon Strachan made two changes to the Celtic side which emphatically beat Motherwell at Fir Park, with Shunsuke Nakamura and Andreas Hinkel coming in for Marc Crosas and Mark Wilson. While those changes would not have raised many eyebrows, the fact Player of the Year Aiden McGeady once again started on the bench certainly did.

It must have been a tough call for Strachan but given the performance of Shaun Maloney at Fir Park and the way he linked with Georgios Samaras and Scott McDonald he was given the nod over McGeady. This was Aalborg's first game in the Champions League in 13 years and the Celtic support certainly increased the noise level as the surprise winners of the Danish Super League entered the arena.

Strachan has won six out of six matches at home in the group stages of the Champions League and there was a determination to prolong this run and make the perfect start to their ambitions of reaching the last 16 for the third year in succession.

But Aalborg, managed by former Scotland captain Bruce Rioch, were certainly not overawed by the occasion. Michael Jakobsen thundered a 30-yard free-kick inches wide of Artur Boruc's goal after 14 minutes. Then Jeppe Curth stole in behind the Celtic defence to get on the end of Thomas Augustinussen's lofted through-ball but with just Boruc to beat his shot lacked conviction as he prodded it wide.

Celtic had struggled to find their rhythm but on the half hour mark they were presented with a golden opportunity to take the lead as Maloney won a penalty.

Maloney latched onto a flick from Samaras and as he spun to get beyond Steve Olfers, the Aalborg defender caught his standing leg as he dived in and referee Matteo Trefoloni pointed to the spot.

Barry Robson was given the responsibility from 12 yards but he drilled his effort against Aalborg goalkeeper Karim Zaza's legs.

It was a disappointing effort but moment's later Celtic almost made the crucial break-through as inside a congested penalty area, Samaras pounced on a Stephen McManus knock-down at the far post but blazed over from four yards.

Celtic had the ball in the net after 77 minutes following a determined run by Brown, who played a one-two with Nakamura, and slotted past Zara but Nakamura had strayed just offside to collect the pass.

A minutes later, Samaras burst through and was hauled down on the edge of the penalty area by Jakobsen. It was a free-kick and a red card but Italian official Trefoloni got the wrong man and sent off Michael Beauchamp.

The Aalborg players protested but it was in vain and Beauchamp had to go. From the set-piece Nakamura forced a wonderful save.

Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, S. Brown, Robson, Maloney, Samaras. Subs: M. Brown, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Hartley, Wilson, Crosas, Loovens, McGeady.

Aalborg: Zara, Beauchamp, Olfers, Jakobsen, Pedersen, Augustinussen, Curth, Johansson, Risgard, Enevoldsen, Saganowski. Subs: Stenild, Due, Caca, Braemer, Kristensen, Neilsen, Schwartz.

CAPTION(S):

SPOT OF BOTHER Robson misses while (below) Nakamura can't find a way through