Celtic 1 Aberdeen 0 (Thompson 45)
It may not have been the prettiest game to watch today but three points were more than welcome at the end of the day as Celtic soared 16 points clear in the championship race.
Aberdeen's defensive tactics ensured that the game would never be much of a spectacle and in the end all that sperated the teams was a first half injury time Alan Thompson penalty.
The early skirmishes in this game belonged to Celtic with Lubo Moravcik twice spurning good opportunities in the opening minutes. Both of the little midfielder's efforts went wide of the post when it looked odds on he would score.
Celtic's Swedish defender came close to breaking ther deadlock on ten minutes but his header just cleared the bar after a great move started by the Swede in his own penalty area.
Stillian Petrov looked to have opened the scoring in the 17th minute after he worked a good one - two with Lubo Moravcik, but just as the Celtic fans started celebrating the ref blew for offside against the Bulgarian.
It was half an hour before Aberdeen had an effort on goal but the pathetic affort by Winters was easy meat for Douglas in the Celtic goal. Soon after Paul Lambert came close with a beautiful chip that just sailed wide of the Aberdeen goal with the keeper beaten.
Just when it looked like we were heading for a goaless first half Celtic were awarded a penalty after Dadi impeded Stephen Crainey in the penalty box. Up stepped Allan Thompson to slot the ball home and give Celtic a surorise but probably deserved lead.
HALF TIME Celtic 1 Aberdeen 0
The second hals was barely minutes old when Thompson ahd a glorious chance to make it 2-0 Celtic. Unfortunately the Geordie midfielder contrived to side foot Didier Agathe's brilliant cross over the bar.
Celtic came close again shortly after when Mjallby almost got on the end of a Thompson corner but Kjaer did well to knock the ball away from the inrushing swede.
Jamie Smith was next up to spurn a chance to make it 2-0, his first time volley struck the outside of the post and Aberdeen remained very much in the game.
Aberdeen were crating absolutelt nothing up front and a Thopmson free kick almost doubled Celtic's lead. Shortly after Maloney almost got on the end of a smith pass but the ball just evaded the little striker.
The game was drawing towards it's inevitable conclusion but with only 12 minutes left Thompson and Zeroualli got involved in handbags at fifty paces tussle and both players were red carded by the ref.
athe's brilliant cross over the bar.
Celtic came close again shortly after when Mjallby almost got on the end of a Thompson corner but Kjaer did well to knock the ball away from the inrushing swede.
Jamie Smith was next up to spurn a chance to make it 2-0, his first time volley struck the outside of the post and Aberdeen remained very much in the game.
Aberdeen were crating absolutelt nothing up front and a Thopmson free kick almost doubled Celtic's lead. Shortly after Maloney almost got on the end of a smith pass but the ball just evaded the little striker.
The game was drawing towards it's inevitable conclusion but with only 12 minutes left Thompson and Zeroualli got involved in handbags at fifty paces tussle and both players were red carded by the ref. This incident lifted the tempo of the game again but Celtic remained in control and ran out deserved winners.
Celtic: Douglas, Boyd, Mjallby, Crainey, Agathe, Lambert (McNamara 82), Lennon, Petrov, Thompson, Moravcik (Smith 58), Maloney.
Subs not used: Gould, Sylla, Guppy.
Sent off: Thompson (79).
Booked: Lambert.
Aberdeen: Kjaer, McNaughton, McGuire, Whyte, McAllister, Anderson, Darren Young, Winters, Bisconti, Mackie, Dadi (Zerouali 58).
Subs not used: Preece, Clark, Tiernan, O'Donoghue.
Sent Off: Zerouali (79).
Booked: Darren Young, Bisconti.
Att: 59,564
Referee: John Underhill