Celtic turned on the style to complete their ‘World Series’ against Dundee United with a resounding 3-0 win over Jackie McNamara’s side.
News of Aberdeen dropping two points at Dundee gave the hoops another boost with Gary Mackay-Steven, John Guidetti and Jason Denayer scoring in the first half.
After two days of controversy following the Scottish Cup replay fireworks were anticipated but the game was largely a tame affair with the visitors from Tayside unable to raise their game despite the pre-match promises.
With the toil and effort of the cup ties in mind Ronny Deila made four changes in the forward places with Mackay-Steven, Stefan Johansen, Stuart Armstrong and Guidetti starting the match.
It took Celtic just 15 minutes to open the scoring with Mackay-Steven coming in from the right wing to arrow a low shot across Rado Cierzniak from 20 yards out.
Just past the half hour mark Guidetti doubled the bhoys lead when he smacked in a spectacular shot from the edge of the box that Cierzniak barely got a look at.
In first half stoppage time Paul Paton picked up the first yellow card of the day for a nasty foul on Mackay-Steven at the corner of the box. From the free-kick Virgil van Dijk pulled back to send in a low shot that Denayer controlled then back-healed into the net.
After the energy and excitement of the first half Celtic eased up after the break with Stefan Scepovic and Kris Commons replacing goalscorers Mackay-Steven and Guidetti with 20 minutes left to play.
There was no further scoring but as the fans huddled in the sunshine while singing about ten-in-a-row no one was complaining with Deila’s side five points clear of Aberdeen with a game in hand with ten matches left to play.