A wonder-goal from Scott Brown gave Celtic a narrow win over Aberdeen to take the champions 14 points clear of Derek McInnes side.
Brown was sent off in Celtic’s last visit to Pittodrie but played a real captain’s role as the hoops enjoyed their fourth win of the season over Aberdeen.
A perfectly timed tackle on Barry Robson twenty yards from the Celtic goal quickly turned into a raid on the home goal with Brown sliding the ball into the net from Stuart Armstrong’s pass.
There was a lively start to the match with both side’s sharp into the tackles dispelling any idea that it would be a low key end of season match.
Aberdeen were first to threaten the goal with Craig Gordon grateful to see a tenth minute 25 yarder from Robson fly inches wide of his right hand post.
A couple of minutes later Darnell Fisher was at full stretch to head away a dangerous looking cross that seemed certain to fall to Niall McGinn.
Mark Reynolds then shot wide from eight yards out before Robson fired in a low free kick that Gordon positioned himself perfectly to collect.
Virgil van Dijk and Jason Denayer stood strong in the centre of the Celtic defence as the hoops started to find their passes and apply some pressure on the home defenders.
Emilio Izaguirre sent through a couple of good balls as the first half ended but the closest that the hoops came to scoring was when Stefan Johansen raced clear in goal but his attempted chip was pushed for a corner by Scott Brown.
Three minutes into the second half Celtic went in front with a goal that said everything about Brown. The hoops skipper flew full on into a challenge with Robson, picked himself up and raced to the half way line to pass to Griffiths who turned the ball left to Stuart Armstrong. Brown continued his run into the box to bundle Armstrong’s pass into the net before finding the energy to race away and celebrate a goal every bit as satisfying as last week’s strike against Dundee.
After that Aberdeen pushed for an equaliser but there was little finesse about their play with Celtic’s central defence providing Gordon with great cover.
On the break Celtic were always a threat with Dons keeper Brown pulling off a great double save in the 67th minute from Griffiths and Johansen.
Jonny Hayes, Robson and Ash Taylor found their way into Craig Thomson’s book as the home side stepped up their efforts to find an equaliser.
Brown produced another double save deep into stoppage time as Johansen and then substitute James Forrest fired in shots at goal.
CELTIC: Gordon; Fisher (Matthews 55), Denayer, van Dijk, Izaguirre; Brown, Bitton, Commons (Forrest 82), Johansen, Armstrong (Ambrose 82); Griffiths
SUBS: Zaluska, Scepovic, Mackay-Steven, Rogic.
