Craig Bellamy heaped pressure on the Celtic board with a breathtaking winner as the Bank of Scotland Premier League champions pulled themselves back from the dead to shatter Aberdeen and increase their lead over Rangers to five points.

The visitors had looked on course to claim their third consecutive success on the Hoops' doorstep and give the Ibrox men back the initiative in the title race after racing to a shock two-goal lead through Zander Diamond and Darren Mackie goals after 14 minutes.

But Stanislav Varga and John Hartson hauled them back on level terms either side of the break before Bellamy blasted a goal-of-the-season contender, intensifying the Celtic fans' claims to make his move loan move from Newcastle permanent.

If Celtic retain the title they will look back on this afternoon as the one which clinched it as they entered the final five games and Old Firm showdown on top of the table with Rangers facing a tricky test on the East End Park plastic on Sunday.

Just like the Hearts defeat here a fortnight ago, Aberdeen stunned the SPL leaders by snatching the lead against the run of play in the 11th minute.

Kevin McNaughton played the ball out to Scott Severin and his cross found Zander Diamond, who still had plenty to do.

But the young defender swivelled like a prized striker just inside the box, and powered a right-foot volley through a crowded penalty box and past the despairing hand of David Marshall and into the bottom corner of the net.

In a carbon copy of the last home match here, Aberdeen ruthlessly took full advantage of some terrible defending by Celtic to extend their shock advantage three minutes later.

Heikkinen did brilliantly to play Muirhead away down the left flank and he looked up to pick out Darren Mackie in the centre with an even better ball and the striker left Stanislav Varga for dead to plant his right-foot shot past Marshall from close range.

The home side stepped up the pressure in the 26th minute when Jackie McNamara almost dragged them back into the match with a speculative right-foot shot from 28 yards which Esson had to scurry back quickly to tip over the crossbar.

Celtic went even closer when Bobo Balde headed Thompson's cross towards the top corner but Lubomir Blaha jumped at the far post to clear off the line to save Aberdeen.

But the shell-shocked home fans were celebrating in the 27th minute as Varga stooped to head McGeady's cross into the top corner from six yards to raise the temperature.

O'Neill made a change in the 31st minute by bringing on Didier Agathe in place of Joos Valgaeren for his first appearance through injury since November 28.

Celtic made a whirlwind start to the second half and Bellamy should have equalised in the 51st minute when McGeady played him clean through, after a strong run from Varga through the middle, but Esson came racing off his line to save his weak effort with his foot.

But Aberdeen failed to clear with Agathe pouncing on a loose ball and picked out Hartson to blast a right-foot shot past the keeper from eight yards for his 28th of the campaign.

Aberdeen still caused the home defence plenty of concern at the other end as McNaughton curled a left-foot shot over the top from the edge of the area.

O'Neill threw on another of his big guns in the 57th minute with the introduction of Chris Sutton, who had not fully recovered from a foot injury sustained in the midweek win at Livingston, for Aiden McGeady, who had took his place in the side.

But the inspirational Englishman had barely arrived in the box when Bellamy produced a moment of genius to send the champions hurtling into the lead in stunning fashion.

Thompson's corner flew all the way to the opposite side of the box and the Newcastle man drove an unstoppable right-foot volley across Esson and into the top corner of the net.

But Celtic were fuming in the 62nd minute when they were denied a certain penalty after Bellamy had been sent sprawling in the area by Richie Byrne's barge in the back.

O'Neill took off second-half substitute Agathe for Stephane Henchoz late on but having seemingly been robbed of a penalty, it was a nervous finale for the champions.

Bellamy could have settled them down with a second in the dying seconds only to screw his right-foot shot wide.

But he had already done his job as the fans rose to their feet to salute him at the final whistle.

Teams

Celtic Marshall, McNamara, Balde, Varga, Valgaeren (Agathe 31), McGeady (Sutton 56), Petrov, Lennon, Thompson, Hartson, Bellamy, Agathe (Henchoz 85).

Subs Not Used: Douglas, Lambert, Maloney, Beattie.

Goals: Varga 27, Hartson 51, Bellamy 57.

Aberdeen Esson, McNaughton (Winter 88), Diamond, Severin, Muirhead, Hart, Heikkinen, Mackie, Clark, Byrne (McGuire 72), Blaha (Foster 60).

Subs Not Used: Preece, Kristjansson, Dempsey, Considine.

Booked: Byrne, Blaha.

Goals: Diamond 11, Mackie 14.

Att: 59,998

Ref: C Thomson (Scotland).