Aberdeen paid the penalty for a rare defensive lapse to enable Celtic's march
towards the Premier Division title to gather pace at Pittodrie.
Craig Burley's 45th minute spot-kick was enough to earn Celtic their ninth
away win of the season and leave them top ahead of Hearts and Rangers.
David Rowson's rash challenge on Stephane Mahe created the award to set up the
first goal conceded by the Pittodrie outfit since Celtic's last visit, the 2-0
win on December 9.
Dons manager Alex Miller has done much since then to instill a backbone in his
side and they were brittle only once - but that proved enough.
Celtic head coach Wim Jansen will be concerned however at a fraught second
half which saw keeper Jonathan Gould at his best to deny Aberdeen the equaliser
their efforts perhaps deserved.
Italian defender Enrico Annoni stepped in for groin injury victim Alan Stubbs
while fit-again Jackie McNamara replaced Simon Donnelly for Celtic.
Aberdeen were without the suspended Ilian Kiriakov, but were otherwise at full
strength as they aimed to prevent Celtic completing a clean sweep of victories
over them this term.
Eoin Jess, recalled to the Scotland squad for this week's friendly with
Denmark, set up former Celtic midfielder Brian O'Neil for a clever backheel well
held by Gould.
Celtic responded quickly but not decisively, Burley releasing Harald Brattbakk
on the left yet the Norwegian dragged his low shot the wrong side of the post.
After 15 minutes, Gould was again called into action after Jess touched a
free-kick to Glass whose drilled shot required a diving stop from the Celtic
keeper.
Paul Lambert clashed with Billy Dodds on the halfway line appearing to push
the forward in the face after a late challenge, but no action was taken.
It was proving an opening half of few chances, but that was in part due to
fine defending, Marc Rieper denying Glass in front of goal.
Joe Miller then spurned a half-chance for Aberdeen sending the ball over after
a shot on the turn from just eight yards after a Jess corner broke kindly.
The half seemed destined to finish goalless, but then Aberdeen managed to
create a Celtic goal entirely of their own making after a sequence of mistakes.
Firstly, Russell Anderson upended Morten Wieghorst on the edge of the area to
concede a free-kick which Henrik Larsson opted to square to Lambert.
The Scotland international's cross into the box was overhit but John Inglis'
header clear was weak, falling to Mahe who was upended by Rowson as he aimed for
the byline.
It was a clear penalty and Burley made no mistake with the 45th minute
conversion, Jim Leighton effectively diving out the way of the ball to ensure
Celtic were a goal ahead at the break.
There remained an ill-tempered feel to the match with McNamara booked for
clashing with Jess, then Gould and Dodds were yellow-carded after the forward
went in late on the keeper who reacted angrily.
Aberdeen were proving a more potent force now with Glass' acrobatic 20-yard
shot prompting an agile stop from Gould and McNamara clearing a Derek Whyte
header off the line.
After 62 minutes, Gould produced another excellent save this time denying
Whyte after he had met a Miller free kick with a fierce header.
Celtic attacks were increasingly rare, but they almost secured a decisive
second after 72 minutes, Leighton turning over a header from substitute Darren
Jackson.
The Dons had not given up the fight, the impressive Glass, Newcastle-bound
this summer, testing Gould with a powerful drive in the closing stages.
Teams:
Aberdeen: Leighton, Anderson, Whyte, O'Neil, Inglis, Smith,
Miller (Gillies 73), Jess, Rowson, Dodds (Windass 81), Glass.
Subs Not Used: Buchan.
Booked: O'Neil, Smith, Dodds.
Celtic: Gould, Boyd, Mahe, McNamara (Donnelly 76), Rieper,
Annoni, Larsson, Burley, Brattbakk (Jackson 67),
Lambert (Hannah 88), Wieghorst.
Booked: Gould, Mahe, McNamara.
Goals: Burley 45 pen.
Att: 18,009
Ref: J Underhill (Edinburgh).
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