Celtic's Mark Viduka and Henrik Larsson outlined the potential of their new
double act with two goals each as Aberdeen were crushed at Pittodrie.
Australian Viduka is proving as dramatic a figure on the field as he was off
it earlier this season when famously quitting the club within days of his
initial December arrival.
But he took his personal goals tally to four in two starts after 27 and 47
minutes to set the visitors on their way to what proved an emphatic triumph.
Viduka is belatedly fast rewarding Celtic for keeping faith in his ability
during the stress problems which delayed his debut for the club for around three
months.
Larsson too continues to make an impact alongside him and the talented Swede
struck with headers after 70 and 73 minutes to seal the points.
Inbetween Larsson's brace Aberdeen were reduced to 10 men when Nigel Pepper's
six-minute stay on the field as a substitute ended after a late challenge on
Regi Blinker.
The Dons managed a Robbie Winters consolation but little else, leaving Celtic
10 points behind Premier League leaders Rangers.
Celtic found time for an 89th minute fifth when substitute Mark Burchill
crossed for Craig Burley to net with a fine shot on the turn to complete the
rout.
The visitors made two changes from the side which defeated Morton 3-0 in
Scottish Cup action on Monday with Alan Stubbs (ankle) and Stephane Mahe
(hamstring) missing.
That meant Vidar Riseth returned to a makeshift defence with Jackie McNamara
restored to midfield, while the Dons were without flu victims Andreas Mayer and
Paul Bernard.
Celtic were awarded a second minute free-kick when Derek Whyte was harshly
adjudged to have felled Larsson, the Swede himself curling the ball over the
bar.
Larsson was again a threat for Aberdeen after 10 minutes when Lambert played
the ball into his feet, Celtic's leading scorer turned and fired a snap shot
just too high.
It was to prove a start to the contest which saw the Dons dominate possession
without creating any notable chances and they paid for their lack of a cutting
edge after 27 minutes.
Blinker's retaken corner from the right picked out Viduka whose firm downward
header left keeper Derek Stillie stranded with Andy Dow unable to complete a
clearance on the line.
Aberdeen were stung and felt further anguish moments later as Mike Newell's
low shot appeared to strike Johan Mjallby on the arm, but nothing was awarded.
A minute later, Celtic might have doubled their tally when a McNamara
free-kick was met by Burley who guided the ball on to the head of Larsson only
for Stillie to save with his feet.
Celtic doubled their lead just two minutes after the restart and again it was
the prolific Viduka who netted his second of the game with a simple tap-in.
It was the former Croatia Zagreb frontman whose headed flick set up Blinker on
the left and after the winger's shot crashed against the inside of the post,
Viduka converted the rebound.
After 53 minutes, Aberdeen might have kept the match alive when a Jess free
kick found Robbie Winters at the far post, but the forward saw the ball late and
misdirected his effort wide.
Celtic were by now the dominant force and four minutes later McNamara fed the
enterprising Viduka again, the striker this time cutting inside before firing
over from distance.
The normally reliable Larsson spurned a fine opening on the hour mark when a
delicate Blinker chip reached him unmarked at the far post, but his header was
badly off-target.
Larsson was unfortunate to see a well-struck free kick pushed away one-handed
by Stillie after 69 minutes but was to make amends for his earlier miss from the
resulting corner.
McKinlay picked him out unmarked and the Swede's firm header was drilled into
the bottom corner of the net to make it 3-0 in Celtic's favour and confirm
victory.
Aberdeen's plight worsened after 72 minutes when Pepper, on the field only six
minutes as a substitute, was red-carded for a foul on Blinker.
Down to 10 men, Aberdeen looked in turmoil and Celtic surged to 4-0 after 73
minutes when Burley's cross was nodded past Stillie by Larsson - his 35th goal
of the season.
Aberdeen gained a consolation strike with eleven minutes remaining when
Winters' clever weaving run culminated in an intelligent finish slotting the
ball beyond the reach of Jonathan Gould.
Burley's last-gasp fifth left Aberdeen in ruins with Celtic's only concern
they might have left their stunning recent form too late to change their title
fate.
Teams:
Aberdeen: Stillie, Perry, Whyte, Smith, Jess, Newell (Pepper 66),
Dow, Buchan (Notman 66), Wyness, Hart, Winters.
Subs Not Used: Leighton, Anderson, Gillies.
Sent Off: Pepper (72).
Booked: Newell.
Goals: Winters 79.
Celtic: Gould, Boyd, McNamara, Larsson, Burley, Lambert,
McKinlay, Blinker, Riseth, Mjallby, Viduka (Burchill 82).
Subs Not Used: Brattbakk, Healy, Keogh, Corr.
Goals: Viduka 26, 47, Larsson 69, 73, Burley 89.
Att: 16,825
Ref: W Young (Clarkston).
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