Chris Sutton benefited from poor defending for the second time in a week to send Celtic back to the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League.
The Englishman punished Rangers, who leapfrogged the defending champions on goal difference with Sunday's win over Dunfermline, in the Tennent's Scottish Cup clash.
And a week on he capitalised on a Philip McGuire blunder to hit the winner to move Celtic three points clear of their big rivals.
The visitors, with Juninho coming in for his first start since November, were the first to threaten after just two minutes.
Russell Anderson brought down Old Firm hero John Hartson outside the area but the wall stood up well to block Bobo Balde's drive.
Juninho, who replaced the suspended Alan Thompson, came within inches of enhancing his own status with the Celtic fans with a glorious chance in the seventh minute.
Hartson spotted the Brazilian's run behind the Aberdeen defence and picked him out with a great ball - but the former Middlesbrough playmaker flicked the ball
past the post from five yards.
Aberdeen had new signing Sasa Ilic on the bench and he must have been encouraged abut his chances of getting in the side after Ryan Esson's fumble in the 13th minute.
The Dons goalkeeper let an Aiden McGeady corner slip through his fingers, under pressure from Balde, but fortunately there was a team-mate there instead
of a Hoops shirt.
But Esson was beaten in the 24th minute after a lapse by McGuire gifted the visitors the lead.
The defender failed to clear a pass from Stilian Petrov and even though he got a touch to Sutton's drive, from just inside the area, the ball spun past Esson
and into the corner of the net for the Celtic striker's 11th goal of the campaign.
The home side were restricted to a hopeful long-range effort from Derek Adams
after 27 minutes but they continued to press the self-destruct button at the
back.
Aberdeen were defending far too deep and Esson's punch from Petrov's free-kick
was again unconvincing but Hartson failed to punish him as his header looped
just over.
The home supporters were screaming for a penalty in the 36th minute as Petrov
blocked Markus Heikkinen's effort before Kevin McNaughton got in at the back
post - but he could only flick the ball into the hands of rejuvenated goalkeeper
Robert Douglas.
Aberdeen were thankful for the half-time whistle and were fortunate not to be
further behind on the stroke of the interval.
Sutton's shot looked to be going into the back of the net, after good work
from Ulrik Laursen, but Zander Diamond got back to clear off the line with Esson
well beaten.
Seven minutes into the second half Calderwood brought on new signing Jamie
Winter and Steve Tosh for McGuire and Adams.
Aberdeen looked more lively thereafter but it always looked as if Celtic would
be the team most likely to score next with Juninho battling to save his Parkhead
career.
The home side were calling for another penalty on the hour when Darren Mackie
fed Chris Clark in the box and his shot was blocked by Laursen from point-blank
range.
Referee Kenny Clark again ignored the pleas of the players and fans before
Winter ambitiously lobbed the ball wide from 25 yards.
Balde became the first person booked in the 70th minute for a reckless
challenge on Clark and Anderson quickly followed him after bringing down McGeady
moments later.
Calderwood made another change in the 76th minute when he brought new boy
Thorarinn Kristjansson for Clark, before Juninho received applause from the
travelling Hoops contingent and O'Neill when he was replaced by Henri Camara.
Sutton got on the end of Hartson's knock-down, from McNamara's free-kick, in
the 80th minute but shot straight at Esson.
Aberdeen kept battling away and Heikkinen was inches away from getting on the
end of Mackie's through-ball.
Esson managed to scramble the ball away after a poor back-pass from McNaughton
before Hartson blasted high over the top with time running out.
It was not a vintage Celtic which travelled back to Glasgow with the three
points - but it is victories like this which win championships.
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