Celtic are now just 90 minutes away from the Bank of Scotland Premier League title after a 2-0 win over Livingston at Almondvale.

After an evenly-matched first 45 minutes, second-half goals by Maciej Zurawski and Shaun Maloney - the midfielder's counter coming from the penalty spot - gave the visitors a comfortable victory in the end.

The Hoops are 17 points clear at the top again and now just need to beat second-placed Hearts at Parkhead on April 5 to regain the title from rivals Rangers.

The match had promised to be nothing more than a straightforward win for the Parkhead men but it was not until the second half that they could begin their championship countdown.

Livi had not taken a point since December 17 when they drew with Aberdeen, a record which had earned them the tag as the 'SPL's worst team ever'.

And being 64 points behind Celtic at the start of the game did not exactly fill the home supporters with optimism.

However, within a minute Celtic defender Stephen McManus' header from David McNamee's cross almost went past his own goalkeeper Artur Boruc, the visiting fans relieved to see the ball flying past for a corner which was easily defended.

That near-miss sparked a frantic next few minutes.

Celtic came close in the fifth minute when striker Zurawski's close-range header from Shunsuke Nakamura's free-kick clipped the crossbar then Boruc was forced into a point blank save at the other end from Richard Brittain moments later.

The West Lothian men showed no obvious signs of an inferiority complex, their players clattering into challenges all over the pitch.

But in the 15th minute McManus who was lucky only to be booked for a shocking two-footed challenge on Livi midfielder Allan Walker, who was them himself yellow-carded for seeking retribution on Hoops captain Neil Lennon moments later.

Celtic, nervous in defence, were dangerous going forward and in the 26th minute Livi keeper Roddy McKenzie had to be quick off his line to smother Zurawski's shot after the Polish striker had latched onto a Nakamura pass inside the home penalty area.

The Almondvale men were growing in confidence as the interval approached despite being asked to defend deeper and deeper.

And with a little more composure in their sporadic attacks the home side may have found some joy in front of goal although Walker' speculative drive from 25 yards two minutes before the interval certainly tested Boruc.

Hoops manager Gordon Strachan brought on full-back Ross Wallace for Paul Telfer at the break with Mark Wilson moving to his more familiar right-back role.

And the move paid off within two minutes of the restart when Maloney's driven cross from the left found its way to Zurawski, who had the easiest of tasks to slot the ball in.

The goal seemed to settle the Parkhead men and in the 50th minute the visitors were awarded a penalty when Dion Dublin was clearly pulled back by Livi captain Emmanuel Dorado in the quest to reach a Wilson cross.

Maloney stepped up to send McKenzie the wrong way for his 15th goal of the season and the destiny of the three points was now established.

The champions-elect were in full flow now although they had a scare on the hour mark when Derek Adams' cross-cum-shot from wide on the left had Boruc reaching to tip the ball over the bar.

But moments later Livi were carved open all too easily by Lennon and had to rely on McKenzie saving Zurawski's shot from the edge of the penalty area.

The match had gone flat now and although Livingston fought on gamely there seemed little prospect of a comeback.

Hartson replaced Dublin for the last 10 minutes but the Parkhead men showed no great desire to grab a third goal, preferring, it appeared, to perfect their passing game in the midfield area.

In the 85th minute Stilian Petrov slid the ball past an open goal from the edge of the penalty area after the careless McKenzie had been closed down by Zurawski and then seconds later Maloney curled a 25-yard free-kick just over the bar.

But by then Celtic had accomplished what they had set out to do and now look to Parkhead on April 5 to get their rewards for an impressive season.

Teams:

Livingston McKenzie, Mackay, Strong, Dorado, Tierney,McNamee (Healy 57), Adams (Dorrans 61), Brittain, Hoolahan,Morrow, Walker.

Subs Not Used: Snodgrass, Roy, Hislop, Miller, Whelan.

Booked: Walker, Strong.

Celtic Boruc, Telfer (Wallace 45), McManus, Balde,Wilson (Varga 64), Nakamura, Petrov, Lennon, Maloney,Dublin (Hartson 80), Zurawski.

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Thompson, Pearson, Lawson.

Booked: McManus.

Goals: Zurawski 47, Maloney 52 pen.

Att: 7,486

Ref: K Clarke (Scotland).