Celtic defeated Aberdeen 2-0 at Parkhead to send them four points clear of Rangers with just five games remaining. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, captain in the absence of injured Stephen McManus, gave Celtic the lead just before the break.

Scott McDonald then clinched the points for hosts early in the second-half to end Aberdeen's seven match unbeaten run.

Hoops boss Gordon Strachan will now take his team to Spain for a week's training camp before they resume league action in a fortnight's time as the SPL splits in two.

"I think people got their full value for money today," Strachan said.

"They saw a lot of exciting football, a good variation of football and one extremely good goal."

"We've come here in recent years and performed well but the first-half was very disappointing," Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood said.

"Celtic played very well and we didn't handle it. The second-half was an improvement but we are better than that."