CELTIC 1 ABERDEEN 0
UNSTOPPABLE Celtic keep rolling on and it was Dedryck Boyata who was the matchwinner for the second successive midweek.
The Belgian defender headed in the only goal of the game against St Johnstone at Parkhead eight days ago.
And he repeated the feat against Aberdeen as Brendan Rodgers’ men beat the Dons for the fourth successive time in a memorable campaign.
Deadly Dedryck struck in the 57th minute to stretch the Hoops’ lead at the top of the Premiership to TWENTY-FIVE points as they zoom towards six successive titles.
Rampaging Kieran Tierney was fouled and referee John Beaton awarded the inevitable free-kick.
Scott Sinclair floated in an inviting cross and Boyata’s timing was brilliant as he burst into the box.
He rose above the hesitant central defender Ash Taylor and before startled keeper Joe Lewis. His header ripped into the net and Parkhead celebrated once again.
It was a night for Rodgers’ troops to dig in for success against stubborn opponents with something to prove as they attempted to stop the rot against the Hoops.
They had been unsuccessful in their past 23 league visits to the east end of Glasgow and were determined to do something to reverse their fortunes.
They are still waiting.
The first-half was fairly even and the Dons always looked dangerous on the break with Jonny Hayes prepared to run at the home defence on the flanks.
In the fourth minute, Nir Bitton tried his luck from outside the box, but his effort was just too high.
However, Graeme Shinnie responded in the 18th minute with a right-foot effort that flashed wide of Craig Gordon’s upright.
James Forrest then drilled one over the bar and Hayes had an ambitious attempt from 35 yards that flew wildly off target.
Just before the interval, Taylor sent in a header, but Gordon was alert as he plucked the ball out of the air from under his crossbar.
Then came Boyata’s breakthrough goal before Sinclair crashed an effort off the woodwork in the 64th minute.
Nine minutes from the end, a header from the hard-working Hayes was saved by Gordon as the Hoops played out the game.
Celtic have now gone 28 domestic games without defeat.
Who will stop the green-and-white hurricane? St Johnstone will do their best to provide an answer in Perth on Sunday.
TEAM: Gordon; Lustig, Simunovic, Boyata, Tierney; Brown, Bitton; Roberts (sub: Sviatchenko 87), McGregor (sub: Henderson 79), Forrest (Mackay-Steven 71); Sinclair.
PS: Hearts hammered Sevco Rangers 4-1 at Tynecastle. It was an embarrassment for the Ibrox side who were a goal down in only four minutes when Christian Nowak headed in. Emerson Hyndman levelled, but the Edinburgh men ran amok after the break with Jamie Walker (2) and Don Cowie scoring.
The Hearts fans apparently were chanting “you’re getting pumped by a laptop.”
