Glasgow Celtic 4 Aberdeen 0

Last updated : 27 October 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Celtic moved five points clear at the top of the SPL with a victory as comfortable as it was predictable.

Henrik Larsson with his 15th hat-trick for Celtic did most of the damage while Chris Sutton claimed the other with a penalty on the stroke of half time.

Aberdeen put up more resistance than Hearts did the previous week, but still found themselves a goal behind after only four minutes.

When Stan Varga's cross went beyond the far post, Alan Thompson was on hand to curl a pass into the path of Larsson who clipped the ball home from six yards.

Larsson then shot wide after Liam Miller had created the chance with a skilful run along the byline.

Darren Mackie's cross flew across the face of the Celtic goal before Aberdeen should have equalised. Mackie latched on to Varga's misplaced header and from his cross Steven Tosh laid the ball off to Paul Sheerin, who drilled his shot wide from 12 yards.

The Dons were made to pay for their miss when Larsson scored with a magnificent free-kick from 20 yards after Russell Anderson had fouled John Hartson. Larsson nearly repeated the feat from the same position seven minutes later but this time the post kept out his effort.

Hartson was needlessly brought down by Anderson just before half time and Sutton made no mistake from the penalty spot with a crisp strike past David Preece.

Larsson completed his hat-trick early in the second half. Varga's pass released Miller down the right wing and the midfielder's perfectly weighted cross was steered home by the Swede.

Celtic eased up after this though Phil McGuire had to hook the ball clear after Preece's clearance had rebounded off Anderson.

Substitute Shaun Maloney cleared Anderson's shot off the line in a goalmouth scramble in the last minute, but by then Aberdeen were a well-beaten side.