Friday 27 October 2017 16:34, UK
Champions Celtic moved three points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership after ending Aberdeen's unbeaten run with a dominant 3-0 victory at Pittodrie.
Brendan Rodgers' side opened the scoring after 13 minutes when Kieran Tierney netted from a tight angle.
Tierney turned provider six minutes before the break when his cross was converted by Moussa Dembele from a couple of yards out.
Celtic sealed the win with a third goal in the 63rd minute after Dembele headed in his fourth goal in two matches to stretch their unbeaten domestic run to 61 games.
Aberdeen came into the game level on points with Celtic after an excellent start to the season but had no answer to the champions during a one-sided contest.
The visitors opened the scoring with their first effort of the match. Dembele played the ball across the penalty area and Tierney reacted sharply to fire his strike in off the crossbar.
After their breakthrough, Celtic took complete control and it was no surprise when the visitors doubled the lead. Tierney sent in a pinpoint delivery and Dembele turned the ball in from close range.
The unbeaten leaders were denied a third goal when goalkeeper Joe Lewis parried James Forrest's effort and the rebound attempt from Dembele was cleared off the line.
But Celtic scored again just after the hour mark when Stuart Armstrong's free-kick was headed on by Dedryck Boyata and Dembele nodded home to seal a convincing win.
The Celtic striker did not have to work too hard for his goals but his pace and movement was too much for Aberdeen to handle.
Dembele was a constant threat for the champions and the 21-year-old looks close to his best after an injury-hit start to the season.
Brendan Rodgers: "We played well in lots of games but of course there was a big focus on this game.
"The level of football, the football ideas, the composure to play in a top of the table clash against a very good team that Derek McInnes has put together, to play to that level and to see Scottish players playing with that quality and understanding was pleasing.
"At 3-0 we should have scored more but how we defended and how we pressed, it was a wonderful demonstration of football. I have been pleased with the mentality in the big games.
"Every game is a big game for Celtic but when you come away to a place like this, you have to show you are a big team and you have to play like a big team and I thought we did that."
Derek McInnes: "Nobody is feeling good, it was a lesson, we can't dress it up any other way.
"They enjoyed the game too much. You can see the quality of the bench and the players that came on. We know where we are in the pecking order in terms of the gulf but we aim to be as good and as competitive as we can be.
"Nobody will be judged from this game. When Celtic play like that, no one can go toe-to-toe with them. That is the harsh reality."
Champions Celtic host struggling Kilmarnock on Saturday afternoon while second-placed Aberdeen entertain Ross County.
