Larsson back to his best

Dundee 0 Celtic 1

The Celtic boss did not realise until after substituting him that the Swedish star had equalled Ally McCoist's European scoring record after his hat-trick in the UEFA Cup thrashing of Suduva.

But one thing is for certain Larsson is back to his lethal best after his magnificent finish gave his side the points at Dens Park to keep the pressure on the Scottish Premier League leaders. Larsson gavethe whole of Scottish football a lesson in finishing and skill when he got what proved to be the only goal of the game in the 17th minute with a sublime strike after a free-flowing passing move.

The Swede picked out Steve Guppy with a superb cross-field ball, after some good work by Petrov and Momo Sylla, and after receiving it back he clipped an inch-perfect chip overSperoni. It was Larsson's 10th goal of the season and oozed confidence the critics said was missing from his game.

The revitalised visitors were threatening to kill the game off by half-time as Sylla shot wide and Chris Sutton headed Guppy's free-kick straight at a grateful Speroni.

But Dundee continued to look dangerous when they managed to break and Nacho Novo sliced Celtic's

defence open in the 25th minute as he burst infield, but his weak effort was easily saved by Douglas.

But a minute later Petrov should have doubled the champions' lead when he exchanged passes with Sutton on the edge of the box and found himself clean through, but he blazed just wide.

Douglas was also grateful for Dundee's lack of conviction in front of goal and he comfortably saved Novo's shot before the pacy frontman and

Jonay Hernandez both fired well off target.

But Dundee survived a penalty scare in the 35th minute when Larsson threaded the ball through to Sutton in the box and the striker went down

under the clumsy challenge of Lee Wilkie.

Referee John Underhill did take action moments later when he booked Rae for a late challenge on Larsson. Dundee almost pulled themselves back on level terms just before the break when Ulrik Laursen headed Rae's pass into the path of Novo, but he fired into the sidenetting. That was to be their best chance of the game. DUNDEE: Speroni, MacKay, Smith, Hutchinson (Lovell 79), Novo, Hernandez Santos, Rae, Nemsadze, Caballero, Sara, Wilkie.

CELTIC: Douglas, Valgaeren, Balde, Laursen, Sylla (Crainey 80), Lambert, Lennon, Petrov, Guppy, Larsson, Sutton (Hartson 74).

Referee: J Underhill (Scotland).

KEVIN MCNAUGHTON'S second-half winner gave Aberdeen their first league win since the opening day of the season and kept Livingston adrift at the bottom of the SPL table.

The visitors had got off to a dream start when Russell Anderson headed them into a first-minute lead.

Livvy recovered and fought their way back into the game equalising 10-minutes after the break through substitute Davide Xausa.

But, in a free flowing second period, Dons defender McNaughton popped up to fire home a 73rd-minute winner to sink the luckless Livvy.