Zurawski strike puts Hoops even closer to title

Celtic 1 Aberdeen 0

A second-half goal by Celtic substitute Maciej Zurawski against Aberdeen extended the Hoops' lead at the top of the SPL to 16 points today.

The champions had turned in a turgid performance until the Pole replaced Thomas Gravesen in the 67th minute as manager Gordon Strachan tried to rally his troops.

And five minutes later, the substitution proved inspirational as Zurawski picked up a Lee Naylor cross 12 yards out before slotting the ball past Aberdeen keeper Jamie Langfield.

But with a minute remaining Celtic keeper Artur Boruc became the hero for the home side when he brilliantly saved a point-blank header from Dons skipper Russell Anderson.

The Dons, in joint second place with Rangers before kick-off, had the unenviable task of trying to inflict the first home defeat of the season on the SPL leaders.

And with five wins out of their last six matches, Jimmy Calderwood's men travelled south with confidence.

The opening moments were hardly befitting a top-of-the-table clash, although in the ninth minute Celtic defender Stephen McManus almost awoke the slumbering crowd when he headed a Shunsuke Nakamura corner just past the post from six yards out with Langfield rooted to the spot.

Moments later it was Jiri Jarosik who got on the end of another corner from the Japan international, but his effort was less convincing as it sped wide.

Then, in the 15th minute as the home side slowly took control, Gravesen's right-footed drive from 25 yards, after he was set up by Neil Lennon, drew a decent save from Langfield.

In the 33rd minute after Jarosik had sent Kenny Miller through on the left with a defence-splitting pass, a great tackle by Dons' stopper Andrew Considine foiled the Hoops striker at the expense of a corner which, unsurprisingly given the way the match was going, came to nothing.

With six minutes to go before the break Dons midfielder Chris Clark sent in a drive from 30 yards but Boruc saved with ease.

Moments later, McGeady tried his luck at the other end with a shot from similar distance, Langfield tipping the ball over for a corner.

But with barely a minute to go, Miller missed the best chance of the game when he fired wide from six yards out.

After a Nakamura corner was cleared, Celtic defender Naylor drove in a dipping volley from 30 yards which Langfield parried to the feet of the Scotland international who somehow shot wide under pressure from Anderson.

Aberdeen started brightly after the interval but four minutes after the restart, Nakamura fired a 35-yard free-kick wide of the target.

The growls from the home support grew in volume as the Parkhead side continued to toil against a Pittodrie side who were themselves nothing special.

The quality on display was minimal. Hoops midfielder McGeady pounced on a loose ball just before the hour mark but his left-footed effort from 25 yards went well wide.

Seconds later, as a semblance of drive appeared to grip the champions, the Republic of Ireland player did better from the same.

In the 67th minute Gravesen was replaced by Zurawski and five minutes later the Pole had shot the home side into the lead.

A Naylor cross from the left evaded the Dons defence and arrived at the feet of the striker who lashed his shot from 12 yards past Langfield who had no chance.

The champions relaxed and could have scored more in the final minutes.

But with a minute remaining Boruc became the hero for the home side when he saved a point-blank header from Anderson who got onto the end of a Barry Nicholson free-kick.