GOALS from Mikael Lustig, Jozo Simunovic and Odsonne Edouard secured the victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie that Celtic needed to wrap up their eighth consecutive Scottish title this afternoon.
The comfortable 3-0 triumph sent the Parkhead club 12 points clear of their city rivals Rangers, who only have three games remaining, in the Ladbrokes Premiership table and ensures they can not now be caught.
It gave supporters of the Glasgow club, who have been in mourning following the death of Lisbon Lions Billy McNeill and Stevie Chalmers in the past fortnight, reason to celebrate.
They can now become the first club in Scottish football history to complete a triple treble if they defeat Hearts in the William Hill Scottish Cup final at Hampden on May 25.
The loss, meanwhile, was a blow to Aberdeen’s chances of finishing third in the Premiership and qualifying automatically for the Europa League next season.
Kilmarnock, who have a superior goal difference, can edge ahead of the north-east club and into third place if they can defeat Hearts at Tynecastle this afternoon.
Dom Ball, who was sent off after his challenge on Ryan Christie in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final last month, was booked by referee John Beaton early on for a foul on Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor on the edge of the Aberdeen area.
Timothy Weah, who had missed the game against Kilmarnock seven days earlier after suffering a back spasm, was included in the starting line-up. The American, playing wide on the left, received a yellow card in the 21st minute for pulling back Shay Logan.
James Wilson, the Manchester United loanee, should have put the home team ahead in the 17th minute after being supplied by Greg Stewart. But his downward shot bounced off the turf and skimmed off the top of the crossbar.
The visitors launched a counter attack out of their own box five minutes later. Kristoffer Ajer shelled the ball upfield to Edouard who burst through on goal. But Joe Lewis was off his line quickly and denied him brilliantly.
It was, though, Derek McInnes’s men who were enjoying by far the better of the first-half. Ajer had his name taken after forcing Wilson over as he broke down the right wing.
Scotland centre half Scott McKenna made a searing break down the left flank in the 32nd minute before picking out Sam Cosgrove with perfectly-weighted through ball.
The striker forced a save from Bain. But the ball broke to Wilson who had a gilt-edged chance to open the scoring. The Englishman's effort hit the left post.
Aberdeen were made to pay for their squandered opportunities five minutes before half-time when Lustig broke away from his marker and nodded a dipping McGregor delivery beyond Lewis and into the net.
Wilson shot over and Lewis denied Edouard once again early in the second-half. But Celtic forged further ahead in the 52nd minute when Simunovic got on the end of a McGregor corner and nodded into the top right corner.
Kieran Tierney, who had started his first game since the cup semi-final, was replaced by Jonny Hayes after Celtic went 2-0 ahead and Oliver Burke took over from Weah.
Edouard rounded off the win with two minutes of regulation time remaining when he netted after good work by Tom Rogic.
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