Neither Aberdeen nor Celtic could break the deadlock before the interval at Pittodrie, although there were opportunities at both ends.

Henrik Larsson saw a diving header bounce wide and Tommy Johnson's header was well saved by Ryan Esson.

Aberdeen began the game as one of only three teams to have held the Bhoys to a draw in the league this season.

The Dons' previous Pittodrie encounter ended 1-1, while only Hibernian, twice, and Motherwell had come away with draws.

Rangers' 5-1 Ibrox success over their Old Firm rivals represented the Hoops' only defeat.

Statistic lovers also knew that Larsson stood on the brink of two goalscoring records, needing one to equal Charlie Nicholas' 1982-83 post-war club tally of 48 in all competitions and two to match Brian McClair's Scottish Premier League record of 35 in 1986-87 when he too was Celt.

But the most important number of all was three - the total of wins now needed to clinch the title for Martin O'Neill in his first season at Parkhead.

With Chris Sutton suspended following his CIS Insurance Cup final red card, Johnson partnered the Swede up front.

Alan Thompson, Didier Agathe and Rob Douglas also returned to the side after missing the Hampden park victory.

Aberdeen, whose season looks destined to end in a bottom six finish, gave a rare start to 19-year-old striker Darren Mackie in an attacking line-up also featuring Robbie Winters, the man who had netted in that earlier draw.

Mackie fired the first shot of the game but it lacked the power to trouble Douglas.

Derek Young's effort was blocked by Joos Valgaeren as the home side started brightly, with Winters lively.

Mackie used his pace to beat Valgaeren down the right wing but the cross was cleared.

Johnson cut inside to fire Celtic's first reply but his effort was wide.

Thompson and Johnson combined well down the left to supply Colin Healy in the box but there was no-one on the end of his cross.

Larsson's first sniff of a chance was a good one when Neil Lennon's free-kick found him in space in the box, but the Swede's diving header bounced wide.

Soon he needed treatment after a collision with Derek Whyte.

Paul Lambert's pass sent Thompson away down the left and Johnson flicked a header looping across goal and wide.

Celtic were beginning to get a grip on the game and Johnson found Larsson's head with a cross from the left, but there was no power and Ryan Esson gathered.

At the other end, Valgaeren was once again needed to block a Mackie snapshot.

Ramon Vega stayed up following a free-kick, but his header from Valgaeren's supply was caught by Esson.

A ricochet allowed Johnson to take a shot from an angle and again the ball bounced off defenders in the box before being cleared.

Vega went close straight after with a shot from the edge of the area that was only just wide.

Thompson fired in a free-kick from the right wing and Johnson beat his marker to fire in a header that was straight at Esson.

A misplaced Johan Mjallby header gave the Dons their first corner and when Douglas missed it, Phil McGuire saw his shot deflected over.