Celtic ground out a morale-boosting victory over Aberdeen at Parkhead to go seven points clear at the top of the SPL before Porto come to town.

Emotional manager Martin O'Neill was still reeling from the controversial last-gasp Champions League sickener against Juventus in midweek which resulted in a one-match touchline ban for the Irishman.

The animated boss will be missing from the dug-out when the Portuguese giants come to Parkhead on Tuesday - but at least his side quickly banished the ghost of the Stadio Delle Alpi.

Henrik Larsson and Stilian Petrov hit second-half goals after Aberdeen's defensive blockade had threatened to frustrate the champions.

The Aberdeen fans cruelly reminded Celtic of their Turin torment when the game got underway by chanting "one Amoruso" following Nicola Amoruso's dive for the decisive Juventus penalty.

But Celtic reacted in the way they know best by trying to carve the opposition's defence open, but to no avail in the first half.

Aberdeen goalkeeper Ryan Esson, in for the injured David Preece, almost gifted Celtic the opening after just two minutes when he spilt a cross from Momo Sylla, but made amends by directing Stilian Petrov's shot for a corner.

The visitors were on the back foot throughout and when Phillip McGuire knocked the ball into Larsson's path, Esson again had to save by his post.

Aberdeen cut out the silly mistakes but had Darren Mackie to thank in the 11th minute for keeping his side on level terms.

John Hartson thought he had scored when rising to head Alan Thompson's cross on target, but Mackie was on hand to head clear.

The Dons looked dangerous on the rare times they hit Celtic on the break and only Paul Lambert's challenge thwarted Hicham Zerouali after Sylla had misjudged the bounce of the ball.

But Celtic continued to press and their supporters were screaming for a penalty a minute later when Bobby Petta's cross was blocked by Kevin McNaughton.

The lively Zerouali gave Celtic a scare seconds later when his long-range shot flashed just past the post.

But Aberdeen's defending at times was heroic and Darren Young came to his side's rescue in the 15th minute.

Hartson again thought he had broke his duck when he headed Thompson's corner towards the goal, but the youngster was on the line to block his effort before the danger was cleared.

A minute later and Esson saved a deflected effort from Thompson after Hartson had made a mess of a Sylla's cross.

Sylla, in only his second start for Celtic since his move from St Johnstone, went on a mazy run in the 22nd minute, but was stopped by veteran defender Derek Whyte on the edge of the box.

But Celtic were also guilty of squandering glorious chances and Thompson should have put the champions in front in the 25th minute.

Sylla's persistence down the right and tackle with Robbie Winters won possession, but the midfielder headed Larsson's cross past the upright with Esson well beaten.

Aberdeen's five-man defence was continuing to frustrate the Celtic side and their fans, who let out their anger in the 29th minute when Jamie McAllister was booked for a reckless challenge on Sylla.

Aberdeen continued to threaten on their rare bursts forward and after 32 minutes Douglas had to come out to clear Mackie's threatening cross with Robbie Winter lurking ominously.

But the visitors were living on the edge and a mixture of luck and a great save from Esson saved them two minutes later.

Larsson squared the ball to Thompson to crack a left-foot drive which the keeper saved to his left, but he was still on the floor when Petrov's right-foot effort whistled past the post.

But it was the Swedish striker's turn to go agonisingly close in the 38th minute when Sylla's cross curling cross came to him at the far post, but his stretching header came back off the post.

Larsson should have done better, two minutes before the break, when space opened up for him in the area, but he got caught in two minds and chipped into the hands of a grateful Esson.

Aberdeen found themselves under immense pressure again after the break and Hartson was desperately unlucky not to break his Parkhead hoodoo in the 49th minute when he volleyed the Swede's cross just past the post.

A minute later and Larsson crashed a right-foot effort over the bar, but it seemed only a matter of time before Celtic broke the deadlock.

But Skovdahl looked on anxiously in the 61st minute when McAllister was stretchered off after a challenge with Sylla and in his place came Russell Anderson, for his first appearance since damaging knee ligaments over a season ago.

As time wore on it was not just the players and fans who were getting frustrated as O'Neill was again ranting and raving on the touchline after Hartson was penalised for a foul.

But his look of anguish soon turned to pleasure in the 65th minute when Larsson finally gave his side the lead.

Sylla was fouled down the right flank and Thompson's cross was emphatically headed home by the Swede from six yards for his eighth goal of the season.

Aberdeen now became frustrated and Winters was lucky to escape with just a yellow card after lashing out at Sylla.

The home side looked to seal the points late and Larsson ballooned a free-kick, from the edge of the box, well over.

But Petrov showed how it was done in the 81st minute when he unleashed an unstoppable right-foot shot, from a similar position, into the corner for his third goal in three games.

Celtic tried to get Hartson on the scoresheet late on, but his time will surely come.

But after an emotional last few days Celtic have at least gone some way to putting the agony of Turin behind them and give O'Neill more confidence as he prepares for his stint in the stand.