Aberdeen 0 Celtic 3
Gary Hooper, new Scotland call-up Mark Wilson and Anthony Stokes grabbed the goals to help Celtic open an eight-point lead at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.  Aberdeen got off to the worst possible start when Andy Considine conceded a penalty inside the first 90 seconds for a tug on Celtic skipper Scott Brown.  The defender was red-carded by ref Alan Muir - but Jamie Langfield pushed Stokes' penalty round the post.  However Celtic took advantage of their numerical superiority when Hooper played a one-two with Stokes before slotting home after 12 minutes.  The problems mounted up for Aberdeen when both full-backs Ryan Jack and David McNamee had to go off injured in the first half, with Derek Young and new signing Steven Smith taking their places.  Rob Milsom saved the Dons when he blocked Hooper's point-blank drive after Langfield had saved well from Kris Commons and Beram Kayal drove against the post as Celtic dominated.  Aberdeen did show glimpses of getting back into the game as Scott Vernon tested Fraser Forster with a drive towards the end of the first-half.  The Dons had a penalty claim turned down soon after the break when the ball appeared to hit Commons' arm but they almost fell two behind when Commons rounded Langfield only to shoot against the post.  Celtic sealed victory when Wilson headed in Commons' corner with 15 minutes left - his first goal in six years.  Stokes added the third three minutes later when he took Hooper's pass and drove past Langfield.

St Johnstone 2 Hamilton Academical 0
Goals early in both halves from Stevie May saw Saints leapfrog Motherwell into seventh place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.  Saints got off to the perfect start when Collin Samuel set up May who drove past Tomas Cerny after four minutes.  Mickael Antoine-Curier had a shot saved by Peter Enckleman but May added Saints' second early in the second-half when he drilled home Liam Craig's pass.  Accies tried to battle back and Andy Graham's shot from Dougie Imrie's pass was blocked by Michael Duberry.  Steven Anderson cleared Imrie's inswinging corner late on as Accies tried to salvage something but Saints held on.

By cbfootball.co.uk   Last updated: 02 February 2011