Celtic 1 Aberdeen 0:GEORGIOS SAMARAS fired Celtic to the top of the Premier League at Celtic Park Saturday as Gordon Strachan's side jumped above Rangers for the first time since January.

The win allowed Celtic to move two points clear at the summit, however Rangers - who beat St Johnstone on penalties in the Scottish Cup semi-final yesterday - now have three games in hand.

Scott Severin almost provided a dream start for the visiting side when he tried his luck from 25 yards with a shot which struck the inside of Artur Boruc's right-hand post and trickled along the goal-line before hitting the other upright. To his great relief, Boruc was then able to smother the ball.

Assistant referee Billy Baxter signalled that the ball did not cross the line, as Celtic breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Samaras had the ball in the back of the net for Celtic two minutes later but the offside flag was correctly raised before the shot had left the striker's boot.

Aberdeen were under pressure again when Andrew Considine's header to Jamie Langfield was intercepted by Scott McDonald and the goalkeeper did well to hook to safety before the Celtic frontman could pull the trigger.

Republic of Ireland international Aiden McGeady then delivered a teasing cross to Bobo Balde at the back post but the defender somehow managed to scoop over from four yards.

McGeady was causing plenty of problems on the left and he had a go at goal himself with a smart shot which was held by Langfield.

Samaras should have broken the deadlock with half-time looming when he pounced on a decent ball from Shunsuke Nakamura and tried to bury an angled drive but the effort was blasted out of play by Barry Nicholson.

But Langfield had to pick the ball out of the back of the net in the 56th minute. Samaras won a free-kick in front of the corner flag, before throwing himself in front of Barry Robson's free-kick and nodding home from eight yards.

Only a timely intervention from substitute Paul Caddis prevented Aberdeen from restoring parity with 13 minutes to go. Nicholson rolled the ball into Lee Miller and all that was required was a stabbed finish from a few yards out with Boruc beaten, but Caddis somehow managed to stick out a boot and the Dons were forced to settle for a corner instead.

Samaras and Zander Diamond both had the ball in the net in the latter stages but the game had been stopped for fouls beforehand on both occasions as the match ended with a slender win for the defending SPL champions.

CELTIC: Boruc, Hinkel (Caddis 46), Balde, McManus, Wilson, Nakamura, Robson, Donati, McGeady, McDonald (Killen 84), Samaras. Subs not used: Mark Brown, McGowan, Sno, Pressley, Mizuno. Booked: Donati, McGeady.

ABERDEEN: Langfield, Maybury, Diamond, Considine, Duff, Nicholson, Young, Severin, De Visscher (Aluko 80), Foster, Miller. Subs not used: Soutar, Lovell, Maguire, Bus, Jonathan Smith, Walker. Booked: Nicholson, Diamond.

Referee: I Brines (Scotland).