NEIL LENNON praised strike duo Anthony Stokes and Gary Hooper after they combined for the second week in succession to fire Celtic to victory.

Stokes’s first-half goal in the 1-0 win over Aberdeen at Parkhead on Saturday was his fourth in three games to take his tally to 12 since signing from Hibernian last summer.

He was set up in the 27th minute by Hooper, who returned from injury last week to score his 12th of the season in the 3-0 win at Easter Road, where the Irishman grabbed a double.

Aberdeen looked a far improved outfit from the team which were brushed aside 9-0 at Celtic Park in November under former boss Mark McGhee.

But Celtic increased their lead over Rangers at the top of the table to five points, although they have played two games more than their Old Firm rivals who lost 1-0 at Hearts earlier in the day.

Parkhead manager Lennon, who has chopped and changed his attack all season, said: “The front two were a handful and they worked the goal very well. They are in the driving seat at the moment. I thought they dovetailed very well together.

“You can tell there is a bit of chemistry between them and they are doing what we brought them to do, they are scoring goals.”

Stokes and Hooper will pair up again, against Hearts at Parkhead on Wednesday night and Lennon reiterated his belief that Hearts, who are now two points behind Rangers with a game in hand over Celtic, are genuine title contenders.

“I have said this all along about Hearts. They have put a concerted, consistent run together and the result against Rangers adds to the theory that they are in the running.

“It’s a big, big game for us. Things can turn again very, very quickly and so we are not taking anything for granted. But Saturday was a good day for us and it gives us a bit of a cushion.”