Last updated on .From the section Football

Scott Brown scores only goal of the game

Celtic stretch lead at top to 14 points

Ronny Deila's side already confirmed as champions

Celtic made it four wins out of four against Aberdeen this season, but were made to fight all the way at Pittodrie.

The Dons' Mark Reynolds, Niall McGinn and Lawrence Shankland all wasted chances.

And they were made to pay for their lack of ruthlessness as Scott Brown poked home Stuart Armstrong's cutback.

They could have made it more comfortable but Stefan Johansen and James Forrest were denied by Dons goalkeeper Scott Brown late on.

It was harsh on Derek McInnes' Aberdeen players, who again ran Celtic close, but, much like the Scottish Premiership title race, they fell just short.

Celtic arrived in the Granite City having already been confirmed as champions following Aberdeen's failure to beat Dundee United last weekend, and the home side welcomed them onto the pitch with a guard of honour.

The hosts did not soften their approach, however, as they tried to earn their first victory of the season over Ronny Deila's side.

Ryan Jack's early cutback was intercepted in the box by Johansen with Adam Rooney waiting to take advantage, before Barry Robson sent a shot wide from distance.

The Dons continued to keep up the pressure. Reynolds knocked wide from Aberdeen defender Andrew Considine's knockdown, before Robson drove a free-kick through the wall and straight at goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

It took Celtic until the 30-minute mark to pose a threat, with Johansen the main outlet as he pulled a shot wide before trying to chip the goalkeeper when played through by Emilio Izaguirre.

Aberdeen players gave Celtic a guard of honour before the match after they were confirmed as champions

Darnell Fisher fired over from inside the box as the visitors started to gain control with Aberdeen's early fluency disrupted, and three minutes into the second half Celtic were in front.

Brown started and finished the move, winning the ball from Robson outside his own box and launching a sweeping attack. Armstrong reached the byline and cut back to the Celtic captain, who slid the ball into the net.

McGinn was becoming more of a threat for the home side, though, and twice he cut in from the left-hand side in quick succession, but could not hit the target.

Aberdeen goalkeeper Brown had to make a double save from Leigh Griffiths and Kris Commons, shortly after Aberdeen's Jonny Hayes felt he should have had a penalty at the other end when he went down under defender Jason Denayer's challenge.

The Dons were pressurising Celtic's defence without testing the goalkeeper, and they always looked vulnerable on the counter attack.

Their best chance to level came with two minutes left when Shankland's diving header from Hayes' cross went wide of the post.

Celtic should have added to their lead when first Johansen then Forrest fired straight at the goalkeeper from inside the area with the Dons defence stretched.