ABERDEEN 1 CELTIC 5 FIVE last week, five this week. All of a sudden Celtic are motoring and Aiden McGeady is providing the fuel injection as the season begins to pick up pace after its enforced winter shutdown. The champions ran amok at Pittodrie and it was the Irishman with the Scottish accent who provided a 90-minute masterclass that must make him favourite to win the player of the year awards that will be dished out at the end of term parties. McGeady made fellow Irish international Alan Maybury's debut absolute hell as he spun, weaved, darted and dashed left, right and centre - scoring a peach and providing Scott McDonald with a goal that would have had Johan Cruyff doffing his cap in appreciation. Three minutes into the second half, McGeady's drag-back and spin sold just about everyone in the 14,651 crowd a dummy and his chip on to the Aussie's napper needed only a nod. It was the highlight of a performance that could have filled a DVD on its own but the sight of Aberdeen's fans trudging out of Pittodrie with 20 minutes left should be a massive worry for Jimmy Calderwood. They have a huge game against Bayern Munich coming up and can rarely have been at a lower ebb, confidence-wise. It will take a titanic effort to lift them and few Dons fans looked like they believe in their team any more. After Tuesday's debacle at Tynecastle in the CIS Cup, perhaps the biggest surprise was that Calderwood made only two changes. Both were in defence, with Maybury coming in at right back for his debut and Dave Bus slotting in at centre back beside Zander Diamond. Jackie McNamara switched to left back and his experience would be needed if Aberdeen were to end a run that hadn't seen them record a home win over Celtic since December 2001. The Dons would also need a much improved performance from keeper Jamie Langfield, who was under pressure after his midweek shocker against Dundee United. They were facing a team who had to deliver as well because Celtic went into the match seven points adrift of Rangers. Gordon Strachan's men had recorded six straight wins and have not conceded a goal in the league this year - four clean sheets meant the manager was happy with his defence but still brought back £2million German signing Andreas Hinkel at right back for Paul Caddis. The only other change came in midfield, where Massimo Donati was ill. Paul Hartley got the nod ahead of Barry Robson to replace the Italian. Artur Boruc had been passed fit to play despite suffering a slight groin strain on international duty in midweek and in the early stages the Pole seemed to be feeling the effects when it came to kicking the ball - twice he failed to put his foot through the ball, allowing Aberdeen to launch attacks. The Dons signalled their intentions right from the off with a good move that saw Darren Mackie link with Maybury for the Irishman to sweep a cross to the back post where Derek Young's powerful header sailed over the top. Celtic soaked up the enthusiastic start and almost took the lead in 10 minutes when Scott Brown ghosted into the box to steer a header against Langfield's left-hand post. That was a decent effort from the midfielder but at the other end Mackie couldn't say the same 60 seconds later when he missed an absolute sitter. Young beat Gary Caldwell at the back post and steered the ball for the unmarked striker seven yards out with the goal gaping. It was easier to hit the net than miss it but Mackie managed to slot his shot wide of target. They paid for that miss big time in the 17th minute when Celtic surged up the left to carve open the Aberdeen defence and take the lead. McGeady's pace took him away from Maybury before he exchanged passes with McDonald and drove a low cross to the back post where Shunsuke Nakamura drove the ball high into the net from six yards. By that time the Dons had lost Barry Nicholson, who had started well, to injury. The midfielder was replaced by Richard Foster, who played left midfield, allowing Young to switch sides. Calderwood's team were still in the game but wouldn't have been had Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink shown more desire to get on the end of a terrific McGeady cross, after the winger had made space with a lovely piece of skill in the 27th minute. They would have drawn level two minutes later had Mackie been blessed with a bit of luck. The striker latched on to Lee Miller's pass, beat Stephen McManus but drilled his shot past Boruc and off the base of the post. Thirty four minutes in, though, the contest seemed to have been killed off by another piece of sublime skill from McGeady, who was having a field day. The young Irishman picked the ball up on the right and drifted along the 18-yard line, leaving a couple of defenders tackling thin air before sweeping a fine left-foot shot low in at Langfield's right-hand post. The goal knocked the stuffing out of Aberdeen and two minutes before the break they capitulated again to send Celtic in three up at the break. McDonald and McGeady worked a one-two and when the Aussie burst into the box, Josh Walker took him out. It was a stonewall penalty and McDonald sent Langfield the wrong way from the spot. Three minutes into the second half, McDonald helped himself to his 23rd of the season but all the glory went to McGeady for a sensational piece of skill that handed it on a plate for the little striker. Lee Naylor gave McGeady the ball wide left and although he appeared surrounded, a magnificent spin and drag back in one wonderful movement took him away from his markers with enough time to look up and plonk the ball right on McDonald's head four yards out. He did the rest but McGeady did the best. There followed a period of misery for Aberdeen when Celtic made it look as if they had two extra players, such was their passing and moving. Langfield, at least, got the chance to boost his confidence with a couple of good saves from McDonald and Nakamura and it must have been a relief for the home side when the Australian made way for Georgios Samaras in 61 minutes. Within seconds, Miller had got one back for the Dons. Mackie had a shot blocked by Caldwell and with bodies flying in his strike partner rattled a close-range shot high into the net. Normal service was soon resumed with a bit of comedy thrown in. Robson made his debut in the 73rd minute for Nakamura, Celtic won a free-kick in Naka territory seconds later and the former Dundee United skipper grabbed the ball and wouldn't let go. Sure enough, his first touch as a Celtic player was to strike a left-foot shot low past Langfield. He should have walked straight off - after it all, it has be all downhill after that start. 'McGeady sold everybody in the crowd a dummy' MAN OF THE MATCH Aiden McGeady (Celtic) | 
