LEIGH GRIFFITHS took his tally for the season to 17 goals, Celtic moved seven points clear at the top and nobody would get laughed out of court for suggesting Ronny Deila’s men could be described as champions-elect on Halloween.

Aberdeen made and missed a few chances, but the reality is that on this evidence, and that from the last few weeks, nothing is going to stop five in a row.

It was a really good game between the best two sides in the Ladbrokes Premiership. The fact is, however, the very best are so much better and therefore all talk of a title race, which did look on the cards, can be put aside for another season.

Deila must have been delighted with what his team gave him.

Celtic started well. Aberdeen, for their part, stood off the home team during the early exchanges and struggled to get any real time on the ball.

To the surprise of nobody, Griffiths was the first to threaten when, on 12 minutes, he left Shaleum Logan with twisted blood before getting off a low shot that wasn’t far away from Danny Ward’s post.

But then on 15 minutes, Aberdeen came close to a goal. Niall McGinn beat Kieran Tierney for pace, got a cross into the front post and Adam Rooney’s first time effort was only a few inches too high.

They were at it again moments later. Celtic were in the Aberdeen box, but lost possession and the men in red broke with pace and purpose, Jonny Hayes sent in a cross from the left and Rooney flicked his shot over once again.

It was all happening. James Forrest was next to go with a shot on the 20th minute from outside the box which was helped just wide by a deflection.

Rooney did get the ball in the net on 22 minutes when he poked the ball home from close range following a header Mark Reynolds, but he was offside and the linesman’s flag did for him.

Then on 27 minutes, depending on your point of view, either Griffiths missed a sitter or Ward made a great save. It was actually bit of both.

The impressive Tom Rogic made his way towards the Aberdeen box, he was tackled and the ball jumped up in the air, which allowed Kris Commons to back-heel a pass on the volley to Griffiths who, clean through and eight yards out, could not beat the Aberdeen goalkeeper.

What undoubtedly was a sitter came a few minutes later at the other end. Some good, sharp passing from Aberdeen saw the ball move to Hayes on the left. He aimed his cross for Rooney who met it a few yards out and somehow glanced his header wide. It was a bad miss from the striker.

Young Tierney went close seven minutes before the break for Celtic with a right foot shot which hit off an Aberdeen on its way past. From that corner, Commons swung in a cross, Dedryck Boyata met it and his header was just about kept out by Kenny McLean on the line, the Aberdeen man heading the ball onto the bottom of the crossbar before clearing his lines.

It was incredible that the half almost ended goalless, but Celtic scored 90 seconds before the break.

Tierney deserves great praise for his part. He picked out Griffiths with a cross that travelled a good 30 yards, the striker jumped between Mark Reynolds and Ash Taylor, and quite superbly aimed his header into the bottom corner.

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes was furious with McGinn who in the build-up to the goal lost a tackle to Nir Bitton.

Celtic started the second-half brightly and on 52 minutes, Taylor went through Commons on the edge of the box. He was booked, referee Willie Collum correctly awarded a penalty which Commons expertly tucked away.

It was 3-0 before an hour had gone.

Rogic did well again to get past a few tackles and find Forrest with a pass inside the box. The winger took a touch with his right foot and then lobbed Ward with his left. It was a lovely goal.

Ward prevented a hat-trick for Griffiths when he tipped a dipping shot over the bar. The Aberdeen keeper also kept out an effort from Stuart Armstrong, and then with ten to go Craig Gordon made a brilliant save to deny Peter Pawlett a goal.

Aberdeen did score a consolation with a minute remaining when Rooney headed past Gordon.

However, it was Celtic’s day. It is their championship to lose.

Celtic: (4-2-3-1): Gordon; Lustig, Boyata, Simunovic (Ambrose 77), Tierney (Izaguirre 77); Johansen, Bitton; Commons, Rogic, Forrest (Armstrong 67); Griffiths

Subs not used: Bailly, Ambrose, Izaguirre, McGregor, Allan, Ciftci.

Aberdeen: (4-2-3-1) Ward; Logan, Taylor, Reynolds, Considine (Quinn 22); Shinnie, Jack (Pawlett 69); McGinn (Goodwillie 69), McLean, Hayes; Rooney

Subs not used: Brown, Flood, Robson, McLaughlin

Bookings: Celtic: None. Aberdeen (Shinnie 29, Taylor 52

Referee: Willie Collum