Fired-up Aberdeen celebrated the unfurling of their centenary flag by denting Celtic's hopes of retaining the Scottish Premier League title at Pittodrie.

Henrik Larsson had given the visitors the lead slightly against the run of play in the first half.

But Celtic's top scorer had to go off injured following the goal.

And Scotland defender Russell Anderson gave Steve Paterson's side a deserved share of the spoils by equalising after the break.

Russell Anderson equalised for the Dons

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill had said before the game that his players were tired and he will no doubt welcome the winter break that arrives with his side now three points behind Rangers.

He had been given some good news on the fitness front, in-form strikers Larsson and John Hartson having recovered from a virus.

But illness had cost him the services of Didier Agathe, who was replaced by Jackie McNamara.

New Dons boss Paterson had masterminded the downfall of John Barnes' Celtic side while with Inverness Caledonian Thistle in 2000.

And he hoped that replacing Fergus Tiernan with Darren Mackie would improve their form after defeat away to Hibernian.

The home side created two good chances in the opening minutes, when first Mackie headed Kevin Rutkiewicz's cross wide from five yards out and again went close from Jamie McAllister's centre.

Aberdeen had two appeals for a penalty turned down, when Kevin McNaughton went down under the clumsy challenge of Joos Valgaeren then Mackie was challenged heavily by Bobo Balde.

An Anderson drive from the edge of the area was deflected just wide by a challenge from Stilian Petrov, but Celtic gradually worked their way into the game.

Larsson had already had a goal chopped off for offside before the Swede opened the scoring after 30 minutes.

Chris Sutton played the ball into the box and Larsson headed it past the advancing Preece under pressure from Phil McGuire.

Larsson (left) was injured opening the scoring

Larsson took a knock to the head in the challenge and, although he returned to the field of play after treatment, Celtic's top scorer was soon replaced with David Fernandez.

McNaughton should have put Aberdeen on level terms when he met McAllister's cross but headed straight at Magnus Hedman in the centre of goal.

It did not look like being Aberdeen's day until the 51st minute, when Anderson squared the scores.

He rose unmarked in the box to glance McAllister's corner into the corner of the net from five yards, with goalkeeper Magnus Hedman having come unsuccessfully to claim the ball.

A deflected McNaughton drive and a Mackie lunge came close to giving Aberdeen victory.

Fernandez was so poor that the substitute was replaced late on and Celtic's disappointment was compounded after the whistle.

BBC Scotland believes that comments made by midfielder Alan Thompson and coach John Robertson will be included in the referee's report.

Aberdeen: Preece, Anderson, McGuire, McAllister (Payne 82), McNaughton, Deloumeaux, Rutkiewicz, Derek Young, Clark, Mackie, D'Jaffo (Michie 82).
Subs Not Used: Esson, Mike, O'Donoghue. Booked: Rutkiewicz.

Celtic: Hedman, Valgaeren, Balde, Mjallby, McNamara, Lambert, Petrov (Smith 77), Sutton, Thompson, Larsson (Fernandez 34), Hartson, Fernandez (Maloney 88).
Subs Not Used: Gould, Crainey.

Attendance: 16,331

Referee: M McCurry.