Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink grabbed both Celtic goals

Darren Mackie equalised Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's 32nd-minute opener for the Hoops moments after Artur Boruc had saved a Jamie Smith penalty.

Vennegoor of Hesselink struck again after the break to give Celtic victory in an absorbing encounter.

The Dons now go into their last game of the season against Rangers just one point ahead of fourth-placed Hearts.

Interview: Celtic captain Neil Lennon

The Dons created the first chance of the game in the eighth minute when midfielder Scott Severin's inch-perfect pass put Steve Lovell through on the right-hand side of the Celtic penalty area.

However, Lovell failed to connect properly as he attempted to cut the ball back from six yards out and the ball ran out for a goal kick.

Five minutes later Celtic broke quickly on the counter with Miller sending Paul Hartley through one on one against Dons' keeper Jamie Langfield.

The former Hearts player, still looking for his first Celtic goal since arriving in January, blasted his shot from the edge of the box straight at Langfield before the rebound came off his knee and flashed past the post.

As the Parkhead side warmed to the task Derek Riordan latched on to a clever reverse pass from Shunsuke Nakamura but blasted a volley from 16 yards just past the post.

The Pittodrie side held firm until the 33rd minute when Vennegoor of Hesselink fired them into the lead.

Miller tormented Anderson on the right before teeing up Riordan at the edge of the box.

Vennegoor of Hesselink opens the scoring for Celtic

The former Hibernian player's deflected shot was parried by Langfield but only to the Dutchman who had the easiest of tasks to knock the ball into the empty net.

Moments later, as a hesitant Celtic defence allowed Severin to set up Lovell inside the Parkhead penalty area, Boruc was called upon to make a crucial block.

Play raced to the other end and Langfield made a decent save from Hartley's sidefooted effort after good work by Vennegoor of Hesselink.

The game then produced a spell of drama.

In the 37th minute Kennedy hauled back Lovell as the Dons striker shaped to go through on Boruc and referee Charlie Richmond pointed to the spot before booking the Hoops defender.

After a couple of minutes' wait for treatment to Riordan, former Celtic midfielder Smith sent the spot-kick to Boruc's right-hand side but the Poland international guessed right to pull off a fine save.

However in the 41st minute the visitors did draw level.

Celtic failed to clear their lines properly and when the ball fell to Darren Mackie he drilled an angled shot from 16 yards past Boruc.

Seconds before the interval Boruc again had to make a close-range block to prevent Lovell putting the Dons into an interval lead.

But three minutes into the second-half Vennegoor of Hesselink gave Celtic the lead with a sublime piece of skill, latching onto Hartley's cross in the box and foxing the Dons defence with a clever flick that sped into the far corner of the net.

Lennon waves to the Celtic fans in his last home game

On the hour mark, Riordan had an excellent chance to seal victory for Celtic but scooped the ball over from 12 yards, before being replaced by Aiden McGeady.

Two minutes later Celtic were fortunate to hold on to their slender lead when Zander Diamond got on the end of Smith's inswinging corner and rattled Boruc's crossbar with a header.

Lovell missed an incredible chance to equalise on the break after Smith's cross from the left evaded Boruc but the former Dundee striker somehow contrived to put the ball over the open goal.

Celtic captain Neil Lennon was given a rousing 87th-minute send-off as he was replaced by Gary Caldwell in what was the Irishman's last home game for the Parkhead side.

As the Dons pressed for an equaliser Boruc saved Celtic again when he denied substitute Craig Brewster.

But the champions hung on to record a narrow win and the battle between Aberdeen and Hearts for third place and a Uefa Cup spot will now go down to the wire.

Celtic: Boruc, Perrier Doumbe, McManus, Kennedy, Naylor, Nakamura, Lennon (Caldwell 88), Hartley, Riordan (McGeady 61), Miller (Beattie 72), Vennegoor of Hesselink. Subs Not Used: Brown, Gravesen, O'Dea, Bjarnason.

Booked: Kennedy.

Goals: Vennegoor of Hesselink 33, 49.

Aberdeen: Langfield, Hart, Anderson, Diamond, Foster, Jamie Smith, Severin, Mackie, Clark, Lovell (Maguire 72), Miller (Brewster 67). Subs Not Used: Kelly, Touzani, Winter, Considine, Donald.

Booked: Brewster.

Goals: Mackie 41.

Ref: C Richmond (Scotland).