CELTIC produced a fightback of note at Aberdeen to once again cut the gap on Scottish premier division leaders Rangers to five points. Two goals in five second half minutes from John Collins and Pierre Van Hooydonk overturned Aberdeen's early lead provided by Billy Dodds at Pittodrie.

Tommy Burns' side now go to Hearts on Wednesday to play their game in hand, aiming to trim Rangers' lead still further.

Yesterday's display mirrored Celtic's 3-2 win at the same ground in September, when they recovered from two down, and further underlined their desire to win the championship for the first time since 1988. Victory stretched their unbeaten premier division run to 17 games, their best form since that double winning season.

Screened live on Scottish Television, the game was marred by a 69th minute incident when referee Michael McCurry was hit by a missile thrown from the crowd. McCurry needed treatment from Aberdeen physio David Wylie and Celtic doctor Jack Mulhearn for what looked like a cut to the back of his head.

The Glasgow official told police that the incident had happened in an area occupied by Aberdeen fans in one corner of Pittodrie.

Both sides were unchanged, with Celtic sticking by the side that won 3-1 at Raith in midweek and Aberdeen with the players who beat Hibernian on Monday. Eoin Jess remained in Aberdeen's line up, although he was transfer listed on Thursday after he revealed he wanted a move to England. However, desperate to impress prospective buyers, he struggled to reach his best form.

Aberdeen enjoyed a second minute chance when Stephen Glass swept in a dangerous cross from the left, but Joe Miller could not beat Gordon Marshall.

Celtic responded by forcing three corners and their pressure culminated in a superb ninth minute opening for Phil O'Donnell. Simon Donnelly created it as he threaded a pass through the Aberdeen defence, but O'Donnell's shot beat Michael Watt and crashed back off the post.

They had cause to regret that miss in the 18th minute as Aberdeen took the lead when Dodds scored his 10th goal of the season - and goalkeeper Marshall was the Celtic player moot to blame. He failed to come off his line when Dodds moved onto a Dean Windass pass and Grant, after conceding the corner, was then involved in a furious exchange with his goalkeeper.

Worse was to follow as Miller curled over the corner, Marshall failed to claim the ball, and Dodds netted with a downward header at the far post.

After 25 minutes Glass burst between two defenders and fired in a shot, but Marshall was able to block the effort. Then Grant just managed to hook a Windass cross away from Dodds.

Celtic equalised five minutes after the break through Collins. Aberdeen failed to check O'Donnell's surge and his cutback found the frontman unmarked at the far post. It was the 12th goal of the season for Scotland international Collins, who scored twice at the same ground.

Celtic made it 2-1 in the 55th minute when Thom burst down the left and crossed for Van Hooydonk to shoot home with his left foot from 10 yards, with the home defence in disarray.

The Dutch player's seventh goal in seven games, and his 16th of the season, keeps Celtic's challenge very much alive.

Referee McCurry booked Celtic's McKinlay and Aberdeen pair Windass and Shearer.

Celtic manager Burns was quick to acknowledge the importance of the comeback afterwards. "It was a fantastic team effort," he said. "I told my players at half time that they had to step it up and they responded magnificently."

Asked if he rated Pittodrie as the toughest venue in Celtic's run of four consecutive away matches, Burns said: "They all present different problems. You must have the right attitude, but we've got that right now. As long as the players have the scent that's what counts. The scent is getting stronger with every game that passes.

"You can only say how good a team is once they are winners. We have still to do that but we are going about it in the right way."

Aberdeen manager Roy Aitken criticised his side for lacking ruthlessness after they achieved a half time lead. "We shouldn't have lost that game. We need to show a mental toughness in the games," he said. "We are fourth or fifth in the League and the position is about correct. We'd love to get closer to the Old Firm, but we must, win games like these to do that."