Aberdeen: Derek McInnes laments lapses at Celtic Park

The Aberdeen players were left dejected after crashing to a 4-0 defeat t Celtic Park on Sunday

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes admits his side have a lot to learn after a crushing 4-0 defeat at Celtic Park.

Second-placed Dons are six points behind the leaders, who hit three goals in a ruthless second-half display.

"It shows there's still a lot to learn for us, the concentration side, the set plays, the mentality at 2-0 to keep doing the right things," McInnes said.

"I just thought we unravelled at that stage. Once we went two down Celtic really put us to the sword."

The win takes Celtic a huge step closer to the title and a win on Wednesday against St Johnstone will send Ronny Deila's side nine points clear of the Pittodrie men.

McInnes has long maintained that his team were not title contenders, and he admits Celtic are unlikely to throw it away now.

Derek McInnes was unhappy at how Aberdeen conceded the first goal at Celtic Park

"I've said all along there's only one team that can lose it, and for us it's about trying to get that improvement," he added.

"I said prior to today's game, win, lose or draw we would continue to keep fighting and continue to keep working hard and trying to win games, and that is the case.

"I've always said there has to be a deterioration from the team that can lose it and that's Celtic - and today at 2-0 they showed exactly why they're top of the league.

"They look like a team that's going to win a title, but for us, we've just got to try to win as many games between now and the end of the season."

McInnes' outfit held the edge over Celtic for most of the first half but Jason Denayer's header from a corner kick ensured the hosts were 1-0 up at the break.

And Deila's side stepped it up after the interval, with Leigh Griffiths netting from the spot before Gary Mackay-Steven and Stefan Johansen added goals.

"We set out to try to go and make things happen, and I thought we caused Celtic a lot of problems," said McInnes.

"The first goal is always pivotal in these games and it was self-inflicted. They've scored from their first corner and that's three goals they've scored against us from corners, so we've got to learn.

"While there's still a lot to be pleased about, and a lot of positives to be taken from the first half, we shouldn't go in 1-0 down.

"The response in the second half was to try to get back into the game as quickly as possible and I thought we started the second half ok, and I thought we should have had a penalty at 1-0, it hits [Nir] Bitton's arm."