CELTIC cut the gap on Rangers to four points at the top of the Scottish Premier Division last night - but they were made to sweat by bottom team Raith Rovers.

Italian Paolo Di Canio scored his 10th goal of the season two minutes after half-time to ease the nerves of another 45,000 Parkhead crowd.

And Jorge Cadete's 26th of the campaign - after being robbed of a first-half effort by a linesman's flag - with 10 minutes left made sure of victory.

Now Rangers travel to Dunfermline on Saturday knowing any slip-up will concede further ground, but that a victory would restore a seven-point advantage.

Contract rebel Pierre Van Hooydonk had a hand in the first goal, but was substituted after 66 minutes by manager Tommy Burns before heading straight up the tunnel.

Celtic lived on their nerves for long spells but now they can put the championship challenge on the back-burner for more than a fortnight.

Defeat leaves lain Munro's Raith bottom of the table by four points from three clubs - Kilmarnock, Motherwell and Hibernian.

Van Hooydonk almost made an instant impact as he moved onto a pass from Jackie McNamara in the first 60 seconds but Scott Thomson made a good save.

But, worrying for Celtic, Cadete went off early after taking a knock with Peter Grant coming on with two minutes remaining.