Celtic beat Aberdeen 2-1 at Parkhead
Kris Commons played a starring role as Celtic collected a welcome three points in their 2-1 victory over Aberdeen at Parkhead.
The midfielder scored one and played a part in the other while the visitors produced a stirring second-half performance after being completely outplayed before the break.
Celtic needed just seven minutes to open the scoring when, following a Commons corner, the ball fell to Efe Ambrose whose effort from five yards deflected off Jason Denayer before hitting the underneath of the bar and bouncing over the line.
And, as Celtic continued to dominate the early stages, a Commons header flew inches past a post while the same player forced a decent save out of Dons keeper Jamie Langfield.
At the other end, an unmarked David Goodwillie missed a rare first-half chance for Aberdeen when, from the edge of the box, he fired high and wide.
Celtic went close again six minutes before the break as Commons got a toe to Callum McGregor’s teasing low cross, only to see the ball fly wide of Langfield’s right post.
However, just 24 seconds after the break Celtic doubled their advantage thanks to Commons.
McGregor’s cross picked him out and his low shot from 18 yards deflected off Shaleum Logan and wrong footed the helpless Langfield.
Celtic keeper Craig Gordon was finally called into action on 53 minutes to push away a fierce shot from Peter Pawlett but the Hoops continued to press and four minutes later a blockbuster from Commons clipped the bar.
Yet, just after the hour mark, Aberdeen somehow found their way back into the game.
Logan’s cross was headed back by Andrew Considine and Goodwillie stooped to head home from seven yards.
The goal certainly rejuvenated the visitors with keeper Gordon having to push away fierce shots from Niall McGinn and Willo Flood.
McGregor (79) hooked wide when he should have closed the match out for Celtic while the remaining 10 minutes were a keenly contested end-to-end affair but the Dons were unable to force an equaliser.