Celtic 3-1 Aberdeen

Aberdeen were denied their first league point at Celtic Park in 17 attempts by two late goals from Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic.

Kris Commons opened for the hosts with a strike from the edge of the box.

Niall McGinn got the final touch after a melee in the box as the Dons levelled in first-half injury time.

McGinn struck the post in the second half before Celtic broke Aberdeen spirits in stoppage time with Derk Boerrigter and Commons firing home.

Neil Lennon's side remain five points clear of second-placed Inverness while Aberdeen slip from third to fifth.

Celtic captain Scott Brown threatened early on, arriving at the back post to scoop the ball over.

Aberdeen came into the game and Michael Hector roamed forward to shoot from 20 yards but his tame near-post effort was easily gathered by Fraser Forster.

After Darnell Fisher's strike had been safely caught by Dons goalkeeper Jamie Langfield, Celtic defender Efe Ambrose ventured forward to boost the hosts' attack.

The Nigeria international slalomed past numerous red shirts to the edge of the box and, off balance, he blasted his shot high into the stands, much to the dismay of the home crowd.

Georgios Samaras then forced another save from Langfield with a swerving shot but the breakthrough was not far away.

Langfield came for a cross but could only punch it as far as Commons, who picked his spot before calmly slotting the ball into the net.

McGinn (far left) netted against his former club

But just as it looked like Celtic would go in at half-time with the lead, Aberdeen equalised. A corner from Jonny Hayes caused chaos in the Celtic box and McGinn bundled over the line following Calvin Zola's header.

Joe Ledley's stinging drive looked destined for the top corner as Celtic tried to regain the lead in the second half but Langfield pulled off a fine save.

At the other end, uncertainty in the Celtic defence presented a chance for Hector but his shot went wide.

Samaras then drove through the Aberdeen defence and beat Langfield only to see his strike hit the post.

Langfield pulled off another stunning save, touching wide after Commons had gone clean through to fire in a shot.

The Dons also went looking for a winner with Joe Shaughnessy heading wide before Forster saved a scissor-kick shot from McGinn.

McGinn went even closer moments later, his shot beating Forster but coming back off post.

And then came further agony for Aberdeen.

Langfield saved from Virgil van Dijk following a Charlie Mulgrew corner but Boerrigter was on hand to lash the ball home.

That utterly deflated the Dons and Commons scored again from close range with virtually the last kick of the game.