Celtic 2-1 Aberdeen

Celtic survived a spirited Aberdeen fight-back to gain their first win in five games.

Jason Denayer put Celtic into an early lead and Kris Commons made it two just after half-time virtue of a helpful deflection off Dons defender Shaleum Logan.

David Goodwillie headed Aberdeen back into the game before Craig Gordon pulled off a string of saves.

The Dons continued to attack but could not find an equaliser.

It is a welcome three points for Celtic boss Ronny Deila after the Champions League knock-out to Maribor and a failure to win on the road away to Inverness and Dundee.

Aberdeen's second-half performance will give manager Derek McInnes some encouragement, but it is a third defeat in five games as the Dons struggle for the same consistency they had last season.

Celtic were boosted by the earlier than expected return of captain Scott Brown, who made his first appearance of the season following a hamstring injury, while Aleksandar Tonev and Stefan Scepovic also made the starting line-up.

David Goodwillie dives in to head home for the Dons but Celtic held on to win 2-1

Jonny Hayes managed to shake off an ankle knock for the visitors but was forced to pull out due to his wife going into hospital to give birth.

It was a bright start from Aberdeen and they looked the more likely of the two teams early on, but they shot themselves in the foot with poor defending at Celtic's first corner.

Logan's header away fell to Efe Ambrose, who hammered a shot into the net via team-mate Denayer, who did not know much about it.

The Dons were trying to attack Celtic at pace but were being constantly caught out when the hosts broke from deep.

Commons should have made it 2-0 when Emilio Izaguirre picked him out in the middle, but somehow he headed wide with the goal gaping.

Scepovic then had the ball in the net but was adjudged offside.

The game was flowing from end to end. Goodwillie should have done better when Brown knocked the ball into his path inside the box, but he spun his shot far and wide.

Jamie Langfield then had to deny Commons and Callum McGregor with good saves.

It was not the last time the pair would get a sight of goal before half-time; both firing shots wide of the the left-hand post.

Only 24 seconds of the second half had been played when Celtic doubled their lead.

McGregor picked out Commons just inside the box and his low shot deflected off Logan and past Langfield.

The Dons recovered well and Peter Pawlett forced Gordon into his first meaningful save of the match with a vicious shot.

Commons was inches away from a third when he again was left unmarked at the edge of the box - firing just over - but the Dons fought back with Goodwillie grabbing his first goal since signing for the club in the summer.

Celtic new boy John Guidetti tries to work himself a yard of space in the Aberdeen box

Logan's cross found Andrew Considine at the back post and his header across goal was nodded in by the Dons striker.

It could have been all square when Goodwillie's back-heel sent Niall McGinn clear and Gordon had to beat the Northern Irishman's shot away from close range.

It was all Aberdeen now and Willo Flood was next to force a save with a blistering effort from outside the box.

McInnes made a statement of intent with 15 minutes left when he sent on top goalscorer Adam Rooney for Considine.

The move was always going to leave gaps at the back and, when Commons got the ball caught under his feet, McGregor whistled a shot just wide of the post.

The Dons thought they should have had a penalty when McGinn's free-kick appeared to be handled by Commons and, moments later, McGinn had a shot deflected over from Rooney's knockdown.

In a frantic finale, Stefan Johansen could have sealed victory when he broke clear, but he tried to walk it past Langfield and the chance went a-begging.