Celtic's Kris Commons wants exciting title race with Aberdeen

Commons impressed in Celtic's draw with Ajax

Kris Commons hopes leaders Aberdeen can take the Premiership race "to the wire" but remains confident his Celtic side will successfully defend the title.

The Dons beat Celtic 2-1 last week and then moved five points clear with a midweek win over Hamilton Academical.

"They're in a rich vein of form," said Commons. "It's going to take someone like us to keep the pressure on.

"I've got full faith and confidence in this group of players that we'll be champions come the need of the season."

Commons, who has won the last four top-flight titles in Scotland with Celtic, said: "The expectation of winning every week will add certain pressures to them so hopefully they'll take it right to the wire, keep us interested, keep us on our toes.

"I know we got beaten at Aberdeen. They're flying high at the minute."

Aberdeen beat Celtic at Pittodrie last week

Celtic drew 2-2 with Ajax on Thursday in their opening Europa League Group A fixture, with Commons setting up both of the visitors' goals on his return to the starting line-up.

And 32-year-old Commons had "mixed emotions" after the game.

Goals from Nir Bitton and Mikael Lustig put Celtic 2-1 up at the break before Emilio Izaguirre's red card for two bookings gave Ajax a one-man advantage and the Dutch side levelled late on through Lasse Schone.

"I don't think there was a real threat for the first 75 minutes," said Commons.

"Their first goal [by Viktor Fischer] was pretty slick and good but they had lots and lots of possession in areas where we were comfortable.

"Personally, I never felt our goalkeeper was getting worked so much.

"I think the sending off certainly swayed it in their favour. They could gamble with an extra striker. Obviously, that put us on the back foot. We had a lot of tired legs out there towards the end."

But Commons was "delighted" to be back in the side after missing out on starts in Celtic's previous European games this season.

"The manager called me in before the match and said, 'I need you, I need you to do what you usually do. If not scoring goals then creating goals'," added Commons.