A howler from Jamie Langfield allowed Celtic to open the defence of their Scottish Premier League title with victory against Aberdeen.

The well organised Dons limited Celtic to few chances in each half but the visitors rarely threatened themselves.

Kris Commons was the hosts' most prominent threat, forcing two solid saves from Langfield.

But the goalkeeper then let Commons' trundling shot slip past him and Aberdeen could not recover.

Celtic unfurl the Scottish Premier League championship flag

Celtic marked last season's title win before kick-off

Celtic now turn their attention to Wednesday's Champions League qualifying return leg against HJK Helsinki, who trail 2-1 in the tie.

The unfurling of the league championship flag preceded the start of the match and both sides took their time to get into full stride after the action had got underway.

Georgios Samaras, captaining Celtic in the absence of Scott Brown and usual deputy Charlie Mulgrew, required treatment and a change of shirt after Ryan Jack's elevated foot gave the Greek a cut lip.

The first chance of any note came when Commons' fierce drive was beaten away by Langfield.

Samaras began to find some space cutting in from the left and his curling shot swept wide of target.

Experienced Dons duo Gavin Rae and Russell Anderson were marshalling central areas and frustrating the hosts but Craig Brown's side did not make the most of their possession in attacking areas.

Last term's SPL top scorer Gary Hooper lifted a shot over Langfield's goal and Commons' shot was blocked by Andrew Considine as the impasse continued until half-time.

Aberdeen posed more of a threat just after the break with Celtic struggling to deal with debutant Jonny Hayes' deliveries.

The former Inverness winger's free-kick deflected awkwardly out for a corner and Hayes' next inswinger was palmed away by Fraser Forster to Scott Vernon, who could not direct his shot on target.

Victor Wanyama was pushed up into Celtic's midfield after Samaras was replaced by Kelvin Wilson and the Kenyan flashed a volley well wide as the home crowd's frustration became all the more audible.

Commons was more accurate with his next shot, Langfield diving low to his left to punch away another powerful strike.

For all of Aberdeen's endeavour, Vernon's increasing isolation up front made breakaways difficult.

Celtic boss Neil Lennon looked for fresh impetus and sent on Paddy McCourt and Daryl Murphy for Beram Kayal and Anthony Stokes.

But it was a mistake that gave Celtic their breakthrough after Commons had played a corner short to Adam Matthews.

The winger received Matthews' return pass and fired in a low shot that should have been comfortably saved by Langfield but the keeper was slow to react and soon looked distraught as Celtic celebrated.

However, Aberdeen can take heart from their stubborn performance, which served to remind title favourites Celtic this season may not be as straight-forward as many have predicted.

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (6)

Celtic

  • 01 Forster
  • 02 Matthews
  • 03 Izaguirre
  • 25 Rogne
  • 15 Commons
  • 16 Ledley
  • 33 Kayal (McCourt - 70' )
  • 67 Wanyama
  • 09 Samaras (Wilson - 55' )
  • 10 Stokes (Murphy - 77' )
  • 88 Hooper

Substitutes

  • 24 Zaluska
  • 06 Wilson
  • 23 Lustig
  • 20 McCourt
  • 46 McGeouch
  • 56 Twardzik
  • 27 Murphy

Aberdeen

  • 01 Langfield
  • 04 Anderson Booked
  • 06 Considine
  • 17 Naysmith (Clark - 72' )
  • 02 Jack
  • 05 Rae
  • 10 McGinn (Magennis - 89' )
  • 11 Hayes (Fraser - 79' )
  • 16 Osbourne
  • 18 Hughes
  • 09 Vernon

Substitutes

  • 32 Brown
  • 07 Clark
  • 08 Milsom
  • 15 Pawlett
  • 20 Fraser
  • 14 Fallon
  • 21 Magennis
Ref: Murray
Att: 48,251

Match Stats

Shots

9 5

On target

5 2

Corners

6 4

Fouls

5 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:01 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +1:14

Emilio Izaguirre takes the indirect free kick.

90:00 +1:14 Booking

Booking Booking for Russell Anderson for unsporting behaviour.

90:00 +1:02

Unfair challenge on Gary Hooper by Russell Anderson results in a free kick.

88:51 Substitution

Substitution (Aberdeen) makes a substitution, with Josh Magennis coming on for Niall McGinn.

83:13

Corner from right by-line taken by Kris Commons.

79:00 Substitution

Substitution Johnny Hayes leaves the field to be replaced by Ryan Fraser.

78:08

Assist on the goal came from Adam Matthews.

78:08 Goal scored

Goal - Kris Commons - Celtic 1 - 0 Aberdeen Kris Commons finds the back of the net with a goal from just outside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Celtic 1-0 Aberdeen.

77:51

Kris Commons decides to take a short corner,

76:15 Substitution

Substitution Daryl Murphy joins the action as a substitute, replacing Anthony Stokes.

74:27

Corner taken by Johnny Hayes from the left by-line, clearance by Anthony Stokes.

71:45 Substitution

Substitution Chris Clark replaces Gary Naysmith.

69:06 Substitution

Substitution Beram Kayal goes off and Patrick McCourt comes on.

68:08

The official flags Joe Ledley offside. Indirect free kick taken by Jamie Langfield.

67:48

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Victor Wanyama by Isaac Osbourne. Victor Wanyama restarts play with the free kick.

67:04

Unfair challenge on Kelvin Wilson by Niall McGinn results in a free kick. Emilio Izaguirre restarts play with the free kick.

65:27

Shot on goal by Anthony Stokes from just inside the area goes over the target.

64:39

Isaac Osbourne takes a shot. Emilio Izaguirre gets a block in.

62:25

Kris Commons takes a shot. Save by Jamie Langfield.

60:50

The official flags Scott Vernon offside. Thomas Rogne takes the indirect free kick.

59:52

Inswinging corner taken by Kris Commons.

58:02

Shot from just outside the box by Victor Wanyama misses to the left of the target.

56:35

Stephen Hughes challenges Kris Commons unfairly and gives away a free kick. Gary Hooper restarts play with the free kick.

55:46

Foul by Emilio Izaguirre on Johnny Hayes, free kick awarded. Indirect free kick taken by Isaac Osbourne.

54:39 Substitution

Substitution Georgios Samaras goes off and Kelvin Wilson comes on.

53:54

Effort on goal by Ryan Jack from just inside the area clears the bar.

51:16

Outswinging corner taken by Johnny Hayes from the right by-line played to the near post.

50:14

Scott Vernon produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that goes over the bar.

49:32

Outswinging corner taken by Johnny Hayes from the right by-line.

49:25

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Johnny Hayes by Emilio Izaguirre. Jamie Langfield restarts play with the free kick.

47:34

Gavin Rae challenges Beram Kayal unfairly and gives away a free kick. Kris Commons takes the free kick.

46:43

The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Victor Wanyama.

45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.

45:00 +2:13 Half time

Half Time The whistle is blown to end the first half.

45:00 +0:36

The referee penalises Ryan Jack for handball. Fraser Forster takes the indirect free kick.

44:00

Thomas Rogne concedes a free kick for a foul on Scott Vernon. Niall McGinn produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.

43:31

Anthony Stokes is ruled offside. Jamie Langfield restarts play with the free kick.

43:13

Kris Commons takes a shot. Blocked by Andrew Considine.

38:54

The ball is swung over by Johnny Hayes, Fraser Forster makes a brilliant save.

38:21

Short corner taken by Johnny Hayes.

35:40

Gary Hooper produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that goes harmlessly over the target.

34:20

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Kris Commons, Andrew Considine manages to make a clearance.

33:43

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Kris Commons from the right by-line, clearance made by Russell Anderson.

32:02

Georgios Samaras concedes a free kick for a foul on Isaac Osbourne. Isaac Osbourne takes the free kick.

30:45

Free kick awarded for a foul by Joe Ledley on Stephen Hughes. Free kick taken by Gary Naysmith.

27:16

The ball is delivered by Georgios Samaras.

26:38

Georgios Samaras delivers the ball, Andrew Considine makes a clearance.

23:40

Georgios Samaras has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

21:44

Kris Commons takes a shot. Save made by Jamie Langfield.

17:44

Free kick awarded for a foul by Gavin Rae on Georgios Samaras. Kris Commons restarts play with the free kick.

16:44

Centre by Niall McGinn.

16:16

Johnny Hayes takes a shot. Joe Ledley gets a block in.

9:30

Unfair challenge on Georgios Samaras by Ryan Jack results in a free kick. Emilio Izaguirre takes the free kick.

9:02

Joe Ledley takes a shot. Save by Jamie Langfield.

4:12

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Kris Commons from the right by-line, Russell Anderson makes a clearance.

3:52

Emilio Izaguirre delivers the ball, Gavin Rae manages to make a clearance.

2:25

Scott Vernon challenges Kris Commons unfairly and gives away a free kick. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Kris Commons.

2:25

Foul by Scott Vernon on Kris Commons, free kick awarded. Kris Commons delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel,

1:29

Stephen Hughes gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Victor Wanyama. Victor Wanyama takes the free kick.

0:00

The referee gets the game underway.

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