Celtic recovered from an early setback to clock up a comfortable win against Caley Thistle in Inverness.

A Nick Ross ninth-minute strike gave the hosts an early lead, but Kris Commons' left-footed curler restored parity 10 minutes later.

Four minutes into the second half, Rami Gershon headed in a Dylan McGeouch cross to put Celtic ahead.

Miku completed the victory for Neil Lennon's with a late strike against the run of play.

The win puts Celtic 18 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League, with Caley Thistle holding on to second place with a match in hand over Celtic.

Gershon and Tom Rogic were handed debuts as Lennon fielded a dramatically-changed side - featuring nine changes - with one eye on the midweek Champions League last 16 clash with Italian giants Juventus.

In contrast, Caley made just one change with midfielder Ross Draper coming in for Richie Foran, who failed to make the squad.

Celtic were on the back foot for most of the opening 10 minutes and Inverness took an early lead when Aaron Doran flighted in a cross from the left that Fraser Forster parried to the feet of Ross who then struck low into the bottom corner.

Lennon's men responded 10 minutes later when Rogic swept past two Caley defenders and cut back for Commons, who wrapped his left foot around the ball and swerved an 18-yard screamer towards the top-left corner of Ryan Esson's goal.

Rogic almost gave Celtic the lead in the 24th minute when Anthony Stokes delivered a reverse-pass on the edge of the D, but the Australian edged his shot over the crossbar.

A Commons free-kick from the edge of the penalty area shortly after the half-hour mark sailed miserably into the back row of the stand, then Stokes claimed for a penalty when his angled drive appeared to rebound off the arm of Josh Meekings, but referee Craig Thomson awarded a corner instead.

As half-time approached, Andrew Shinnie was unlucky to see a mis-cued close-range effort loop over the bar as Caley pushed to re-take the lead.

Following the interval, 19-year-old Joe Chalmers was brought on in place of Commons and almost immediately Caley were claiming a penalty when Dorans' cross appeared to strike the elbow of Marcus Fraser, but, once again, Thomson waved play on.

Celtic quickly moved play to the other end and Gershon nodded in a powerful downwards header from six yards after good work from McGeouch to give Celtic a well-earned lead.

Inverness struggled to regain traction as the visitors began to stamp their authority on the game, and the advantage could have been extended further when Stokes nodded a McGeouch corner off the crossbar on the hour mark.

A good period of pressure followed for Caley when Ross struck for goal and the ball rebounded back out to Billy McKay, but Celtic defender Adam Matthews managed to clear the close-range effort off the goal-line.

Caley continued their hunt for an equaliser, but Celtic completed the victory with seven minutes of regulation time remaining when Miku picked up a pass from Stokes neatly threaded into the Caley penalty area and he calmly slotted past Esson to wrap up all three points.

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (5)

Inverness Caledonian Thistle

  • 01 Esson
  • 02 Raven
  • 03 Shinnie
  • 05 Warren
  • 14 Meekings
  • 04 Tudur-Jones
  • 08 Draper
  • 10 Shinnie
  • 11 Ross (Roberts - 76' )
  • 07 McKay
  • 17 Doran (Sutherland - 88' )

Substitutes

  • 12 Reguero
  • 27 Devine
  • 28 Taylor
  • 21 Polworth
  • 22 Pepper
  • 18 Sutherland
  • 23 Roberts

Celtic

  • 01 Forster
  • 05 Gershon (Matthews - 66' )
  • 25 Rogne
  • 44 Fraser
  • 15 Commons (Chalmers - 46' )
  • 18 Rogic
  • 20 McCourt (Watt - 78' )
  • 33 Kayal
  • 46 McGeouch
  • 07 Miku
  • 10 Stokes

Substitutes

  • 24 Zaluska
  • 02 Matthews
  • 43 Chalmers
  • 31 Herron
  • 11 Nouioui
  • 32 Watt
  • 37 Atajic
Ref: Craig Thomson
Att: 6,175

Match Stats

Shots

7 12

On target

4 7

Corners

5 8

Fouls

7 16

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:07 Full time

Full Time The match has reached full-time.

90:00 +1:39

Free kick awarded for a foul by Billy McKay on Marcus Fraser. Free kick taken by Fraser Forster.

90:00 +1:26

The official flags Tony Watt offside. Ryan Esson takes the free kick.

90:00 +0:22

Andrew Shinnie produces a cross.

89:38

Billy McKay is caught offside. Thomas Rogne takes the direct free kick.

87:49 Substitution

Substitution Aaron Doran leaves the field to be replaced by Shane Sutherland.

87:01

Joe Chalmers takes a short corner.

86:45

Nicolas Fedor Miku takes a shot. Blocked by Ross Draper.

86:03

Centre by Adam Matthews, Nicolas Fedor Miku produces a right-footed shot from inside the six-yard box and bounces off the post.

85:09

Graeme Shinnie decides to take a short corner.

84:07

Drilled left-footed shot by Anthony Stokes. Save made by Ryan Esson.

83:48

Corner from the left by-line taken by Joe Chalmers, David Raven makes a clearance.

83:29

Effort from 20 yards by Tom Rogic. Josh Meekings gets a block in.

81:37

Anthony Stokes provided the assist for the goal.

81:37 Goal scored

Goal - Nicolas Fedor Miku - Inverness 1 - 3 Celtic Nicolas Fedor Miku fires in a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Inverness CT 1-3 Celtic.

80:41

Thomas Rogne gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andrew Shinnie. Aaron Doran restarts play with the free kick.

79:02

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Graeme Shinnie by Dylan McGeouch. Graeme Shinnie takes the direct free kick.

78:32

Shot by Philip Roberts. Save by Fraser Forster.

77:27 Substitution

Substitution Tony Watt comes on in place of Patrick McCourt.

75:49 Substitution

Substitution Nick Ross leaves the field to be replaced by Philip Roberts.

75:26

The ball is swung over by Aaron Doran, save by Fraser Forster.

72:05

The ball is swung over by David Raven.

70:41

Nick Ross takes a shot. Clearance by Marcus Fraser.

67:58

Nick Ross produces a drilled right-footed shot from 20 yards. Blocked by Marcus Fraser.

66:56

Corner taken left-footed by Graeme Shinnie from the right by-line, clearance by Marcus Fraser.

66:21

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andrew Shinnie by Beram Kayal. Gary Warren restarts play with the free kick.

65:19

Adam Matthews takes the free kick.

65:19 Substitution

Substitution Adam Matthews is brought on as a substitute for Rami Gershon.

65:19

Foul by Graeme Shinnie on Dylan McGeouch, free kick awarded.

63:36

Owain Tudur Jones concedes a free kick for a foul on Nicolas Fedor Miku. Free kick crossed by Joe Chalmers, Owain Tudur Jones makes a clearance.

62:28

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Aaron Doran from the left by-line, Josh Meekings concedes a free kick for a foul on Fraser Forster. Fraser Forster takes the direct free kick.

61:35

The offside flag is raised against Anthony Stokes. Gary Warren restarts play with the free kick.

59:40

Inswinging corner taken by Joe Chalmers, clearance made by Gary Warren.

58:55

Corner taken right-footed by Dylan McGeouch from the left by-line, Anthony Stokes takes a shot.

54:05

Free kick awarded for a foul by Tom Rogic on Ross Draper. Ross Draper restarts play with the free kick.

53:31

Aaron Doran crosses the ball.

53:10

Unfair challenge on Andrew Shinnie by Rami Gershon results in a free kick. Andrew Shinnie takes the free kick.

52:57

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gary Warren by Anthony Stokes. Gary Warren takes the free kick.

52:35

Andrew Shinnie crosses the ball.

51:48

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Aaron Doran by Joe Chalmers. Aaron Doran crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing, Nicolas Fedor Miku makes a clearance.

49:17

Marcus Fraser challenges Andrew Shinnie unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Graeme Shinnie from left channel, clearance by Marcus Fraser.

47:42

The assist for the goal came from Dylan McGeouch.

47:42 Goal scored

Goal - Rami Gershon - Inverness 1 - 2 Celtic Rami Gershon grabs a headed goal from deep inside the penalty area. Inverness CT 1-2 Celtic.

46:57

Corner taken by Joe Chalmers from the right by-line played to the near post, Owain Tudur Jones manages to make a clearance.

46:10

Graeme Shinnie takes a short corner.

45:36 Substitution

Substitution Joe Chalmers comes on in place of Kris Commons.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

45:00 +0:08 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

43:13

David Raven delivers the ball.

42:19

Centre by Aaron Doran, Andrew Shinnie produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that clears the crossbar.

39:51

Short corner taken by Dylan McGeouch from the left by-line. Shot by Patrick McCourt. Blocked by Thomas Rogne.

39:33

Shot from 12 yards from Anthony Stokes. Gary Warren gets a block in.

38:49

Nicolas Fedor Miku concedes a free kick for a foul on Gary Warren. Gary Warren takes the free kick.

36:52

Graeme Shinnie has a drilled shot. Dylan McGeouch gets a block in.

36:24

Andrew Shinnie fouled by Rami Gershon, the ref awards a free kick. Aaron Doran takes the direct free kick.

33:35

Nicolas Fedor Miku gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Raven. Ryan Esson takes the direct free kick.

31:18

Unfair challenge on Patrick McCourt by Ross Draper results in a free kick. Strike on goal comes in from Kris Commons from the free kick.

28:45

Andrew Shinnie is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Rami Gershon.

25:31

Thomas Rogne gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andrew Shinnie. Free kick crossed right-footed by Aaron Doran from right channel, Patrick McCourt manages to make a clearance.

23:40

Shot by Tom Rogic from outside the box goes high over the target.

21:28

Unfair challenge on Andrew Shinnie by Rami Gershon results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Josh Meekings.

20:25

Inswinging corner taken by Kris Commons from the right by-line, save by Ryan Esson.

19:19

Tom Rogic provided the assist for the goal.

19:19 Goal scored

Goal - Kris Commons - Inverness 1 - 1 Celtic Kris Commons fires in a goal from the edge of the penalty area to the top left corner of the goal. Inverness CT 1-1 Celtic.

18:28

Free kick awarded for a foul by Graeme Shinnie on Thomas Rogne. Direct free kick taken by Thomas Rogne.

15:48

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Kris Commons played to the near post, Owain Tudur Jones manages to make a clearance.

14:52

Unfair challenge on Andrew Shinnie by Tom Rogic results in a free kick. Graeme Shinnie takes the free kick.

10:41

Beram Kayal challenges Billy McKay unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Josh Meekings.

8:54 Goal scored

Goal - Nick Ross - Inverness 1 - 0 Celtic Goal scored by Nick Ross from just inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Inverness CT 1-0 Celtic.

8:11

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Aaron Doran, clearance by Nicolas Fedor Miku.

6:37

Foul by Beram Kayal on Andrew Shinnie, free kick awarded. Graeme Shinnie takes the direct free kick.

6:06

Billy McKay has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.

5:22

Josh Meekings concedes a free kick for a foul on Nicolas Fedor Miku. Free kick crossed left-footed by Kris Commons from right channel, clearance made by David Raven.

3:41

Patrick McCourt delivers the ball.

0:00

The match has kicked off.

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