The Scottish champions were heading into their first season without arch rivals Rangers, but never looked convincing against visitors Aberdeen on Saturday.

Hoops legend Sean Fallon unfurled the SPL flag before the game, but in the first half the home side failed to excite the Celtic faithful, as Aberdeen snuffed out their early attacks and dampened the party mood.

The breakthrough finally came in the second half.

With just over 10 minutes left Commons played a short corner on the right wing and unleashed a strike which Jamie Langfield looked to have saved comfortably, however the ball squeezed under the Aberdeen keeper and into the net.

Celtic next travel to Helsinki for their Champions League second leg qualifier against HJK on Wednesday with a 2-1 aggregate lead.

At Tynecastle, coach John McGlynn celebrated his first match in charge of Hearts with a 2-0 victory against St Johnstone.

Hearts were awarded a penalty in the 30th minute and English striker John Sutton stepped up to convert, following a foul on David Templeton.

St Johnstone were reduced to 10 men five minutes later after Gregory Tade received his marching orders for violent conduct.

And having won the first-half penalty, Templeton eventually scored with eight minutes remaining to double Hearts advantage and secure maximum points.

In other league results, 10-man St Mirren salvaged a dramatic point in their 2-2 draw against Inverness CT, while the matches between Kilmarnock and Dundee and Ross County versus Motherwell both finished goalless.