Late goals boost Celtic

Celtic moved back to the top of the table for a couple of hours at least after late goals from substitute Lassad Nouioui and Charlie Mulgrew in a 2-0 victory at Aberdeen.

Tunisian international Lassad claimed his first goal for the club after Victor Wanyama's 73rd minute effort struck an upright and Mulgrew soon added another against his former colleagues.

Aberdeen's Johnny Hayes found the side-netting early on and ex-Celtic forward Niall McGinn sent a low shot at Fraser Forster, although the visitors were soon in the ascendancy with Wanyama heading wide from the first of a number of corners.

Celtic striker Georgios Samaras also helped over an inviting delivery from Tony Watt, who then glanced a far post header against the base of an upright following a deep cross by Kris Commons.

McGinn struck wide by way of reply before Commons similarly missed from the edge of the area after being found by Mulgrew as the first-half drew towards its close.

Mulgrew soon had a couple of free-kick situations upon the restart but his first fell into the arms of goalkeeper Jamie Langfield and his next cleared the target from the edge of the area. McGinn set up Hayes in reply but he again could only trouble the side-netting until the visitors struck twice during a four-minute spell.

First Wanyama surged forward and thumped a 30-yard attempt against an upright and Lassad rolled in the rebound. That advantage was soon doubled with Mulgrew steering into the far corner after Samaras' initial shot had been blocked.

The visitors saw a later effort from Wanyama ruled out after Efe Ambrose's header was parried by Langfield, while Watt also hoisted over as they inflicted a first home defeat of the season upon their opponents.

Aberdeen: Langfield, Anderson, Considine, Reynolds, Rae (Robertson 46), Clark, McGinn, Hayes (Fallon 78), Osbourne, Fraser (Vernon 64), Magennis

subs (unused): Brown, Shaughnessy, Masson, Smith

Celtic: Forster, Lustig, Ambrose, Wilson, Matthews, Wanyama, Kayal, Mulgrew, Commons (Lassad 69), Samaras (McGeouch 80), Watt

subs (unused): Zaluska, Chalmers, McCourt, Atajic, Ibrahim

Goals: Lassad (73), Mulgrew (77)

Ref: C. Thomson

Att: 18,000

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