ANTHONY STOKES WAS Celtic’s hero on Sunday, scoring the only goal of a dour game against Aberdeen to see Neil Lennon’s side go top of Scottish Premier League.
The 1-0 result was, however, tainted by the loss of last season’s Player of the Year Emilio Izaguirre to a suspected broken ankle early on in the first half.
Kris Commons twice tested Aberdeen keeper David Gonzalez in the opening minutes as the home side restricted their opponents to long-range efforts – including shots from Stokes and Ki Sung-yeung.
Craig Brown’s side were anxious to keep matters tight after conceding 21 goals in five games against the Bhoys last season and almost went in ahead at the break but Scott Vernon’s shot was parried away by Lukasz Zaluska.
Ki glanced a header wide ten minutes into the second half but it was only when Celtic changed into a more attacking formation that they started to push forward a little more and with better intent.
The break through came on 74 minutes when a neat 1-2 between Stokes and Commons – the latter winning the ball back after some poor defending by the home side – allowed the Ireland international slot home past Gonzalez.
More good play from Commons saw the Aberdeen keeper forced into a decent save from substitute Jamie Forrest, while Giorgios Samaras – on for Stokes – put a header well wide with his first effort of the game with four minutes left on the clock.