91Èȱ¬

Celtic manager Ronny Deila said his team need time before they will be at their best after they held off a late Aberdeen fightback to win 2-1.

Jason Denayer and Kris Commons had the home side comfortably ahead before Aberdeen responded strongly with David Goodwillie's goal ensuring a nervy finish.

"It takes time," Deila told 91Èȱ¬ Scotland.

"We need to get settled with the team. They will grow."

There were relieved cheers at full-time from the Celtic Park crowd as the home side got back to winning ways after being knocked out of the Champions League by Maribor and failing to win away at Inverness and Dundee.

They dominated the first hour against the Dons and could have been more than two goals ahead, but Derek McInnes' men finished strongly and the hosts had Craig Gordon to thank for a string of saves late on.

"We should kill the game," Deila added. "There were spells in the first half which were a very high level and you see the potential in this team.

"The fitness has to get better because a lot of players were tired because of national team games.

"I'm delighted that we won and delighted that we played good football in the first half."

Celtic captain Scott Brown made an earlier than expected return to the first team following a hamstring injury, and Deila admits his presence was crucial in the middle of the park.

He said: "He was fantastic. Kris [Commons] was also very good today for 60 minutes. They are important players.

"Also Virgil [Van Dijk], Jason and Craig, so we had a central line there who were very good today."

Celtic now open their Europa League campaign on Thursday at FC Salzburg, with Deila looking to get off to strong start.

"They are a good team," he said. "I think they are very disappointed they are not in the Champions League, like we are. But we have a good chance."