CELTIC were generously presented with a free shot at goal yesterday.

It was one, if taken, would not only help them win a match that in the wake of European exploits was always going to be a tricky affair, but send out a message throughout Scotland.

The signal, most importantly, would reverberate all the way north to the Granite City and through the bamboozled group of players within it that were nursing another dent to their confidence.

Little over a week ago Aberdeen had the chance to move seven points clear of Celtic at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership. This weekend they were left relying on Hamilton Accies halting it being cut to just one after Derek McInnes’ men capitulated against St Johnstone the day before in a 5-1 home hammering.

The metaphorical free shot on goal at New Douglas Park then, and the potential benefits to be reaped from it, were therefore clear for Celtic.

What the large travelling support didn’t bargain for was the most stubborn of obstacles filling it in the form of a Hamilton Accies team with its own agenda.

A year on from when Alex Neil’s group stung the Parkhead club on their own patch for their first win since 1938, Martin Canning’s side proved troublesome once again in this potentially-pivotal 2-1 victory for Celtic.

Knowing a victory would bring them into third and to within a point of their Glasgow opponents, Hamilton sought about obtaining it straight away by grabbing the lead after just four minutes from Gramoz Kurtaj. It would set the tone for a difficult afternoon but ultimately not one that would halt Celtic’s surge.

For a team that looked overawed by Accies for the opening 20 minutes in Lanarkshire, they showed the wherewithal to firstly get themselves back in the game on 26 minutes as Dedryck Boyata slammed home Leigh Griffiths’ whipped free-kick at the back post.

It was a strike that woke Celtic from their early slumber and within four minutes the man already with an assist turned scorer, leaping high in the box to nod a deflected Saidy Janko cross over Michael McGovern and into the far corner of the net.

This was not pretty from Celtic, bit it was at least productive. Yes, there were flashes of neat interplay between Kris Commons and Griffiths, while substitute Gary Mackay-Steven showed his usual skill and directness during the second half.

But for much of this contest they were made to work, especially during the opening period of the first half and for much of the second. While Hamilton’s Carlton Morris did little to impress, talented forward Ali Crawford, the tenacious Dougie Imrie and Kurtaj all combined to test a jittery Celtic defence.

Much to the relief of the 3291 travelling fans, Efe Ambrose was suspended for this one and was replaced at centre-half by Tyler Blackett, while Janko was deployed at right-back.

The pair were given an uncomfortable afternoon. Captain Scott Brown could be seen barking instructions to Janko as Hamilton attempted to utilise the threat of Crawford down the flank, while Blackett appeared nervy when trying to deal with the directness of Accies’ forward play at times, especially in the second half when his dithering almost cost his team a goal when Christian Nade pounced.

Despite these moments, however, this was still a successful afternoon that could be heralded as one of great importance in the weeks and months ahead for Celtic.

Hamilton may have been allowed to take a lead – Boyata was too easily left for dead by Kurtaj – and had a hand in both goals conceded at the other end, but Deila’s team showed the killer instinct to take this game and turn it on its head.

With Accies’ high intensity and work rate, this was never going to be a match that the defending champions would be allowed to dictate.

Still, they managed to grind out the three points needed to close the gap at the top of the Premiership to just one. They also showed great patience and professionalism to deal with the pressure that came with such a task, particularly when faced with being a goal down within four minutes.

Brown was a colossus in a titanic contest with Accies’ Darian MacKinnon, Nir Bitton was relentless in his pursuit of any loose ball that may have bobbled up on the plastic Hamilton pitch. This was the battleground where this win was earned.

The early goal from the home side will have given Aberdeen heart that they may have got off the hook for the second week on the bounce. The manner in which it was wiped out, is of much more concern.

Even when not at the peak of their powers, Celtic had the depth of experience to ultimately just get the job done against the most stubborn of opposition. A quality that appears to have deserted the team with the most fragile of leads at the Premiership summit.

This was Celtic’s second free shot at goal within the space of two league games. While the first may have been scuffed, there was no mistake made with the second.

It will be a long international break for Aberdeen. For Celtic, their trip to Motherwell on October 17 surely can’t come quickly enough.