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Parkhead side, Stokes peeled away unmarked at the back post to head Emilio Izaguirre’s rightfooted cross past Paul Gallacher from six yards.

However, Thistle, with Lyle Taylor leading the line, worked themselves into the game and gave their fans something to shout about by forcing a couple of corners.

Thistle had a decent chance in the 29th minute when Taylor set up Chris Erskine inside the box but the Jags midfielder failed to control the pass and the ball ran through to Hoops keeper Fraser Forster.

Moments later, after Izaguirre had fouled Erskine 25 yards from goal, Taylor blasted the free-kick against the Celtic wall and another opportunity was spurned.

At the other end, after Commons was brought to the ground 25 yards out by Stuart Bannigan, the Hoops attacking midfielder curled the free-kick high over the bar to cheers from the home fans.

Any hopes of a Thistle fight back disappeared in the 49th minute when Johansen’s pass from the left was bypassed by Commons and Griffiths to the other side of the box, where Henderson took a touch before drilling it low past Gallacher.

When Johansen fired low past the hapless Jags keeper four minutes later after playing a one-two with Griffiths, it was party time for the boisterous away supporters.

Elliott, on for Erskine, hammered a volley past Forster with five minutes remaining but it was countered by Stokes and Commons in the final seconds.