Malmo and a timid exit from the Champions League was supposedly Ronny Deila’s seasonal nadir. Evidence to the contrary arrived here where the 10 men of Aberdeen deservedly inflicted defeat on Celtic. Deila’s team, allegedly so fit, so energetic, were lame even when afforded a first-half lead by Leigh Griffiths. The Norwegian coach’s shortcomings are becoming more and more glaring.

For the first time in their history, Aberdeen have won their first six games of the season. They will extend their lead at the top of the table to five points with victory over Hamilton on Tuesday.

Paul Quinn was Aberdeen’s late and unlikely hero. How their manager, Derek McInnes, will savour this result after the trauma Celtic inflicted upon him with four defeats last season and he stressed the better team had won. Jonny Hayes was sent off for the hosts during what developed into quite the gripping spectacle.

Celtic had more to spare in claiming the championship flag than the 17 points ultimately between them and Aberdeen would suggest. Still, four wins over McInnes’s men were significant; if only in wounding north-east hope and confidence.

Celtic could have inflicted another blow on McInnes within three minutes. Andrew Considine was woefully short with a back-pass intended for Danny Ward. Tom Rogic would have claimed a Celtic opener but for a smart save from the highly rated Liverpool loanee.

Celtic were soon to come ever closer. A Griffiths free-kick deflected from the wall, rendering Ward helpless. To the keeper’s relief the ball cannoned back from his crossbar.

These close shaves and the Griffiths goal that was later to come rather skew the narrative of a first half when Aberdeen were the better team. Celtic were sluggish, with Tyler Blackett enduring a troublesome debut at left-back and Rogic caught in possession more often than should be considered reasonable. It was to the hosts’ detriment that they did not punish such shortcomings. Rather than offering composure, Considine was taken by surprise when meeting a Kenny McLean cross with the Celtic goal gaping. McLean was also wasteful from another terrific delivery, this time from Hayes, to the extent he failed to connect.

In between these incidents, Celtic snatched the lead. Considine could have little complaint about the award, after pulling Griffiths to the ground. The striker stepped forward to slam home a low spot-kick for his seventh goal of the season.

Perhaps fired up by a sense of the unjust, Aberdeen flew from the second-half traps to the extent Celtic could barely get out of their own territory for 15 minutes. Included in that spell was the over-zealous – McLean was fortunate to escape action for a challenge on the grounded Mikael Lustig – the controversial – Charlie Mulgrew should have conceded a penalty for handball – and, finally, parity. Not for the first time in green and white, the mindset of Dedryck Boyata had to be questioned as he challenged Graeme Shinnie. The Aberdeen player was surely running the ball out of play and, if he was not, posed little danger. This triggered the second penalty of the afternoon, which Adam Rooney converted. Boyata, not without reason, cited the award as soft.

Any Aberdeen quest for more would have to come with diminished resource. Craig Thomson had no hesitation in issuing a red card after Hayes snapped into Lustig. Aberdeen will use the wet surface in their player’s defence but the tackle was reckless.

This affair made Aberdeen’s winner all the more credible. It is damning for Celtic that you could not argue against the worth of it. An inswinging free kick from Niall McGinn was not defended, allowing Quinn to beat Gordon from close range.

Celtic’s only chance of salvation fell to Griffiths, who saw his shot kicked from the line by Considine.