Celtic are on course for a victory that would see them edge closer to securing the Scottish Premiership title, after Leigh Griffiths and Charlie Mulgrew put them in command against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

The Hoops, looking to return to winning ways after their first league defeat of the season at Aberdeen in midweek, made a positive start and went close to taking the lead on two minutes when Anthony Stokes's clever chip went just wide of Dean Brill's goal.

Neil Lennon's side were soon ahead when Emilio Izaguirre found Leigh Griffiths and the striker fired his shot beyond Brill from close range.

Griffiths turned provider 10 minutes later when he crossed for Charlie Mulgrew, who turned the ball into the bottom corner as Celtic looked likely to run riot early on.

After being besieged by the Hoops in the opening stages, Caley tried to find a way back into the game through Richie Foran, but his effort was too high to trouble Fraser Forster.

However, it proved to be a rare foray into the Celtic half as the hosts piled on more pressure with Mulgrew denied a second goal by Gary Warren's last-ditch block.

With half-time approaching, Celtic almost put the game beyond doubt when Mulgrew turned provider for Stokes, but his effort was kept out by Brill.