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Trivia
- Hinkel out injured so Wilson started.
- Leaves us still needing the huns to draw a game for us to win the league!
- Cillian Sheridan on as a sub with a few minutes left
- Comes a day after very contentious game between Rangers & Dundee Utd, the latter having a goal and a penalty denied amongst other things, Link
Review
Celtic re-established their four-point lead over Rangers at the top of the SPL after an exciting win over Hibernian. However, we still need them to drop pts to win! Bottom line is that we were the better team but Hibs could (or should) have scored. Another fine performance by the Celts with Robson, Naka and Skippy being the standouts. Skippy unluckily had a goal rulled offside in injury time or else the margin of victory would have been greater.
Teams
Celtic team:-
Boruc, Wilson, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Hartley, Robson, McGeady, McDonald (Sheridan 90), Vennegoor of Hesselink (Samaras 78).
Subs not used:- Mark Brown, Scott Brown, Balde, Caddis, Donati.
Booked:- Nakamura, Hartley.
Goals:- McManus 36, McDonald 87
Hibernian team:-
McNeil, Hogg, Jones, Canning, Murray, Morais, Beuzelin, Rankin, Campbell (Donaldson 70), Shiels, Fletcher.
Subs not used:- Ma-Kalambay, Kerr, O'Brien, Gathuessi, Chisholm, Nish.
Booked:- Hogg, Canning.
Sent off:- Canning, Murray.
Referee: D McDonald
Articles
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Stats
Stats
CELTIC – HIBERNIAN
Possession
| 54% | 46% |
Shots on target
| 10 | 10 |
Shots off target
| 10 | 1 |
Corners
| 10 | 9 |
Fouls
| 14 | 18 |
Articles
Celtic 2-0 Hibernian
By John Gibson
BBC
Celtic re-established their four-point lead over Rangers at the top of the SPL after an exciting win over Hibernian.
Captain Stephen McManus headed Gordon Strachan's men in front on 36 minutes and Scott McDonald nodded in the second three minutes from time.
Hibs, who saw their Uefa Cup hopes die, had their woes compounded by red cards for Martin Canning and Ian Murray.
Celtic must wait and watch Rangers' two games in hand before both sides play their final league fixtures on 22 May.
Rangers, who face Zenit St Petersburg in the Uefa Cup final on Wednesday, face trips to Motherwell and St Mirren prior to the final fixtures which see Celtic at Dundee United and Rangers away again at Aberdeen.
But Celtic's great rivals might take at least some comfort in knowing that Motherwell will now have less to play for when they meet on 17 May, Hibernian's defeat meaning the Fir Park side have now secured Uefa Cup qualification along with Scottish Cup finalists Queen of the South for next season.
Celtic, whose fixture list is sparse in comparison, welcomed back McManus from injury for Hibs' visit, while Bobo Balde dropped to the bench and Mark Wilson came in for the injured Andreas Hinkel.
Hibernian manager Mixu Paatelainen made two changes to the side that drew 0-0 with Rangers last Sunday.
Midfielder Guillaume Beuzelin returned from suspension to replace Ross Chisholm while defender Chris Hogg came back for Kevin McCann who was out with a knee injury.
It was a nervy start from the home side. Keeper Boruc had to foil Ross Campbell by rushing from his goal before beating away Dean Shiels' shot for a corner.
Gary Caldwell surrendered possession just before the half-hour mark with a careless pass which was picked up by Filipe Morais. The ball eventually smuggled to Shiels at the back post but his shot was blocked by McManus.
It was the beginning of a poor passage of play by the home side, who took turns in giving up possession – much to the frustration of the Celtic support.
But that frustration was forgotten in the 36th minute when McManus towered above a clutch of players inside the Hibs six-yard box to power a Nakamura corner low past Andy McNeil.
In the 43rd minute, after Rob Jones had fouled McDonald 25 yards from goal, Nakamura beat Andy McNeil with his curling free-kick only to see the ball rebound off the post before it was cleared to safety.
Celtic should have doubled their lead within two minutes of the restart when, on the counter from another poor Hibs corner, Nakamura sent McDonald clear on goal.
The Australian rounded McNeil but his angled shot was blocked by Ian Murray, as was his second attempt from the rebound, and the Easter Road side were able to breath again – but only for a few moments.
Let The People Sing!
After Jones clattered Vennegoor of Hesselink 25 yards out, McNeil was forced into a fine save from another Nakamura free-kick which looked to be creeping in at the post.
Canning picked up a second booking and red card for Hibs after a robust challenge on Robson.
It got worse for the capital side on 87 minutes when Robson swung in a free kick, Caldwell flicked the ball on and McDonald headed home at the back post.
There was still time for Paatelainen's side to be reduced to nine men when Murray was sent off for a cynical challenge on Aiden McGeady.
But it had no impact on the scoreline as Celtic kept the pressure on title rivals Rangers.
Celtic: Boruc, Wilson, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Hartley, Robson, McGeady, McDonald (Sheridan 90), Vennegoor of Hesselink (Samaras 78). Subs: Mark Brown, Scott Brown, Balde, Caddis, Donati.
Booked: Nakamura, Hartley.
Goals: McManus 36, McDonald 87
Hibernian: McNeil, Hogg, Jones, Canning, Murray, Morais, Beuzelin, Rankin, Campbell (Donaldson 70), Shiels, Fletcher. Subs: Ma-Kalambay, Kerr, O'Brien, Gathuessi, Chisholm, Nish.
Booked: Hogg, Canning.
Sent off: Canning, Murray.
Referee: D McDonald
Strachan happy at 'deserved' win
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan
BBC
Strachan saluted a terrific game of football at Celtic Park
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan was pleased his side got the result they merited against Hibernian after creating a host of chances.
"It was a terrific game, and it shows that at this time of year you can still play good football," he said.
"Hibs were after the points they needed to get to third, we were after the points to keep the league going, and so it made for a smashing game.
"I thought we deserved it because we created more chances."
"Sometimes you're unlucky, as we proved this year that you can make a lot of chances and not be that lucky.
"Paul Hartley and Gary Caldwell were the best men on the pitch."