Celtic 3 -1 Hibernian: Celtic sink Hibs to tighten grip on SPL lead

TWO goals from Scott McDonald sandwiched by a strike from captain Stephen McManus saw Celtic see off Hibs in Glasgow and tighten their grip at the top of the SPL table.

McDonald struck for the first time after just three minutes and when McManus added the Hoops second six minutes later Hibs were staring a heavy defeat in the face.

But credit to Mixu Paatelainen's players, they weathered the storm, composed themselves and got back into the game as skipper Rob Jones nodded home Derek Riordan's perfectly flighted free-kick with 17 minutes on the clock.

Celtic had further chances to increase their lead before the interval but the home support was just beginning to get anxious as Hibs threatened to snatch an equaliser when McDonald powered home a cut-back from Scott Brown to restore their two-goal lead.

Hibs new boy, Hungarian internationalist Denes Rosa had to settle for a place on the bench alongside Jonatan Johansson who was dropped to make way for the returning Steven Fletcher while 20-year-old Darren McCormack kept his place at right-back following his impressive performance against St Mirren.

Celtic stunned Hibs with the first goal after just three minutes, Easter Road goalkeeper Grzegorz Szamotulski brilliantly parrying Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's header from Shunsuke Nakamura's header only for McDonald to pounce on the rebound to force it over the line.

And Hoops skipper McManus piled on the misery for Paatelainen's side as he claimed Celtic's second in the ninth minute, another Nakamura corner from the left ricocheting around the Hibs six-yard box before the defender prodded it home.

Hibs could easily have crumbled but, to their credit, they got themselves back in the game with a goal of their own in the 17th minute, Derek Riordan delivering a superb free-kick which found Jones stealing in behind the Celtic defence to nod in his fourth goal of the season.

Jones' goal took some of the wind out of Celtic's sails but Gordon Strachan's players were soon back on the attack , Aiden McGeady, who was teasing and tormenting McCormack bringing a good save out of Szamotulski before blazing the rebound wildly over the bar.

Vennegoor of Hesselink sould have restored Celtic's two goal cushion in the 37th minute when a cross from Marc Crosas caught the head of Steven Thicot and fell kindly at his feet. But the big Dutchman wasted the chance by shooting wide.

The first half came to an end with Szamotulski twice pulling off acrobatic efforts to deny Nakamura leaving Hibs, who should have been well out of contention, still very much in the game.

Hibs could well have equalised on the hour-mark, Chris Hogg delivering a terrific crossfield ball for Riordan who's clever low cross took McManus out of the game as he found the feet of Nish. But, instead of shooting first-time he elected to cut back onto his left foot and was crowded out.

Nevertheless, the incident caused a touch of nervousness to course through the home support, their anxiety increasing again as Nish charged into the Celtic penalty area before being blocked off.

The game was beginning to stretch as Hibs sensed there was a point in it for them but as they poured forward there was always the chance of being caught on the counter-attack and that's exactly what happened as former Easter Road star Scott Brown broke on the right and cut the ball back for McDonald to rifle it high into the for his second goal of the game.

Even then Hibs refused to lie down, Rosa, who had replaced Riordan only two minutes earlier, lashing in a shot from 30 yards which beat Artur Boruc in the Celtic goal but came crashing back off the post.


Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus (Loovens 63), Naylor, Nakamura, S Brown, Crosas (Robson 77), McGeady, McDonald, Vennegoor of Hesselink (Samaras79). Subs not used: M Brown, O'Dea, McCourt, Sheridan.

Hibs: Szamotulski, McCormack, Hogg, Jones, Stevenson, Rankin, Bamba, Thicot, Fletcher (Shiels 85), Nish (Johansson 74), Riordan (Rosa 85). Subs not used: McNeil, van Zanten, Chisholm, Keenan.

Referee: David Somers