Celtic 4 - 2 Hibernian: Every time Gordon Strachan shuffles his pack he accepts he is about to take a gamble. He dealt himself a winning hand again in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League on Saturday but his strategy was not without risk and it was almost severely punished.

Every time Gordon Strachan shuffles his pack he accepts he is about to take a gamble. He dealt himself a winning hand again in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League on Saturday but his strategy was not without risk and it was almost severely punished.

The Celtic manager is playing a game that stretches the nerves as well as the resources. His priority is to defend his Premier League title but he must contend with the fall-out from Champions League matches. Strachan believed his wide players had put in a demanding shift at Old Trafford and left full-backs Lee Naylor and Mark Wilson out of the squad and placed Aiden McGeady on the bench. However, his decision to play Barry Robson at left-back was a mixture of risk and pragmatism. Strachan got away with it, but only just.

The decision was curious in that Robson also had a draining night at Old Trafford, trying to help staunch the flow down Celtic's left flank.

Crucially, too, Robson is not a full-back. This poses no concerns when he races forward to deliver crosses and offers an option for the front men, but the move was rendered risky by Robson's inability on two occasions to grasp the essentials of full-back play.

The first was when he allowed Steven Fletcher to drift inside onto his powerful left foot for a shot that was deflected off Colin Nish for the goal that brought Hibs back into an enthralling match after going 2-0 down. The second Hibs goal followed a ball inside Robson for Nish to hold off the full-back and cross for Fletcher to score deftly.

Robson has been many things for Celtic, most of them positive, but the midfielder is not a left-back and playing him against a team that was always going to employ two wide men was a gamble.

Of course, Strachan was merely playing the cards he felt were dealt to him. In the absence of Naylor, he does not have a recognised left full-back. Wilson lost a goal against Rangers because of his unfamiliarity with the position and Robson was similarly adrift on Saturday. It is clear Celtic must add a left full-back in the January window.

The loss of the two goals proved ultimately irksome, rather than fatal to the prospect of gathering three points at Celtic Park. However, Strachan, the maverick, enjoyed a piece of luck when Scott McDonald lunged into David van Zanten with his boot high. The striker should have been sent off but received a yellow card after referee Calum Murray consulted his assistant.

Celtic then went on to win the match and there was nothing lucky about that eventuality. This Celtic side may have been vanquished in Manchester but they have sterling, admirable qualities. They always try to play football and, simply, they always try.

They have not yet mastered total control in possession but their aim is always to put pressure on the opponents' back four. Two goals in the first half seemed to have made it a routine, if highly entertaining victory.

Stephen McManus, who limped off at half-time with a minor calf strain, fired Celtic in front after Shunsuke Nakamura's mis-hit corner was allowed to skid through towards the defender.

Cillian Sheridan then sprinted clear of Rob Jones to finish neatly. This was a tangible reward for the 19-year-old who showed both promise and pace. The loss of two goals then tested Celtic's mettle but that was one examination that this side passes with ease.

Strachan played his ace in McGeady, who drew a foul that led to a corner. Glenn Loovens rose at the back post to head home. Scott Brown, looking increasingly powerful in the driving rain, then picked up an excellent McDonald lay-off to fire past Yves Ma-Kalambay. This was the ultimate gambit and Celtic swept in all the chips.

There was even time for Paddy McCourt to make a brief appearance. The signing from Derry City has been working hard on his fitness but knows the size of the challenge facing him.

"The quality of the players here has surprised me most," he said after his competitive debut. "Sometimes from the outside looking in you don't appreciate how good the lads are. It's when you see them and work with them on a daily basis that you realise they're really top players, really top professionals."

They also have the collective will that is the minimum requirement for champions. McCourt will find it difficult to be part of Strachan's hand and expressed his desire to play any position to get a game. How about left-back, Paddy?