analysis Comfortable victory gives Neil Lennon's men upper hand over Rangers
There was craft, skill and pace on the Celtic wings, there was style and substance in midfield but it was the central forward pairing of Anthony Stokes and Gary Hooper that eased them two points clear of Rangers. The partnership have now scored 36 goals this season, with Stokes providing the larger share of 19.
Their strikes last night almost rendered the second half redundant while franking the first as one of almost total domination by Neil Lennon’s side. There was a stutter in the second period when a Liam Miller penalty introduced an element of anxiety but this was as comfortable a victory that Celtic could have hoped for at this stage in the season.
Hooper and Stokes seemed to decide to stop scoring after the first half, passing up a series of chances, including a penalty that was scorned by the Englishman, but their efforts were enough to provide three points. Their partnership garnered the roars but Celtic were served with almost unblemished excellence by Biram Kayal.
He ran the midfield allowing Celtic to profit on the wings, where James Forrest returned with an influential performance that only petered out through fatigue. Mark Wilson and Emilio Izaguirre, meanwhile, continue to reprise their roles as two of the most dangerous wingers in the league while playing at full-back.
They all contributed to a performance that began with an energy that suggested the side was still smarting from the Co-operative Insurance Cup final defeat to Rangers. It was almost a surprise that it took them all of four minutes to take the lead. Celtic set about Hibernian with the relish of a drunk seizing up on a fish supper at closing time. It was to become very, very messy for the Edinburgh side.
After four minutes Izaguirre flashed a pass that ran across Hooper to find Stokes who side-footed past Brown. The siege produced two further breakthroughs before the interval. Wilson’s near-post header from a corner was cleared off the line by Michael Hart but the ball fell to Scott Brown, who was brought down by Martin Scott.
Hooper thrashed the subsequent penalty high into the net. The striker then scored from open play, latching on to a stabbed pass by Stokes to blast the ball wide of Brown.
These were the moments that counted in a first half that bristled with a Celtic menace. With Forrest and Izaguirre cavorting down one wing and Brown constantly freeing Wilson on the other, the chances fell to Celtic with a facility that seemed to breed contempt.
A Glenn Loovens header from a free-kick slipped past the post, Forrest shot over from a good position and Stokes sclaffed when Hooper rolled the ball to him after superb work by Kayal.
A stunned Hibs took almost half an hour to muster even a tentative expedition into the opposition half. This resulted in a harsh booking for Wilson for a foul on Miller and a free-kick that at least exercised Fraser Forster.
Hibs managed to flex their tired muscles on either side of the break. Ricardo Vaz Te should have sent his side in with a goal on the scoresheet but he headed over from an excellent cross by David Wotherspoon and Derek Riordan forced Forster into a save early in the second half before coming off injured.
Wotherspoon contributed to something more valuable for Hibs, though. His driving run took him inside the area where Charlie Mulgrew tugged his arm and Euan Norris awarded the penalty. Miller converted confidently.
There was now a palpable irritation from a Celtic support who had watched their side dominate and feared a period of anxiety rather than celebration. They roared as Brown rushed on to a loose ball but could not escape his namesake in the Hibs goal. They sighed as Izaguirre drove into the box but put his shot wide. And they groaned in anguish as Miller sent a shot over the bar.
Colin Calderwood, the Hibernian manager, attempted to increase this pressure by bringing on substitutes Lewis Stevenson and Matt Thornhill for Scott and Vaz Te. Celtic responded by replacing Forrest with Kris Commons, who immediately met a Joe Ledley diagonal ball with a volley that was blocked.
Freddie Ljungberg was then given the last 10 minutes, replacing Kayal who was given his customary standing ovation as he trooped off.
There was time for a further roar of both celebration and annoyance from the Celtic support. Ljungberg won a penalty after a lunge from Paul Hanlon but Hooper shot wide. It was evidence of the misfiring that marked the second half for Celtic. The road to the top, however, had been cleared by half-time.
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