Celtic vs Hibs – LIVE updates
Celtic's winning machine rolled on with a 3-0 home victory against Hibs to move nine points clear of Aberdeen at the Premiership summit - but the scoreline doesn't tell the full story.
Hibs could have gone in front in the opening two minutes only for Mykola Kukharevych, but Brendan Rodgers' men showed their clinical touch to break the deadlock just four minutes later when Arne Engels turned the ball home from Alistair Johnston's cross. But Hibs responded well and passed up two glorious chances to level when skipper Joe Newell fluffed his lines and striker Kukharevych was found wanting from close quarters once again.
Those misses proved to be crucial as the Hoops doubled their lead nine minutes after the restart. Adam Idah rose to flick on a corner at the near post with the ball going into the back of the net off an unfortunate Newell. David Gray's side put on a display that makes a mockery of their lowly league position but the game was finally beyond their reach when Celtic subs James Forrest and Kyogo combined to see the latter wrap up the points with a delightful finish.
Rodgers' managed to get some of his key men a rest ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash away to Dinamo Zagreb but will be impressed with the performances of some of the men called upon to down Hibs.
The Leith side have slumped back to the basement of the league table but Gray will know that sharpening up in front of goal is key to picking up more points while also trying to tighten things up at the other end.
Celtic: Schmeichel, Johnston, Trusty, Scales, Taylor, McGregor, Engels, McCowan, Kuhn, Maeda, Idah. Subs: Sinisalo, Kyogo, Valle, Yang, Carter-Vickers, Bernardo, Hatate, Forrest, Ralston
Hibs: Smith, Miller, O'Hora, Bushiri, Iredale, N. Cadden, Newell, Triantis, Obita, Youan, Kukharevych Subs: Bursik, Levitt, Doyle-Hayes, Boyle, C. Cadden, Moriah-Welsh, Hoilett, Campbell, Gayle
Follow all the action LIVE on the blog.
17:16Anthony Evans
Arne Engels returned to strike as Celtic kept up the pace at the top of the Premiership.
The Belgian hit the fourth goal of his Parkhead career to open the scoring before Adam Idah’s header was knocked into his own net by Hibs captain Joe Newell. Sub Kyogo Furuhashi leapt from the bench to score a sublime third near the finish as the champions triumphed.
It was a day where Celtic created chances and took some of them. Hibs, on the other end, didn’t.
17:12Anthony Evans
Here are our player ratings from our very own Scott McDermott.
Celtic: 4-3-3 - Schmeichel 8 - Johnston 7, Trusty 6, Scales 6, Taylor 7 - *Engels 7 (Hatate 73 mins 3), McGregor 7, McCowan 6 (Bernardo 73 mins 3) - Kuhn 5 (Forrest 46 mins 5), Idah 6 (Kyogo 67 mins 5), Maeda 6 (Yang 67 mins 3). SUBS: Sinisalo, Valle, Carter-Vickers, Ralston.
Hibs: 5-4-1 - Smith 7 - Miller 7 (C Cadden 82 mins 2), *O’Hora 7, Bushiri 6, Iredale 7, Obita 6 - Youan 7 (Hoilett 82 mins 2), Triantis 7, Newell 5 (Gayle 82 mins 2), N Cadden 7 (Boyle 73 mins 3) - Kuharevich 3 (Campbell 27 mins 5). SUBS: Bursik, Levitt, Doyle-Hayes, Moriah-Welsh.
16:56Anthony Evans
It's all over at Parkhead as Rodgers' winning machine rolls on.
The scoreline isn't perhaps a true reflection of the game but Celtic can go to Zagreb on Tuesday brimming with confidence after extending their almost flawless start in defence of their title.
16:54Anthony Evans
Hibs will quite rightly come away from today's game knowing it would have been a much closer affair had they taken their chances.
But Celtic continue to do what they do best by making it hurt where it counts and with Aberdeen set to drop points at home to St Johnstone are going nine points clear at the top.
16:49KEY EVENT
Celtic have their third and it's a thing of beauty.
Forrest's perfectly-weighted pass is expertly controlled by Kyogo who then proceeds to beat Smith with a cheeky dink.
An eighth goal of the campaign for the Japan forward.
16:47Anthony Evans
Gray has made one last throw of the dice to force a dramatic fightback.
Chris Cadden, Junior Hoilett and Dwight Gayle are on for Youan, Miller and Newell.
16:44Anthony Evans
The Hibs stopper will come out with pass marks regardless of the full-time scoreline.
Trusy is too strong in the air and powers a header from a corner towards goal only for Smith to tip it over the bar.
16:42Anthony Evans
The substitute almost makes a quickfire impact to give the Hoops clear daylight.
He comes in off the left and creates a shooting opportunity for himself only to drag it wide at the near post.
We are approaching the last 10 minutes of play at Parkhead.
16:37Anthony Evans
Celtic have gone to the bench again with McCowan and Engels making way for Paulo Bernardo and Reo Hatate.
Hibs have also introduced the pacey Martin Boyle for Nicky Cadden.
16:34Anthony Evans
The former Leicester man has been a busy man this afternoon.
Miller rises well to meet a corner and Schmeichel is alert to palm away his header.
On another day, Hibs would have had a couple of goals to their name at least.
16:32Anthony Evans
A decent chance for Hibs to grab a lifeline.
A cross finds its way to Miller at the back post and the Aussie wing back's half-volley is well blocked and goes out for a corner.
16:30Anthony Evans
Rodgers has gone to his bench again with Kyogo and Yang replacing Idah and Maeda.
Less than 25 minutes remain at Parkhead.
16:27Anthony Evans
The big Dane has been a bystander in this second half.
But a mistake from McCowan sees the veteran spring into action and push a stinging Hibs drive around the post.
A reminder for Celtic that there is still a wee bit of work to do.
16:22Anthony Evans
Celtic could be out of sight here.
Johnston is sent clear by McCowan but gets caught in two minds with Idah waiting for a tap in from close range.
It's a long way back for Hibs you feel.
16:19KEY EVENT
The hosts have doubled their lead.
Idah meets a corner at the near post and his header goes into the back of the net off the unfortunate Newell.
You have to say it was coming.
16:14Anthony Evans
Jordan Smith has came under fire for his performances between the posts for Hibs - but the Englishman has been on top form today.
Celtic pile on the pressure with another ball into the box and Smith reacts briliantly to deny Scales at close quarters.
16:13Anthony Evans
The Belgium international is fed by a lovely flick from Idah but his shot is straight down Smith's throat.
A postive start to the second half from the champions who are looking to put this game beyond Hibs' reach.
16:11Anthony Evans
Celtic have made a change for the second talk with James Forrest replacing Kuhn.
It remains to be seen if the German winger has picked up an injury or if he is being given a rest ahead of Tuesday's trip to Zagreb in the Champions League.
16:08KEY EVENT
We are back underway in Glasgow's East End.
Based on what we saw in the first 45 minutes, there are surely more goals to come.
15:53KEY EVENT
An eventful first half draws to a close.
It's been a great game for the neutral but both managers will have plenty to say in the dressing room with the second goal in this game absolutely crucial.
15:52Anthony Evans
Arne Engels tests out the Hibees keeper from distance.
It takes a wicked bounce before it reaches Smith but he does well to push it around the post.
15:51Anthony Evans
Celtic almost add a second on the brink of the half-time whistle.
Taylor's outswinging cross somehow finds its way to the Republic of Ireland international who is denied by a point-blank range save from Smith.
The striker may have been penalised for being offside had the ball hit the net.
15:48Anthony Evans
The Japan wide man makes his trademark run in behind Miller and get on the end of Kuhn's chipped cross.
However his glancing header drops wide of Smith's far post.
We are into five minutes of additional time in the first half.
15:44Anthony Evans
The goalscorer is the first player to go into the book.
The Belgian midfielder catches Newell as he tries to break, leaving a sore one on the Hibs captain.
VAR is called into to potentially upgrade the yellow to a red card, but play is waived on after a quick check.
15:42Anthony Evans
It's been an action-packed affair so far at Parkhead.
Hibs will definitely feel they should at least be on course to get a point while Rodgers will be urging his men to push on and get a second goal to give them some daylight.
The visitors have not looked like a side who currently sit second-bottom of the table.
15:38Anthony Evans
The Canada full back is perhaps fortunate not to be cauitoned.
Johnston comes through the back of Youan in an aerial challenge with Youan left in a heap/
Thankfully the Hibees frontman is up again and okay to continue.
15:33Anthony Evans
It's now Adam Idah who is wondering how he hasn't netted.
Kuhn charges in down the right and slides it across the face of the goal only for Idah to get his feet all mixed up and make a real meal of it.
It's truly remarkable that we have only had one goal in the opening 32 minutes of play.
15:30Anthony Evans
The striker's afternoon gets from bad to worse after he picks up an injury from trying to stretch and knock the ball into the net past Schmeichel.
He is replaced by Josh Campbell which should see Elie Youan now play a bit more central.
15:26Anthony Evans
The Ukrainian forward beats the offside trap to go on-on-one with Schmeichel once again.
But for a second time, the Danish stopper comes out on top to smother the Swansea loanee's effort.
Hibs have enjoyed great success on the counter attack but simply can't put their chances away.
15:20Anthony Evans
Hibs pace up a great chance to draw level.
Lewis Miller races away down the left and pulls the ball back to skipper Newell, only for the midfielder to blaze it over the bar as he struggled to keep his balance.
Boss Gray will be pulling his hair out at his team's woes in front of goal so far.
