MX23RW : Sunday, December 29 02:09:47| >> :120:63303:63303:
[monks data]
Attendance: 56,730
Celtic logo
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 25
Feb 6, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
Hibs logo

2-0

Christie (24'), Burke (63')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Celtic ease to routine win over Hibernian

Celtic ease to routine win over Hibernian
© Reuters
Ryan Christie and Oliver Burke were on target for the Bhoys.

Celtic showed their strength in depth with a routine 2-0 win over Hibernian in their Ladbrokes Premiership clash at Parkhead.

Boss Brendan Rodgers had team of players unavailable, mostly through injuries, which had left his squad stretched but they were still too strong  for the visitors and led at the interval by midfielder Ryan Christie's 24th-minute drive.

Striker Oliver Burke, on loan from West Brom, doubled the home side's lead in the 64th minute with a deflected shot for what, in the end, was a solid more than sparkling win.

Rangers' 4-2 win at Aberdeen means leaders Celtic maintain their six-point lead over their Old Firm rivals as they continue an impressive run of form, having won all six matches since the turn of the year without conceding a goal.

Hibs' caretaker manager Eddie May now has two defeats and one victory on his record since stepping in for departed head coach Neil Lennon and the Easter Road club continue their quest for a replacement ahead of the William Hill Scottish Cup game against Raith at the weekend, where they will hope to get their focus back.

Rodgers' options were reduced but Belgium defender Dedryck Boyata returned after missing four matches with an abductor injury to replace suspended Kristoffer Ajer.

New signing Jeremy Toljan made his first start at right-back, Timothy Weah came in for injured winger James Forrest while another of Celtic's January recruits, 22-year-old Ivory Coast forward Vakoun Bayo, started on the bench.

The visitors, who had Ryan Gauld and Sean Mackie back in the side, showed some early intent but Celtic's pressure began to slowly build and in the 14th minute Christie came close with a range-finding drive from the edge of the box.

Hibs keeper Ofir Marciano then had to be quick off his line to block a close-range effort from Weah, who had latched on to a pass from midfielder Callum McGregor.

The impending opener came when Christie took a pass from Toljan inside the penalty area and quickly fired a right-footed drive low past Marciano for his third goal in four games.

Hibs became increasingly ragged and Marciano parried another Weah shot, this time from 20 yards, as the home side threatened once more.

Mark McNulty replaced injured Oli Shaw for the start of the second half and then Stephen Mallan took over from Gauld just before the hour mark, seconds before Marciano made a remarkable save from Boyata's close-range header from a whipped-in Christie free-kick.

However, the second goal arrived soon afterwards. Burke raced into the box to take a clever Christie pass with his drive hitting Hibs defender Darren McGregor and looping over Marciano.

Immediately, Darnell Johnson came on for David Gray to make his Hibs debut and moments later McNulty flashed a drive over the Celtic bar but a comeback looked unlikely.

Rodgers turned to his bench with Mikey Johnston replacing Scott Sinclair while Boyata made way for Nir Bitton.

Bayo was ready to make his debut but as he stood on the sidelines, left-back Emilio Izaguirre was crocked by a fierce tackle by Johnson, who was booked by referee Craig Thomson.

Jonny Hayes came on for the Honduras international who was carried up tunnel on a stretcher, the one sour note of Celtic's evening.

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Ronnie Esplin, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '232d218f-5cfe-4533-ac92-38915cac03a8');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:match-reports');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Celtic ease to routine win over Hibernian'});

ID:349522: cacheID:349522:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5788:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers pictured on December 29, 2018
Read Next:
Celtic can see off Hibs despite lengthy injury list, insists assistant Davies
>
Read more about Celtic Hibernian Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Cardinals
@
Rams
6pm
Jets
@
Bills
6pm
Panthers
@
Buccaneers
6pm
Colts
@
Giants
6pm
Titans
@
Jags
6pm
Raiders
@
Saints
6pm
Packers
@
Vikings
9.05pm
Dolphins
@
Browns
9.25pm
Cowboys
@
Eagles
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic1715204844447
2RangersRangers17112429111835
3Aberdeen1810443125634
4Dundee UnitedDundee Utd187742720728
5St Mirren198382630-427
6Motherwell188282331-826
7Hibernian195682631-521
8Kilmarnock195682335-1221
9Dundee185492733-619
10Ross County194691735-1818
11Hearts1944112129-816
12St Johnstone1942132236-1414


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!