Celtic 2 Hibernian 0
00:00
WELCOME to www.celticfc.net for today’s SPL match between Celtic and Hibernian at Celtic Park. The Hoops can move four points clear at the top of the table if they win the crucial contest.
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has made two changes to the side that beat Motherwell 2-1 last weekend. Captain Stephen McManus returns in place of Bobo Balde, while Mark Wilson comes in for the injured Andreas Hinkel.
TODAY’S TEAMS:
CELTIC (4-4-2) Boruc; Wilson, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor; Nakamura, Hartley, Robson, McGeady; McDonald, Vennegoor of Hesselink
Subs: M.Brown, S.Brown, Donati, Caddis, Samaras, Sheridan, Balde
HIBERNIAN (4-3-3) McNeil; Canning, Jones, Hogg, Murray; Morais, Rankin, Beuzelin; Campbell, Shiels, Fletcher
Subs: Ma-Kalambay, Kerr, Donaldson, O’Brien, Gathuessi, Chisholm, Nish
00:01
Celtic kick off, shooting towards the Lisbon Lions stand
03:00
Caldwell tries a long pass forward to McDonald as Celtc take the initiative. It's too far ahead of the Aussie
05:00
Hibs attack on the left flank, but Boruc smothers a through pass. The Pole is then forced to race off his line to clear from Campbell
06:00
Boruc pulls off a fantastic save to deny Hibs striker Shiels.
07:00
From the Hibs corner, Celtic race to the other end and Wilson feeds McGeady. His cross finds McDonald, but the offside flag is raised.
08:00
Great chance for Celtic. Robson picks out McDonald and his cross picks out Vennegoor of Hesselink. The Dutchman's header flies inches wide
08:00
McGeady stings McNeil's palms with a rising drive and Robson fires the rebound over.
11:00
McDonald's lay-off finds Hartley. The midfielder's 25-yard shot soars over the bar
13:00
Celtic force two corners in quick succession. Robson takes the second and Caldwell almost scores with a header
14:00
Nakamura's delivery is met by Robson this time, but the header goes wide
15:00
McGeady jinks past three defenders in the box. He looks to shoot but is crowded out.
16:00
Hibs look to attack and Campbell's shot is deflected wide by McManus
16:00
Boruc punches the corner clear and McDonald races to the other end. The Aussie cuts inside and fires wide of target
19:00
Wilson's long pass is dummied by McDonald but Vennegoor of Hesselink can't beat Jones for pace and Hibs clear
20:00
Vennegoor of Hesselink wins a corner. Nakamura's delivery curls out of play before entering the danger area
22:00
Shiels looks to release Campbell. Boruc is again alert to the danger
24:00
Superb stop by Boruc. Fletcher creates a yar of space on the edge of the box and unleashes a dipping drive. The Pole deflects the shot over the bar
24:00
From the Hibs corner, Celtic again race to the other end. McGeady leaves three players in his wake, but his final pass can't find McDonald
25:00
Hogg is penalised for a foul on Vennegoor of Hesselink. Nakamura's free-kick hits the wall
26:00
Naylor forces another corner for Celtic. Robson meets Nakamura's cross at the front post, but the header sails wide
28:00
Hibs break away on the left wing. The ball is worked to Shiels and his shot is blocked by Naylor
29:00
Vennegoor of Hesselink challenges Hogg in the air and comes away with the ball. The Dutchman is penalised for a foul as Celtic look to attack
32:00
Naylor plays a short pass to McGeady and Hibs break upfield. Hartley blocks Rankin's shot
32:00
Jones meets Rankin's corner at the back post. The Hibs captain heads wide though
33:00
Nakamura, McDonald and Hartley exchange passes but the latter's shot is blocked.
34:00
Nakamura is booked for a foul
35:00
Naylor chips a cross to the back post. McNeil comes off his line to claim it as Vennegoor of Hesselink threatens
37:00
GOAL! STEPHEN McMANUS. Celtc 1 Hibernian 0 - Naylor gets the break of the ball and wins a corner. Nakamura takes it and McManus powers home a header.
39:00
Robson wins possession with a fierce tackle and McGeady attacks the Hibs defence, before being crowded out again
39:00
Shiels threatens for Hibs on the wing but Hartley covers superbly for Celtic
41:00
Jones concedes a corner and Robson takes it this time. McNeil comes off his line to gather
43:00
Jones is penalised for a push on McDonald and Celtic get a free-kick 30 yards out. Nakamura cracks a stunning shot off the post
45:00
Hibs go in search of the equaliser and Robson is forced to concede a corner. Celtic deal with the danger
45:00
HALF-TIME: Celtic 1 Hibernian 0 - A goal from Stephen McManus gives Celtic the lead at the break
45:01
Hibs kick off the second half.
46:00
Hibs win an early corner. Boruc gathers
47:00
Nakamura is sent clear on the right by Boruc. He plays a pass to McDonald, who rounds McNeil and has a shot blocked on the line. With Mark Wilson free, the Aussie blasts the rebound straight at Hibs defender Canning
49:00
Nakamura whips another free-kick off the post. McNeil looked to have it covered anyway
50:00
Robson's corner flies towards Caldwell, who is clearly being held by Canning at the back post. The referee waves away Celtic's penalty claims
53:00
Nakamura attempts to release Wilson on the right side of the box. Murray covers well for Hibs
55:00
Boruc slips as he clears the ball and Shiels goes straight at the Celtic defence. Nakamura and Caldwell eventually clear
56:00
Hartley is booked for a late tackle on Moraise
57:00
Hibs defender Canning is booked for a lunge at McGeady
58:00
Robson whips a free-kick into the area and Hibs scramvle clear
58:00
Robson's corner is cleared at the front post
59:00
McDonald twists and turns in the Hibs box and fires over the bar. The attendance is 58,515.
60:00
Nakamura's pass is intercepted by Morais, who releases Shiels. Robson makes a stunning challenge to stop the attack
62:00
McDonald finds McGeady on the left wing. The youngster drives forward, cuts inside and fires inches over the bar
64:00
Vennegoor of Hesselink, McDonald and Nakamura team up to release Wilson the the right side of the box. The full-back's cross whistles past the upright
65:00
Robson's shot is blocked before Hibs race to the other end and force a corner.
65:00
Let-off for Celtic. Rankin sends a corner to the back post and Jones nods back for Beuzelin. Boruc produces a tremendous point-blank save
68:00
McGeady skins Morais on the left wing. Hogg misses his cross before the danger is cleared
70:00
Hibs sub - Donaldson on for Campbell
71:00
Hibs sub Donaldson has an immediate chance but Boruc saves superbly
72:00
Nakamura's cross just evades Vennegoor of Hesselink
74:00
McGeady drives at the Hibs defence skips past three defenders and fires a shot into the side-netting
75:00
Hibs win a free-kick on the edge of the box after Wilson is penalised for a foul on Donaldson. Morais takes it and Boruc saves
76:00
Nakamura picks out McGeady on the right wing. He cuts inside and hits a swerving shot wide
78:00
Celtic sub - Samaras on for Vennegoor of Hesselink
80:00
McGeady delivers a chip to the front post, but McNeil gathers
81:00
Shiels is booked for a late challenge on McGeady
84:00
Canning gets a second yellow for a late challenge on Robson. Hibs are now down to ten men.
85:00
Naylor's deep free-kick is too long and the attack is gone
85:00
Samaras races at the Hibs defence but takes a heavy touch
87:00
GOAL - SCOTT McDONALD - CELTIC 2 HIBS 0: Robson's free-kick makes its way to McDonald at the back post and the Aussie nods home his 31st of the season
88:00
Hibs sub - Nish on for Morais
90:00
McDonald has the ball in the net, but an offside flag stops the celebrations. There are three minutes of injury time
90:00
Boruc pulls off a magnificent save from Donaldson
90:00
Ian Murray is given a straight red for a cynical tackle on McGeady
90:00
FULL-TIME: Celtic 2 Hibernian 0 - Goals from Stephen McManus and Scott McDonald give Celtic the win and move the reigning champions four points ahead at the top of the SPL.