celtic move four points clear at top

David Friel
THE SPL title race looks set to go right to the wire after Celtic beat Hibernian 2-0 to once again move four points clear at the top of the table.

Headers in either half from captain Stephen McManus and top scorer Scott McDonald sealed the win for Celtic in a fiercely-competitive match. Hibs finished with nine men after late dismissals for Martin Canning and Ian Murray.

With only one game remaining, against Dundee United on May 22, Gordon Strachan’s side have cranked up the pressure on title rivals Rangers. The Ibrox club have three games left, against Motherwell, St Mirren and Aberdeen – all away from home.

Celtic made two changes to the side that beat Motherwell 2-1 last weekend. McManus returned in place of Bobo Balde, while Mark Wilson came in for the injured Andreas Hinkel.

Paradise was bathed in sunshine for Celtic’s last home game of the season as a capacity crowd filled the stadium. The reigning champions were given a rousing welcome, yet it was Hibs who had the first chance in six minutes.

Dean Shiels, who played in a floating role behind the strikers, was afforded space on the left side of the box. With the Celtic defence expecting the cross, he opted to shoot and Artur Boruc produced a superb save.

That let-off seemed to spur Celtic on and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink passed up a golden chance. Barry Robson released McDonald on the right wing and the Aussie delivered a first-time cross for his Dutch partner, whose header skimmed wide.

The first half was played at a frenetic pace. Celtic had the bulk of possession and forced a succession of corners, which Robson and Shunsuke Nakamura took turns to whip in.

Hibs never looked overly comfortable with Celtic’s set-piece delivery and Gary Caldwell came close with a header in the early stages. Paul Hartley also threatened after good work from McDonald.

Celtic pinned Hibs back for long spells during an entertaining first half. Yet the visitors always looked dangerous on the break, with Shiels particularly influential.

It was from one Hibs counter-attack that Steven Fletcher forced a phenomenal save from Boruc in 24 minutes. The ball was worked to the Scotland striker on the edge of the box and his instinctive drive was tipped over by the Pole.

Robson, who covered every blade of grass in another committed display, flashed a header wide from eight yards as Celtic upped the tempo and finally got their reward in 37 minutes with a goal from McManus.

Nakamura was the creator with a dipping corner that the Celtic captain met 10 yards out. Falling back, McManus managed to get enough power on his effort to send it beyond Andy McNeil.

It could have been 2-0 before the break. McDonald was barged in the back by Rob Jones and Nakamura crashed a spectacular free-kick off the post from fully 30 yards.

Within seconds of the restart, Celtic almost added a second. Nakamura sprinted forward and released McDonald, who rounded McNeil.

The Australian’s first shot was blocked on the line by Canning and with Wilson screaming for a cutback, his follow-up shot suffered the same fate. Nakamura also struck the post with another free-kick.

With only a single-goal advantage, it was tense stuff and Hibs were always a danger. Their best chance fell to Guillame Beuzelin, who was denied by a stunning reflex stop by Boruc in 65 minutes. The Pole also thwarted Hibs sub Clayton Donaldson.

McGeady, who was outstanding after the break, cut inside and sent a drive inches over the bar as Celtic searched for the killer second goal. It finally arrived in 87 minutes.

Robson whipped in a free-kick from the right wing and the ball made its way to the back post. McDonald was lurking with intent and nodded into the net from six yards. It was goal No.31 for the season for the Australian.

By that point, Hibs had been reduced to 10 men when Canning was dismissed for a rash challenge on Robson. He had earlier been booked for a lunge at McGeady.

Hibs’ afternoon went from bad to worse in injury-time when Ian Murray, who had been given a roasting by McGeady, chopped him down with a cynical lunge and was given a straight red.

Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC…2
(McManus 37, McDonald 87)
HIBERNIAN…0

CELTIC (4-4-2) Boruc; Wilson, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor; Nakamura, Hartley, Robson, McGeady; McDonald (Sheridan 90), Vennegoor of Hesselink (Samaras 78)
Subs not used: M.Brown, S.Brown, Donati, Caddis, Balde

HIBERNIAN (4-3-3) McNeil; Canning, Jones, Hogg, Murray; Morais (Nish 88), Rankin, Beuzelin; Campbell (Donaldson 70), Shiels, Fletcher
Subs not used: Ma-Kalambay, Kerr, O’Brien, Gathuessi, Chisholm

WEBSITE MAN OF THE MATCH: Barry Robson