A game of two halves? Most certainly. In the opening 45 minutes Celtic, with a Tom Rogic inspired performance, flew into a blistering three goal lead before Hibs managed to drag themselves back into the game courtesy of a Ryan Porteous handball deflected off teammate Martin Boyle to give Hibs a foothold in the game.
Then as Rogic somehow exited the field before his marker Gogic by way of injury rather than an opponent’s overdue red card, Celtic found themselves showing the other side of the game in the second 45 minutes, namely defensive resilience in abundance and a hunger for the fight that will hold this group of players in as good a stead as the first half footballing lesson they handed to Jack Ross and his Hibs side.
It had been nearly eight years in the making for Celtic to win at Easter Road on league business but it took only nine minutes for Tom Rogic to force the free kick from the permanent shadow of Gogic. And from the resultant free kick Turnbull’s superb delivery found the advancing Ralston who finished with a downward header that skimmed off the surface past Macey in the Hibs goal to put Celtic into a well-deserved lead.
Soon after Joe Hart made a fine save to keep Celtic’s lead intact, before Turnbull again struck a fine free kick, this time direct at goal and one Macey did well to save from. However, the Hibs relief was short lived as from the resultant corner Turnbull picked out Carter-Vickers who supplied a striker’s deft finish with his left foot to leave Macey scrambling and put Celtic two goals to the good.
And there was more to come as this Leith Hoodoo was put to bed, as Jota having been fouled in the build-up sprung to his feet, Rogic then carried the ball superbly, returned the ball to the Portuguese winger who in turn picked out Kyogo for the simple finish and Celtic were cruising.
Hibs ‘keeper Macey then saved from Kyogo with Mikey Johnston hanging behind waiting for the ball to fall for the fourth goal before the pendulum swung. Porteous was allowed to have his goal stand, despite a blatant handball, and then that injury to Rogic that not only slowed Celtic’s momentum but also showed the lack of central midfield attacking options available to Ange Postecoglou, as Nir Bitton came off the bench to replace Rogic who was playing tonight as if he was a racehorse hitting peak stride. We can only hope the early exit was precautionary but in truth it didn’t look good.
The second half saw Celtic show another side to their game that has been much criticised this season, as defensively they held firm as Hibs not only fancied their chances after the loss of their chief tormentor but genuinely made inroads to a Celtic backline, who in turn held firm, kept their composure and even when broken saw outstanding performances from both Hart – with a simply stunning second half save – and Cameron Carter Vickers with the type of performance he’s been building up to, as many eyes in previous games had moved to the improvements in Carl Starfelt. The performances of the goalkeeperand the American Centre half in that second half were just as important as those delivered by Rogic and any of the attacking players tonight.
In the first half Celtic were blistering, in the second they held firm despite an opponent’s onslaught. Both those attributes will be needed to bring home a title, especially so when you watch how our title rivals somehow salvaged a point at Ibrox tonight.
Yet keep this sort of attacking endeavour and defensive discipline up and it will take more than ‘honest mistakes’ to stop Celtic’s momentum.
Only a couple of weeks ago Ange Postecoglou was ridiculed for commenting in Scotland the media call the title early. At that stage Celtic were six points behind, tonight they are only two off the pace and in truth it should be closer.
If Celtic maintain this balance between attacking intent and defensive resilience it won’t take long before Celtic overturn that deficit and prove Ange Postecoglou right. Titles are not handed out in October, despite the best efforts of those officiating.
As Jock Stein said, ‘if you’re good enough the referee doesn’t matter.’ On tonight’s evidence Celtic are good enough in defence and attack, the other side of Mr Stein’s assertion will no doubt be tested further as the season progresses.
Niall J
