CELTIC eased past Hibs to go second in the Scottish Premiership as the Champions clicked and blew the dogged Easter Road side away.
The score-line – Celtic 4 Hibs 2 -flattered Neil Lennon’s side who had the woodwork to thank on three occasions. But it is all about putting the ball in the back of the net and Hibs managed it on two occasions to ensure that the outcome wasn’t certain until the last five minutes.
Celtic played some outstanding football today. Tom Rogic was sensation, Kieran Tierney was excellent as usual, James Forrest breathtakingly brilliant, Filip Benkovic showed why Leicester City spend £13.5million on him, Callum McGregor was majestic and on it goes.
Ntcham and Boyata played well and Edouard scored two and hit the woodwork twice – it was just a wonderful showing from the Champions.
Look Hibs played well and are a very good side. They contributed to a wonderful game of football, that was a great advert for the game in Scotland.
Hearts beat Aberdeen to stay three points ahead of the Champions. Our next two league games are Dundee away in the midweek after the Murrayfield semi-final then Hearts are the visitors to Celtic Park. That could be the day we go top and when we get there it is going to be some effort from any other side to catch Celtic in this kind of form.
Rogic’s opener after fine play from Forrest was simply sensational as the big Australian curled his effort from 20 yards into the top corner to give the home side a well deserved lead.
Olivier Ntcham was in hand after more clever interaction between Forrest and Rogic to double Celtic’s lead shortly afterwards and both Edouard and Sinclair – who hit the post – should have made it three nil.
Scott Brown, who was booked rather harshly in the first minute, tried to run off a calf strain but had to admit defeat and he was replaced by Sinclair, who needs to believe in himself a little bit more these days.
The second half ended in a 2-2 draw with Florian Kamberi pulling one back for Hibs – and it was a cracker – before Edouard restored the two goal advantage. Brendan Rodgers brought on Kouassi to protect the lead but Hibs scores again within 30 seconds, this time Martin Boyle exposed Lustig’s lack of pace before chipping Gordon. Edouard though got the sixth goal of a wonderful game of football to settle the nerves.
One criticism – the stadium was more than half empty with five or ten minutes to go. Surely it’s worth staying and supporting the team if at all possible?
The Man of the Match was given to Tom Rogic by the club sponsor and while you could put up a case for at least half a dozen players today, no-one could really argue that Rogic is now back to his best and so are Celtic.
Next up RB Leipzig on Thursday night before a trip to Edinburgh next Sunday for the semi-final against Hearts.
