Celtic claimed their first win over Hibs at Easter Road since 2014 with a 3-1 victory this evening.
A blistering start from the visitors saw them race into a two-goal lead through early efforts from Anthony Ralston and Cameron Carter-Vickers. Kyogo Furuhashi added a third before the half-hour mark.
Ryan Porteous reduced the deficit shortly before the interval and we had second half opportunities to eat further into Celtic’s advantage with Joe Hart making a couple of key stops.
That said, Celtic were certainly worthy winners and had opportunities themselves to add to their lead during a relatively even second period.
Jack Ross made four changes for the visit of Celtic with Darren McGregor, Lewis Stevenson, Chris Cadden and Jamie Gullan all dropping out.
Ryan Porteous returned at the heart of defence whilst Josh Doig came in at left-back. Alex Gogić returned in his deep-lying midfield role and Jamie Murphy played just off Kevin Nisbet in attack.
The two sides went into the match on contrasting runs of form with Celtic having won their last three league outings on the bounce, whilst we had lost the same number.
The visitors were quickly on the front foot and had an early opportunity when Ralston dragged a shot wide from the edge of the box.
We were being penned back and struggling to get out so, it was no surprise when Celtic opened the scoring on nine minutes when Ralston headed in unchallenged from David Turnbull’s floated free-kick.
Despite struggling early doors, we were gifted a wonderful chance to restore parity just two minutes later when Ralston slipped and allowed Murphy possession on the edge of the area; the winger quickly put Joe Newell through on goal only for Joe Hart to make himself big and thwart the midfielder.
Having survived the scare, Ange Postecoglou’s men were quickly back on the attack and Matt Macey had to tip a fierce Turnbull free-kick over his crossbar.
From the resultant corner kick Celtic doubled their advantage as Turnbull’s floated delivery was side-footed into the net from close range by Carter-Vickers.
Celtic were rampant and had chances to extend their lead in the moments that followed as Turnbull sliced an effort wide of goal from a good position before Macey saved bravely at the feet of Kyogo after Tom Rogic had played the attacker in on goal.
The visitors grabbed a third goal on 29 minutes when Rogic skipped past three challenges before slipping Jota in on the left and from his cut back Kyogo tapped it in.
We reduced the deficit as Newell’s floated corner kick was attacked by Ryan Porteous and turned into the net.
Celtic were soon back on the offensive and the impressive Turnbull had another shot at goal from 25 yards that the Scotland man dragged just wide of Macey’s near post.
We replaced Gogić with Josh Campbell during the interval and had an early chance to further reduce arrears when Paul McGinn whipped in a corner from the right that Murphy glanced towards goal, however it drifted wide of the target.
It was much more even after the break perhaps because of an improved Hibs performance and, in part due to Celtic being unable to keep the incredible intensity of play going following such an impressive first half showing.
That said, Celtic were still creating plenty of chances with Turnbull’s free-kick ricocheting off the defensive wall and inches wide of goal before Carl Starfelt headed powerfully straight into the arms of Macey following the resultant corner kick.
We then had two good opportunities in quick succession when Nisbet’s diagonal ball picked out Boyle and his driven low delivery flashed across the face of goal and just beyond Campbell’s run.
Moments later and Boyle’s corner kick picked out Porteous in the box only for the defender to head over the crossbar from 10 yards.
Celtic replaced Mikey Johnston with Giorgos Giakoumakis on 65 minutes and the substitute had an immediate opportunity after good play from Kyogo, however his shot on the run was just wide of goal.
Macey made a wonderful save to keep us in it when he got down smartly to get a strong right hand to Callum McGregor’s fierce drive.
Play continued to rage from end-to-end in the second period and it took a wonderful save from Hart to spread himself and deny Murphy as we looked to halve Celtic’s advantage.
Ross introduced the attacking threat of Gullan and Drey Wright for the final 15 minutes as we pushed bodies forward.
We were fortunate not to concede a fourth as Celtic broke on the counter attack and from Abada’s lay-off Jota blasted high over the crossbar from 18 yards with only Macey to beat.
Hibernian: Macey, Doig, Hanlon, Porteous, McGinn, Boyle, Newell, Gogić (Campbell 46’), Nisbet (Gullan 75’), Murphy (Wright 75’), Doyle-Hayes. Substitutes not used:
Dąbrowski, Wood, Stevenson, Cadden.
Celtic: Hart, Starfelt, Furuhashi (Abada 81’), Turnbull, Jota, Rogic (Bitton 44’), Johnston (Giakoumakis 65’), Carter-Vickers, McGregor, Ralston, Juranovic. Bain, Ajeti, Montgomery, Welsh.
Referee: Don Robertson.
Attendance: 17,580.
