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Trivia
- Welsh international striker John Hartson scored his second goal in four days to give the champions a narrow win over troubled Hibs at a sun-drenched Celtic Park.
- Jinky introduced on pitch as greatest ever Celt.
Review
Desperate defending was keeping Celtic at bay early on and Alen Orman and Gary Smith had to make vital blocks to stop Jackie McNamara in the fifth minute. Bobo Balde failed to clear an Orman cross and the ball came to Ian Murray 25 yards out. His right-foot shot flashed just over the crossbar with stand-in keeper Jonathan Gould struggling to make up the ground.
The Hibs defence went to sleep after 17 minutes when Hartson played Henrick Larsson through, but the Swede, who squandered a number of good chances in the midweek defeat at Motherwell, slashed his effort well wide.
In the 31st minute, the Hibernian goalkeeper was helpless to prevent Celtic from taking the lead. Thompson's pass was cleverly flicked on by Larsson and Hartson coolly clipped the ball past the wrong-footed Caig.
But Celtic were still shaky at the back and they were relieved to see Yannick Zanbernardi's deflected effort loop just over the bar in the 35th minute before Orman fired wide. Gould made a mess of Brebner's corner three minutes later, but with the keeper grounded McManus could only head wide.
Hibs carved out an opportunity just two minutes after the re-start when Paco Luna headed Orman's cross wide.
Then Larsson went close at the other end just two minutes later when former Hibs man Ulrik Laursen fed Thompson down the left. He floated an inviting cross to the far post but Larsson headed straight at a grateful Caig.
Celtic had the ball in the net moments later when Balde bundled the ball over the line after Hartson had got on the end of Steve Guppy's cross, but the linesman ruled it out for offside.
Teams
Celtic:-
Gould, Valgaeren, Balde, Laursen, Sylla, Lennon, McNamara, Thompson (Maloney 80), Guppy, Larsson, Hartson.
Subs not used:- Douglas, Sutton, Fernandez, Crainey.
Goal:- Hartson 31.
Hibernian:-
Caig, Fenwick, Smith, Zambernardi, Orman, Brebner, Matyus, Wiss, Murray, Luna (Paatelainen 88), McManus (O'Connor 68).
Subs not used:- Westwater, James, Townsley.
Booked:- Smith.
Att:- 56,703
Ref:- D McDonald.
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
- Match Report (BBC)
Pictures
Stats
| Celtic | Hibernian | |
| 7 | Shots On Target | 1 |
| 5 | Shots Off Target | 8 |
| 16 | Fouls (Conceded) | 15 |
| 5 | Corners | 5 |
| 0 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
Hartson sinks battling Hibs
BBC
Celtic 1-0 Hibernian
Welsh international striker John Hartson scored his second goal in four days to give the champions a narrow win over troubled Hibs at a sun-drenched Parkhead.
A much-improved Hibs ran Celtic close but the home side did just enough to deservedly collect all three points.
Celtic started brightly against the SPL's bottom club.
After only four minutes the visitors had their hearts in their mouths when stand-in keeper Tony Caig failed to hold an Alan Thompson cross but managed to collect at the second attempt.
Photo Gallery: SPL round-up
Desperate defending was keeping Celtic at bay early on and Alen Orman and Gary Smith had to make vital blocks to stop Jackie McNamara in the fifth minute.
But Hibs took encouragement from some early nerves in the Celtic defence.
Bobo Balde failed to clear an Orman cross and the ball came to Ian Murray 25 yards out.
Celtic's Henrik Larsson (left) loses out against Gary Smith
An out-of-touch Larsson missed several chances
His right-foot shot flashed just over the crossbar with stand-in keeper Jonathan Gould struggling to make up the ground.
The Hibs defence went to sleep after 17 minutes when Hartson played Henrick Larsson through, but the Swede, who squandered a number of good chances in the midweek defeat at Motherwell, slashed his effort well wide.
But Hibernian continued to grow in confidence and Tom McManus almost went through on goal, but Balde made a timely intervention.
At the other end Caig continued to look shaky and again he could only look on as Thompson's cross clipped the crossbar.
And, in the 31st minute, the Hibernian goalkeeper was helpless to prevent Celtic from taking the lead.
Thompson's pass was cleverly flicked on by Larsson and Hartson coolly clipped the ball past the wrong-footed Caig.
But the home side were still shaky at the back and they were relieved to see Yannick Zanbernardi's deflected effort loop just over the bar in the 35th minute before Orman fired wide.
Hibs' Paco Luna (left) tussles with Jackie McNamara
Hibs made Celtic work hard for the win
Gould made a mess of Brebner's corner three minutes later, but with the keeper grounded McManus could only head wide.
Hib's boss Bobby Williamson must have been encouraged by his side's first half display and they carved out an opportunity just two minutes after the re-start when Paco Luna headed Orman's cross wide.
But Larsson went close at the other end just two minutes later when former Hibs man Ulrik Laursen fed Thompson down the left.
He floated an inviting cross to the far post but Larsson headed straight at a grateful Caig.
Celtic had the ball in the net moments later when Balde bundled the ball over the line after Hartson had got on the end of Steve Guppy's cross, but the linesman ruled it out for offside.
The home side continued to carve out openings and the Welshman again did well to reach Sylla's cross, after good work by the winger down the right, but his diving header was saved by Caig.
Then Caig saved Shaun Maloney's free-kick before GrantBrebner gave Celtic a late scare when he blazed over with seconds left on the clock.
Celtic: Gould, Valgaeren, Balde, Laursen, Sylla, Lennon, McNamara, Thompson (Maloney 80), Guppy, Larsson, Hartson.
Subs Not Used: Douglas, Sutton, Fernandez, Crainey.
Hibernian: Caig, Fenwick, Smith, Zambernardi, Orman, Brebner, Matyus, Wiss, Murray, Luna (Paatelainen 88), McManus (O'Connor 68).
Subs Not Used: Westwater, James, Townsley.
Booked: Smith.
Attendance: 56,703
Referee: D McDonald. _