Celtic 2-0 Hibernian: Neil Lennon’s side reinstate two-point lead
Celtic reinstated their two-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership by beating Hibernian to pick up their eighth consecutive league victory.
Rangers momentarily moved in to first place with a 2-0 win at Motherwell, but were usurped after Neil Lennon’s side claimed all three points.
Jeremie Frimpong capitalised on a Ryan Porteous mistake to put his side ahead in the first half.
Odsonne Edouard then confirmed the win with his 15th goal of the season.
The result was Jack Ross’ second defeat from his first six games in charge of Hibs, who remain sixth in the league table.
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Lennon had challenged his side to rediscover their attacking verve, which had rather deserted them in recent matches, although results and trophies have continued to go their way.
Hibernian, though, had not come to Celtic Park to roll over meekly and showed signs of attacking intent of their own before the home side began to exert a level of dominance.
They had to show a degree of patience to find chinks in the purple wall of Hibernian’s rearguard and the first time they did that with a sense of purpose, Olivier Ntcham stung the gloves of Ofir Marciano from no more than 10 yards out.
Hibs have not won at Celtic Park for almost a decade but served warning of their own intentions as Martin Boyle cut in from the left and had Fraser Forster diving to his left with a curling shot that the goalkeeper may have got the faintest touch to.
But that was a rare sight of the Celtic goal. The champions had switched to a back three for this encounter and seemed to have an extra man as they swarmed forward in waves.
Frimpong, given even greater licence to bomb forward as a wing-back, was heavily involved, setting up Edouard to fire inches wide and then combining with the same player to break the deadlock after Callum McGregor had forced Marciano into action on a couple of occasions from distance.
The goal owed much to over-elaboration from Porteous just outside his own box. The young defender is experienced enough to know not to do that with Edouard around, but he lost possession to the Frenchman, who rolled in Frimpong to calmly slide under the helpless Marciano.
The second goal was also partially self-inflicted as far as Hibs were concerned – Scott Allan giving the ball away midway inside his own half to invite pressure on his defence. Boli Bolingoli’s initial cross was just too high for Edouard but James Forrest returned the ball into his path and he gratefully swept it past the substitute goalkeeper Chris Maxwell.
Celtic might have scored a third, albeit at the wrong end. Daryl Horgan whipped in a dangerous cross from the left and Christopher Jullien forced his fellow League Cup hero Forster into a marvellous reaction save.
With that, any hopes Hibs had of preventing Celtic from recording their ninth successive home league win vanished.
Man of the match – Jeremie Frimpong
The young man just gets better and better. He is so exciting to watch on that right flank – a constant nuisance to opposition defenders.
He took his goal in a very composed fashion and was a creative force throughout. His deadline day signing is looking more and more like the best piece of business of the summer by the club.
Line-ups
Celtic
Substitutes
Hibernian
Substitutes
Match Stats
Live Text
Match ends, Celtic 2, Hibernian 0.
Full Time
Second Half ends, Celtic 2, Hibernian 0.
Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Jason Naismith (Hibernian).
Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) header from very close range is close, but misses to the left.
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Tomas Rogic replaces James Forrest.
Booking
Stephen Mallan (Hibernian) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Stephen Mallan (Hibernian).
Foul by Callum McGregor (Celtic).
Fraser Murray (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic).
Ryan Porteous (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Hibernian. Fraser Murray replaces Scott Allan.
Corner, Hibernian. Conceded by Scott Brown.
Attempt blocked. Florian Kamberi (Hibernian) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Booking
Nir Bitton (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Nir Bitton (Celtic).
Florian Kamberi (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Martin Boyle.
Substitution
Substitution, Hibernian. Daryl Horgan replaces Christian Doidge.
Booking
Martin Boyle (Hibernian) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Jeremie Frimpong (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Martin Boyle (Hibernian).
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ryan Porteous.
Attempt blocked. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Leigh Griffiths replaces Odsonne Edouard.
Goal!
Goal! Celtic 2, Hibernian 0. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by James Forrest.
Attempt missed. Florian Kamberi (Hibernian) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right.
Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Scott Allan (Hibernian).
Attempt missed. Jason Naismith (Hibernian) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
Attempt missed. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Scott Allan (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
Attempt missed. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Foul by Christopher Jullien (Celtic).
Ryan Porteous (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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