Celtic enjoy peace in their time at Easter Road

Hibs were lucky to get 0

For 40 minutes on a field of grass 22 men wandered about looking lost. It would be a stretch of the imagination to call those wearing green or fluorescent yellow and black tops footballers because there was no football on show.

Just when you were beginning to give up hope of seeing a football match, Daniel Majstorovic missed a sitter with a free header from yards out. It was no surprise that the Swedish stopper’s only Celtic goal came when he had time to volley the ball home against Berwick.

This miss galvanised Celtic and the hoops had another chance when Biram Kayal fed in Hooper but the striker smashed his chance off Mark Brown. To be fair to the Israeli, he had a fair opening period and withstood a power of abuse, just like he did on Wednesday at Hamilton.

And just when Hibs were breathing a sigh of relief, Hooper was fed in again and made no mistake this time to open the scoring. Over the course of the 45 minutes, it would be hard to argue either team deserving a lead but Celtic deserved it for eventually shaking the game to life.

No doubt Colin Calderwood impressed the need for a solid start but the Hibees crumbled from the first whistle of the second 45. Celtic were looking as though they could walk through the Hibs backline at will and it was no shock that another away goal came.

It came from the penalty spot when Stokes was bundled over. The Irishman dusted himself down and rolled the ball down the middle, doubling Celtic’s lead and taking some of the pressure off Stokes. The forward wasn’t at his best for Celtic in midweek or this game but getting on the scoresheet in both matches will hopefully offer Stokes a boost in confidence.
Hibs eventually came to life but a great Fraser Forrster stop and a Daniel Majstorvic block was all that Hibs had to show for it.

The third goal would kill it and it was a stunning finish from Stokes.

As Hibs lined up to defend a corner, Stokes dropped off into space and demanded the ball. The once again brilliant Emilio Izaguirre found Stokes who controlled it and then hit an overhead kick that looped into the corner if the net. 3-0 Celtic and game done.

The rest of the game was keep ball for Celtic and the Hibs players just wanted to slide off the park and hide. A good win for Celtic after the midweek controversy but problems are mounting for Hibs.

The expected clash between Neil Lennon and Willie Collum never came but there was one funny moment in the first half. Celtic stopper Majstorovic made another mess of a clearance which put the ball straight out for a Hibs shy and Lennon was quick to show his unhappiness with the defender. The innocent souls behind the dugout leapt up and tried to draw attention to Lennon, who they thought was remonstrating with the officials. It just shows that Neil Lennon is a marked man even when he does nothing wrong.

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