Celtic cannot take Hibs as an easy touch

Stats are one thing, a game of football is another

It is not a cliché to say that other SPL teams still raise their games on occasion when they play Celtic and Rangers. It doesn’t happen every time, at other times the Glasgow clubs hit a level of a performance that can blow away their opponents regardless but sometimes, the other clubs really make it a struggle.

It doesn’t matter what form the opposition club has coming into one of these games and it will be interesting to see if this affects the Hibs side at Celtic Park. John Hughes’ position at Easter Road is starting to look precarious after a dismal run of form. On paper, a Celtic side that has clocked up 13 league wins in a row should get the better of a side with four wins in 25 games but we all know it doesn’t always work like that.

You can expect Hibs to be more organised, their players to be more determined and if they get a point or three, their fans to crow about the result…when they should be angry with their players for cheating them on virtually every occasion up to this point.

So…that’s what is facing Celtic, what have the Glasgow side got to unlock the Hibs defence?

The Video Celts site says that Paddy McCourt, Jamie Forrest and Emilio Izaguirre will miss today’s game (and in all likelihood, next weekend’s match versus Hamilton), but Celtic have replacements.

Charlie Mulgrew came on for Izaguirre in midweek and he may well start today. If Celtic are going to play with two wide men, they have the option of placing Shaun Maloney and hat-trick man Georgios Samaras out-wide, with Hooper and Stokes up front.

The thing is, Daryl Murphy remains a striking option for Celtic and captain Scott Brown is supposed to be fit again. This may give boss Neil Lennon a few selection issues to make but it’s better to have replacements than not.

With two home games in a row, Celtic have got a great chance to continue their run and perhaps add more goals to the attacking play they have displayed at Celtic Park this season.

Can Hibs bounce back at Celtic Park?

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