Hibernian 1-3 Celtic: Visitors close gap to leaders Rangers to two points

Match report and free highlights as Celtic produced a rampant first-half performance to beat Hibernian; Tony Ralston, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Kyogo Furuhashi all struck before the break; Victory is Ange Postecoglou's side's fifth consecutive win in all competitions

By PA Media

Thursday 28 October 2021 09:27, UK

Celtic produced a rampant first-half performance as they moved within two points of cinch Premiership leaders Rangers with a 3-1 victory over Hibernian at Easter Road.

Tony Ralston, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Kyogo Furuhashi all struck before the break to earn Ange Postecoglou's resurgent side a fifth consecutive win in all competitions.

Hibs, meanwhile, were left licking their wounds after a fourth consecutive defeat.

How Celtic closed the gap to Rangers...

Home manager Jack Ross made four changes to the side beaten at Aberdeen last weekend as Darren McGregor, Chris Cadden, Jamie Gullan and Lewis Stevenson dropped out and were replaced by Ryan Porteous, Alex Gogic, Jamie Murphy and Josh Doig.

Celtic made just one alteration from the side that beat St Johnstone on Saturday. Mikey Johnston came in for his first start of the season, with Georgios Giakoumakis dropping to the bench.

Ralston had the first effort of the match in the fourth minute but his low shot from 25 yards ran harmlessly wide of the Hibs goal.

The right-back fared better six minutes later, however, when he found space at the back post to nod in a David Turnbull free-kick from six yards.

Hibs almost responded two minutes later when Martin Boyle threaded a pass across goal for Joe Newell who was bursting in at the far post but the midfielder's shot from close range was superbly saved by goalkeeper Joe Hart.

A minute later Celtic scored from another set-piece when Carter-Vickers got in front of Porteous to stab in Turnbull's corner from 10 yards.

There should have been more reason for the visitors to celebrate in the 20th minute when Johnston dummied a pass by Jota into the path of Turnbull but the former Motherwell player blazed high and wide from a great position just inside the box.

Celtic were well on top and the third goal arrived on the half-hour when, after good work by Tom Rogic, the ball broke to Jota wide on the right and the Portuguese squared for Kyogo to tap in from close range.

Hibs were in disarray and Matt Macey had to make a brilliant save to stop Kyogo netting again after the Japanese got in behind.

The hosts pulled one back against the run of play in the 36th minute when Newell's corner was nodded in, with both Boyle and Porteous claiming they had got the final touch.

Celtic suffered a blow just before the break when Rogic was forced off by injury and replaced by Nir Bitton.

Hibs spent much of the second half probing to try and find another goal but the closest they came was in the 75th minute when Jamie Murphy got in behind and was denied by a brilliant save from Hart.

What the managers said

Hibernian manager Jack Ross: "First half, we were very poor, second half, we were very good. And that period when we were very poor cost us the game.

"Large parts of our performance made it comfortable and easy for them and their combination play. We weren't aggressive enough and on top of that we concede two desperately poor goals. That first 45 minutes was unacceptable for a number of reasons, but I have to praise the players for the second half.

"They showed character to produce that kind of performance against a good team. We have momentum at the point of Jamie Murphy's chance, with 15 minutes to go. It doesn't go in and the game drifts away from us...

"If fans want to be critical, direct it at me. At the moment the players need backing. It's my team and I need to lead them to better results. Saturday (away to Ross County) is now a massive game for our season. We need to reproduce the second-half performance again."

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou told Celtic TV: "I thought our first half was as good as we've played this year, especially away from home against a good team.

"We were really fluent and really dynamic, we created some good chances and scored some good goals. It was pleasing to see because that's the kind of team we want to be. We want to be able to take it to teams away from home as well as home, so that was pleasing.

"The second half was a bit different. We had to defend a little bit more. They threw everything at us because they had to, being 3-1 down. For the most part, I thought we handled it not too badly. Joe made one really good save but apart from that, we handled it okay.

"We can improve areas, but it was good to see and it was important for the players to see. It's a good pitch and it helps the fact we try and play quick, dynamic football. So I think the boys enjoyed the conditions tonight.

"As I said, we knew it wasn't an easy place to come. They've had a dip in form so we knew they'd come out of the blocks pretty quick and they needed the crowd behind them, and I thought we did a really good job of getting control of the game really early and putting them under pressure which I thought gave us the advantage we needed.

"We just need to worry about ourselves and we can look at the table later in the season. Right now, what's more important is our football, how we're playing, keep improving, and if we do that, we give ourselves a chance."