Match Reports

Celtic 3 Hibernian 1

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Celtic moved back to the top of the SPL after Gary Hooper struck twice and also missed a second penalty in a routine 3-1 victory against Hibernian at Parkhead.

Recalled striker Anthony Stokes had earlier taken only four minutes to open the scoring against his former club.

Hooper then converted a penalty after Scott Brown was fouled by Martin Scott before adding his second goal of the evening six minutes before the interval.

Liam Miller replied from the spot midway through the second-half and Hooper later missed the chance of a hat-trick when sending another penalty wide.

The victory was still enough to hoist Celtic back on top and two points clear of Rangers with both sides having played the same number of games.

Celtic immediately showed their intent with Hooper directing a first-minute effort straight at Hibs keeper Mark Brown.

Two minutes later Stokes collected Emilio Izaguirre’s through ball and fired home to open the scoring.

And that lead was doubled on twenty minutes with Hooper netting from the spot as a result of a foul on Brown after Mark Wilson’s header was blocked on the line.

The recalled Glenn Loovens then nodded wide from a Charlie Mulgrew free-kick before James Forrest tested Brown from the edge of the area.

His opposite number Fraser Forster safely gathered a Miller free-kick and then parried from Ricardo Vaz Te as the visitors at last began to make their mark.

But they were effectively already out of the contest before half-time when Stokes supplied Hooper with a trademark finish.

Hibs’ response witnessed efforts either side of the break from Vaz Te and Derek Riordan – the latter having his shot deflected wide by Forster.

At the other end Izaguirre flashed an attempt across goal before Mulgrew’s 67th minute challenge on David Wotherspoon saw a penalty converted by ex-Celtic midfielder Miller.

Stokes replied with an effort turned aside by Brown before substitute Freddie Ljungberg was brought down inside the area by Paul Hanlon with six minutes remaining.

But Hooper spurned the offer of a hat-trick when surprisingly directing the third penalty of the night wide of the target.

Celtic: Forster, Wilson, Loovens (Rogne 46), Mulgrew, Izaguirre, Brown, Kayal (Ljungberg 82), Ledley, Forrest (Commons 78), Stokes, Hooper

subs (unused): Zaluska, Juarez, Ki Sung-Yueng, Samaras

Goals: Stokes (4), Hooper (pen 20, 39)

Hibernian: Brown, Hart, Hanlon, Stephens, Booth, Wotherspoon, Miller, Scott (Stevenson 72), Palsson, Vaz Te (Thornhill 73), Riordan (Sodje 51)

subs (unused): Divis, Murray, Nish, Duffy

Goals: Miller (pen 67)

Ref: E. Norris

Att: 47,809

Latest News: Celtic moved back to the top of the SPL after Gary Hooper scored twice in a 3-1 victory against Hibernian at Parkhead …. Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell wasn’t happy after his club suffered a second late postponement this season at Inverness Caledonian Thistle …. Celtic’s game at Inverness Caledonian Thistle has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch …. Neil Lennon has been freed to return to the dugout on 9th April after the SFA confirmed he would serve his two four-match bans concurrently

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