Celtic defeat Hibernian 3-1, Scottish Premier League recap
The Scottish Premier League continued as Celtic and Hibernian went head-to-head on April 6, 2011, at Celtic Park.
Celtic cruised to a relatively easy win courtesy, Gary Hooper’s brace, and, returned to the top spot after Rangers had overtaken them in their win against St. Johnstne on April 5, 2011.
The home side went in with a 4-3-3 formation. James Forest, Gary Hooper and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Anthony-Stokes-c6239 started upfront, while Fraser Foster started in goal for the Hoops.
Colin Calderwood’s side, on the other hand, went in with a standard 4-4-2 formation. Ricardo Vaz Te and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mark-Brown-c24109 guarded the Hibees net.
Visitors got the game underway but it was the home side, who looked good from the out-set. Hooper was presented with an early chance but his effort was saved. The Hoops looked in total command and it was Stokes, who earned Celtic an all important lead in
the fifth minute.
The Cabbage were forced on to the back-foot, as the home team continued to play attacking football.
In the meantime, midfielder, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Scott-Brown-c32660, was held back in the box, which resulted in a Celtic penalty. Gary Hooper slammed his kick past Brown to put Celtic 2-0 in front on the 20th minute mark.
The Hibees were staring at defeat as they had no answers to Celtic’s absorbing football. Hibernian’s outfit tried to mark a comeback but Celtic allowed no space in the middle.
Vaz Te got a rare opportunity for visitors but Fraser pulled out a decent save to deny Hibernian.
On the other hand, the Hoops kept on applying pressure and Hooper once again stepped up to further spoil the Hibees night when he netted his shot into the near post at the 39th minute mark.
Celtic went into the half time with a 3-0 lead and it seemed a complete mismatch after the first 45 minutes.
The second half got underway and the story was more or less the same. Celtic continued to press forward in order to extend their lead. The away team on the other hand did not lose their focus and still believed that they could make a come-back into the match.
Celtic were controlling the game and from nowhere Hibernian made a run into the Bhoys box that led to a penalty. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Charlie-Mulgrew-c8844 in the 66th minute.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liam-Miller-c22238 got one goal back for the visitors in the 67th minute to make it 3-1. Inspite of various attempts by the Hibees to mark a return into the game, Celtic’s back four stood firm and denied Hibernian from scoring further as the match ended
3-1 in Celtic’s favour.
With this win Celtic have once again gone back to the top spot with 70 points and are two points clear of the second placed http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rangers-c40314. Hibernian are ninth in the table with 33 points.
Celtic will take on St. Mirren, while Hibernian will take on Aberdeen in their next games on April 9, 2011.
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