Celtic 2 - 1 Hibernian: Hibs no match for impressive Hoops

• A neat chip from Derek Riordan wasn't enough to revive Hibs' hopes

Former Easter Road midfielder Scott Brown broke the deadlock after five minutes with a stunning volley from 18 yards.

And the encounter came to life with two goals within 10 minutes after the break, with a Glenn Loovens header sneaking in to stretch Celtic's lead.

Riordan's fantastic chip minutes later gave Hibs renewed impetus, although an Efrain Juarez header struck their bar.

Celtic's 14th straight league victory stretching back to last season ensured that champions Rangers need a win away to Aberdeen on Sunday if they are to return to the top of the table.

Brown had returned to the Celtic midfield in place of Ki Sung-Yeung, while Charlie Mulgrew, Shaun Maloney and Cha Du-Ri came in for Mark Wilson, Georgios Samaras and the injured Emilio Izaguirre.

The Hoops skipper, who had recovered from an ankle injury, was one of four changes manager Neil Lennon made for the visit of the struggling Easter Road side.

Charlie Mulgrew replaced injured left-back Emilio Izaguirre, Cha Du-Ri came in for Mark Wilson at right-back and striker Shaun Maloney replaced Georgios Samaras, who started on the bench.

Hibs boss John Hughes made two enforced changes with David Wotherspoon and Paul Hanlon coming in for the injured Sol Bamba and Colin Nish.

Celtic went in to the game behind SPL leaders Rangers only on goal difference and with the Light Blues playing at Aberdeen on Sunday, Lennon's side had the chance to leapfrog their Old Firm rivals.

In contrast to the Hoops' impressive form - five successive league wins - Hibs arrived in Glasgow with one win in eight and playing former Celtic striker Derek Riordan as their lone striker.

The game looked to be heading for the expected result when, after only five minutes, the visitors went behind.

Former Hibs player Brown broke forward from midfield, and worked a one-two with Stokes, a recent signing from Easter Road, before volleying past Mark Brown from 16 yards for his first goal since March.

Celtic took full control of the game albeit without testing Brown again, and it was a while before the Leith men found the confidence to emerge from their own half.

But there was always a Celtic threat and in the 24th minute Hibs defender Francis Dickoh was booked by referee Calum Murray for tripping Joe Ledley as the Hoops midfielder tried to race clear down the left.

Six minutes later, there was a little more controversy when Stokes was booked for going down too easily in the Hibs box after getting past Leith midfielder Liam Miller.

Hibs were taking chances with their offside trap and getting the benefit of the doubt from referee assistant Gary Cheyne, much to the annoyance of the home fans.

In the 51st minute the points appeared to be safe when Celtic defender Glenn Loovens headed in Maloney's corner from the right, the ball adjudged to have gone over the line despite the best efforts of John Rankin to clear.

However, the visitors gave themselves an unexpected lifeline three minutes later when Riordan, with the most delicate of chips from the edge of the box, beat Celtic's giant keeper Fraser Forster.