Hibs 0 - 1 Celtic: Keane penalty adds to injury-hit Hibs' misery

A 61st minute penalty from on-loan Tottenham Hotspur striker Robbie Keane was enough to give Celtic victory at Easter Road, his goal extending Hibs miserable run to two wins in 12 matches, a result which further dims the Edinburgh club's hopes of taking third place in the SPL table.

• Robbie Keane

Referee Charlie Richmond pointed to the spot adjudging Anthony Stokes of being guilty of a high challenge on his Republic of Ireland countryman, a decision the Hibs player could well question later in the game as Celtic youngster Darren O'Dean committed exactly the same offence on him outside the penalty area and escaped any punshment.

The absence of skipper Chris Hogg, still struggling with a back problem, added to the injury worries of Hibs boss John Hughes who was already without Merouane Zemmama, Kevin McBride, David Wotherspoon nd Paul Hanlon, the Easter Road manager reshaping his defence with Steven Thicot partnering Sol Bamba in the centre while Darren McCormack was drafted in at right-back.

A Derek Riordan free-kick found the head of the inrushing Ian Murray, the HIbs defender denied by a diving save from Lukasz Zaluska who managed to turn the ball round the post for the game's first corner in the fourth minute.

Zaluska again came to Celtic's rescue three minutes later, the Polish goalkeeper standing tall as Colin Nish set Anthony Stokes free and pushing aside the Republic of Ireland striker's angled drive.

A mistake by McCormack allowed Aiden McGeady to feed Marc-Antoine Fortune, the Hibs youngster thankful for the intervention of team-mate Thicot before Celtic striker Keane was left appealing for a penalty as Murray cut across him to avert further danger, television replays showing the Irish hitman did have a case as the ball had come off his opponent's hand and then arm although it was hardly intentional.

There was plenty of endeavour from both sets of players but the play was rather scrappy with both teams guilty of surrendering possession too readily although a bobbly pitch didn't help.

Hibs did have the ball in the net five minutes from the interval as Stokes latched onto Nish's header to claim what he thought was his 21st goal of the season only to have the offside flag raised againsst him, a decision with which he couldn't argue.

A series of first-half corners from Lee Naylor, struck deep to the back post, had caused Hibs problems and his first of the second period did so again, Darren O'Dea rising only to see his header nodded away at the front post by Patrick Cregg.

Stack did well to beat away a ferociously driven free-kick from Naylor before Celtic broke the deadlock from the penalty spot in teh 61st minute. Stokes was deemed guilty of a high boot on McGeady as the pair contested a bouncing ball, referee Charlie Richmond having no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Although Stack guessed the right way he couldn't get down to Keane's low shot, the Irishman's 12th in as many games for Celtic,

Stack and Keane were at the centre of the action a minute later, the Hibs goalkeeper racing to the edge of his penalty area to head clear a through ball before colliding with his opponent, the pair requiring treatment before continuing.

Riordan almost equalised for Hibs with 69 minutes gone, making a hash of a free-kick but taking the rebound on his chest before delivering a dipping shot from 25 yards which beat Zaluska all ends sup but crashed off the bar and went over.

Hibs: Stack, Thicot, McCormack, Bamba, Murray, Miller, Cregg, Rankin (Benjelloun 78), Riordan (Galbraith 76), Stokes, Nish (Gow 88). Subs not used: Smith, Stevenson, Gow, Byrne, Taggart.

Celtic: Zaluska, Hinkel, Thompson, O'Dea, Naylor, Brown, N'Guemo, McGeady, Fortune, Keane (Rasmussen 84), Samaras. Subs not used: Cervi, Wilson, Crosas, Ki, Braafheid, McGowan.

Referee: Charlie Richmond.