Hibernian 1 - 4 Celtic: Celts recover from early blip to power on

Nothing is ever simple for Neil Lennon’s schizophrenic team these days, not even a victory as convincing and comprehensive as this one was last night. An own goal in the opening minutes from Daniel Majstorovic put them under real pressure and gave Hibs cause to believe they were on course to join Kilmarnock, Falkirk and Ayr United in the last four.

Colin Calderwood’s side will long rue their failure to add to their lead in a first half which saw Celtic regularly playing their unique version of Russian roulette at the back.

As it was, Lennon was given a Hampden date at the end of January to look forward to by a storming second half display from his players, notably James Forrest whose superb double put them in front.

Further strikes from Anthony Stokes and Gary Hooper did not flatter Celtic’s dominance after the break, while Hibs’ misery was compounded by Ivan Sproule’s dismissal for two yellow cards.

Even before Majstorovic clocked up the latest calamitous contribution of his ill-starred Celtic career, there had been signs that Lennon’s men would be handicapped by their all-too-familiar defensive frailty yet again.

A bright and purposeful opening from Hibs saw David Wotherspoon surge forward from right back in the third minute to find all the space he could wish for to deliver a menacing cross towards the six yard box. Thomas Rogne, making his first appearance of the season for Celtic and partnering Majstorovic in the absence of injured pair Charlie Mulgrew and Glenn Loovens, seemed to get the final touch on the ball as it went wide of Fraser Forster’s right hand post, but referee Willie Collum awarded a goal kick.

It proved only temporary relief for Celtic as Hibs went in front a minute later. Majstorovic was at fault initially, cheaply conceding a corner kick in a challenge with Garry O’Connor when he should have been able to clear the danger more comfortably for his side. Leigh Griffiths drove the corner over from the right with Adam Matthews forced to boot the ball clear at the near post.

It broke to Ivan Sproule whose low shot back across the face of goal found a Celtic defence in disarray and the errant boot of Majstorovic to place the ball beyond Forster into his own net from close range.

Gary Hooper sent Celtic’s first clear opportunity wide from close range in the 20th minute, sliding in to meet Beram Kayal’s cross from the right, as the Parkhead men started to establish some territorial control. But they remained vulnerable to some excellent counter-attacking work from Hibs which could easily have increased their lead before the interval.

Sproule’s pace was instrumental in many of the dangerous raids, the first of them seeing him cut in from the left and have a stinging shot blocked by Rogne with Isaiah Osbourne blazing a 20-yard effort over from the rebound.

Anthony Stokes appeared Celtic’s most likely source for an equaliser. After smashing a 25-yard free-kick just off target, the Irish striker came even closer when he latched on to a Ki Sung Yueng through ball and clipped the outside of Brown’s left hand post with a low shot from around 16 yards. But Stokes should have done better with a header from a Ki corner which he directed wide while under no real pressure from the Hibs defence.

It was the home side who finished the first half in the ascendancy and with just cause to feel they should have enjoyed a more commanding lead. Sproule flashed a shot narrowly wide of Forster’s left hand post before leading another lightning counter-attack and releasing Junior Agogo free on goal. Forster raced out to boot the ball against Agogo and behind for a goal kick.

Hibs’ best chance to double their advantage fell to Griffiths four minutes before half-time. The on-loan Wolves striker was picked out on the left by O’Connor’s tremendous crossfield pass, allowing him to sprint into the penalty area. Griffiths’ final touch saw the ball drift marginally out of his total control and his shot was well saved by Forster.

Hibs were punished for their profligacy as a re-energised Celtic side, inspired by Forrest, overturned their deficit in the opening 15 minutes of the second half. The young Scotland winger had toiled to make a significant impression during the opening 45 minutes, but more than compensated for that with his electric contribution after the resumption.

Celtic were level in the 47th minute, Ki working the ball to Forrest on the right of the Hibs penalty area. A dip of his shoulder saw him wrong-foot Paul Hanlon before sweeping a perfectly struck right foot shot beyond the helpless Brown’s right hand into the corner of the net.

As Hibs tried to respond immediately, there was an unsavoury touchline clash between Sproule and Kayal. Celtic manager Lennon needlessly got involved, too, squaring up to Sproule, before both players were booked by referee Collum.

Celtic, suddenly playing with an intensity and penetration in the contrast to their first half fecklessness, turned the tie around when they made it 2-1 in the 58th minute. Forrest exchanged passes with Stokes to carve open the Hibs defence and guided a low left foot shot beyond Brown at the goalkeeper’s left-hand post.

As confidence flowed through the Celtic ranks, it almost visibly drained from the home side who found themselves further behind. Ki’s corner from the right met with no resistance from the Hibs defender, leaving Stokes with a simple close range header to effectively put the tie beyond his old club’s reach.

It was the cue for many Hibs supporters to make their way to the exits, but for those who remained, the agony was not over as Celtic made it 4-1. Hibs were opened up at the back with ease once more, this time a long ball from Matthews sending Hooper clear to beat Brown with a firm and precise low shot from around 14 yards.

It was all too much for Sproule whose frustration got the better of him when he was sent off in the 72nd minute, foolishly felling Celtic’s captain for the night Mark Wilson with a crude foul which rightly earned him a second yellow card.

Hibernian: Brown, Wotherspoon, Stephens, Murray, Hanlon; Osbourne, Palsson (Galbraith 68), Sproule; Agogo (Sodje 76); Griffiths, O’Connor (Stevenson 76). Subs not used: Scott, Stack.

Celtic: Forster, M Wilson, Rogne, Majstorovic, Matthews; Forrest (Cha 82), Kayal (Wanyama 70), Ki, Ledley; Stokes, Hooper (McCourt 77). Subs not used: El Kaddouri, Zaluska.