Hibernian 0 - 1 Celtic: Celtic regain solidity as Hibs are frozen out

TWO games offer nowhere near enough evidence on which to judge a new manager, but during Neil Lennon's brief time in charge of Celtic at least one significant factor has emerged to reassure the club's supporters. That is, that the basic footballing virtues feared lost under Tony Mowbray were in fact only mislaid, and they are now back as an integral part of the team's play.

• Celtic's Georgios Samaras attempts to make progress between Derek Riordan, left, and Ian Murray

After the spectacular failures enacted in several games under the former manager, not least the 4-0 defeat by St Mirren which concluded his reign, Celtic needed to return to sensible ways. They were partially successful in doing so in the home win over Kilmarnock with which Lennon inaugurated his reign, but this victory yesterday was a more encouraging all-round display for the new manager.

Solidity and hard work were the keys to keeping Hibernian at bay, and while they failed to score from open play, Celtic did have the better of the second-half after honours had been even in the first 45 minutes. If Hibs had played as badly as they have done in several recent games Celtic would have won at a canter, but in defence in particular the home side were as strong as they have been for some time.

Sol Bamba and Steven Thicot, combining at centre-half because Chris Hogg was ruled out by a back condition, coped well with Marc-Antoine Fortune and Robbie Keane. Full-backs Ian Murray and Darren McCormack dealt well on the whole with Aiden McGeady and Georgios Samaras.

And Liam Miller, though still below his best in midfield, stuck in and ensured his team were not over-run as they have been at times of late.

Celtic displayed very similar strengths in the same areas, which went a long way to explaining why the only goal of the match came from the penalty spot. Over the piece, however, they did offer more of a threat, and deserved the three points.

Lukasz Zaluska, deputising in goal for Artur Boruc, who had suffered a family bereavement, was the quieter of the two goalkeepers. The Pole was a touch fortunate to see a dipping long-range effort by Derek Riordan come back off the bar, but otherwise was rarely troubled.

That 35-yard shot by the Hibs player came with more than 20 minutes left, but was the last serious scoring chance for the home team, who found it extremely difficult to create openings nearer to Zaluska's goal.

Hibs manager John Hughes deployed three attacking subs in the closing stages in an attempt to change that, but Danny Galbraith and Abdessalam Benjelloun were unable to make a difference, while Alan Gow had no time in which to do so.

In terms of producing an attacking threat, Hibs' best spell in fact came in the opening minutes, when Murray, Bamba and Anthony Stokes all had chances. Later in the half Stokes had the ball in the net, but only several seconds after the whistle had blown for offside.

After starting more slowly, Celtic steadily improved, and Fortune, Josh Thompson and Scott Brown all had opportunities before the midway point of the first-half. It was just after that point that Keane had a loud appeal for a penalty waved aside, while television replays suggested he had a strong case.

The on-loan striker and Murray were competing for a loose ball just inside the box, and the Hibs player made contact with his left fist to nick the ball away from Keane. It is often hard to prove intent, but if Murray's action was accidental it was certainly very helpful to his team.

If Celtic justly felt aggrieved by that incident, they might reflect that the penalty they did receive in the second-half was by no means conclusive. Chasing down a loose ball on the left side of his box, Stokes raised a foot high to hook it clear. In doing so, he appeared to make contact with, or come close to, McGeady's head, and that led Charlie Richmond to point to the spot. Keane scored low to the left to claim his 12th goal for Celtic in the 12th game of his loan spell.

Referees are too readily accused of inconsistency, but quarter of an hour after that goal came an incident which showed how baffling match officials can be.

The action in itself was irrelevant, being no more than a two-man tussle for possession in the middle of the park, but when O'Dea raised a foot high into the air to get to the ball it looked as if he had committed the same offence, with Stokes this time being the one whose head was in the way, as the Hibs player had done to concede the penalty. Needless to say, no action was taken.

In the dozen minutes or so which followed, Hibs managed to put a bit of pressure on Celtic, but the Glasgow team's defence held firm. The three points may be meaningless in terms of the title race, but the manner in which they were won is surely a significant pointer to better times to come under Lennon.