Celtic moved three points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League on Saturday with a 2-1 win over Hibernian.
Captain Scott Brown and Glenn Loovens hit the goals as Neil Lennon’s men made it six league wins from six for the season. Derek Riordan’s Hibs response could not prevent his old side from going three points clear of Glasgow rivals Rangers at the summit.
Brown needed just five minutes to put the Bhoys in front. The midfielder, back in the side after injury, burst forward and exchanged a one-two with Anthony Stokes before sending a 16-yard volley past his namesake Mark in the Hibs goal.
The home side held possession and dominated for large spells of the first half, but it was no cracker and they needed to wait until nearly half-time to get a couple of more clear efforts on goal, though neither Gary Hooper nor Efrain Juarez could test Brown.
Six minutes into the second half though they did have a second. Stokes and Riordan had already spurned chances at either end at the start of the half when Celtic won a corner.
Shaun Maloney sent in a corner and Dutch defender Loovens applied a header which it was ruled crossed the line despite John Rankin’s attempts to clear.
The two-goal advantage only last three minutes, however. Riordan grabbed possession and sent a delicious chip over Fraser Forster for 2-1.
Hibs could not find the momentum to grab a leveller though, and it was Celtic who went closest for the remainder when Juarez headed Cha Du-Ri's cross against the crossbar from eight yards.