Hibernian 0-3 Celtic

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Anthony Stokes scored twice as Celtic eased to a victory over Hibernian that lifted the Glasgow side eight points clear at the top of the table.

David Wotherspoon's diving header flew just wide of the Celtic post.

But Celtic burst to life after Daniel Majstorovic inexplicably headed wide - and Gary Hooper side-footed in the opener moments later after 44 minutes.

Stokes was fouled by Lewis Stevenson and scored from the spot before adding another with a sublime overhead kick.

While Celtic stretched their lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League - at least until Rangers faced Hamilton later in the afternoon - the pressure mounted on Hibs manager Colin Calderwood after their seventh game without a victory.

Hooper had made an earlier-than-anticipated return from injury to start up front for Celtic, with captain Scott Brown also starting in midfield along with suspension-free James Forrest.

Hibs went into the game bereft of confidence and minus two influential players - Jonathan Grounds having returned to Middlesbrough and Liam Miller being suspended.

Darryl Duffy dropped to the bench as boss Calderwood reverted to a single-striker formation with Derek Riordan the focus of attacks against his former club.

However, it was midfielder Wotherspoon, returning to the side along with Stevenson and Edwin de Graaf, who was first to threaten inside the Celtic penalty box.

Stevenson whipped in a cross to the front post, but Wotherspoon was unable to direct his diving header on target from a difficult angle.

Hibs settled first, but their early invention soon deserted them as Celtic's greater physical strength began to tell.

The visitors found it difficult to penetrate a determined Hibs defence for much of the first half and a couple of brave saves from former Celtic goalkeeper Mark Brown averted a couple of dangerous balls into the penalty box.

Celtic finally created a clear-cut chance after 40 minutes when a curling Mark Wilson free-kick found Majstorovic unmarked eight yards out, but the Swede somehow managed to head wide of target.

The visitors took heart from that and Biram Kayal's pin-point pass put Hooper clear, but Brown's outstretched foot thwarted the striker's low shot.

Hibs failed to heed that warning and Hooper made no mistake seconds later when he flicked a low cross from Stokes past his marker before side-footing into the far corner past the goalkeeper.

Celtic built on that quickly following the break after Stevenson's clumsy challenge on Stokes led to a penalty and a yellow card for the full-back after 50 minutes.

Brown would have probably saved the spot-kick had he stood still, but the goalkeeper's dive to his right allowed the ball to nestle in the centre of the net.

Danny Galbraith had the ball in the net after 55 minutes, but the Hibs forward was clearly offside before gathering Merouane Zemmama's through ball and slipping it through the legs of goalkeeper Fraser Forster.

Hibs threatened again when a dangerous Riordan ball into the six-yard box failed to find a home boot, but Celtic responded with Paddy McCourt forced a fine save from Brown before they ended any fears of a comeback by the Edinburgh side.

There appeared little danger when Stokes gathered a corner with his back to goal 16 yards out after 65 minutes, but the former Hibs striker's superbly controlled overhead kick found the far corner of the net.

The Republic of Ireland international failed to complete his hat-trick when he beat the offside trap and chipped Brown, but defender Francis ****oh headed clear off the goal-line.

Hibs went closest to a consolation when substitute Duffy's neat front-post flick from a Riordan cross was turned onto the crossbar by goalkeeper Forster.



Live text and stats

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Saturday, 15 January 2011

Scottish Premier

• Final Result
• Full Time
• 90:00+2:22 The final whistle goes and the game is over.
• 90:00+1:57 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Daniel Galbraith, clearance made by Thomas Rogne.
• 90:00+0:46 Charlie Mulgrew takes a short corner.
• 90:00+0:23 Corner taken short by Charlie Mulgrew.
• 89:14 Charlie Mulgrew takes a outswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, Daniel Majstorovic takes a shot. Steven Thicot gets a block in. Charlie Mulgrew takes a outswinging corner to the near post, clearance made by Steven Thicot.
• 87:38 A cross is delivered by Charlie Mulgrew. Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kurtis Byrne by Thomas Rogne. Direct free kick taken by Derek Riordan.
• 87:16 Unfair challenge on Joe Ledley by Ian Murray results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Daniel Majstorovic.
• 85:01 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ian Murray by Joe Ledley. Free kick taken by Ian Murray.
• 83:25 The assistant referee signals for offside against James Forrest. Mark Brown takes the indirect free kick.
• 82:45 Corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew played to the near post, clearance by Paul Hanlon.
• 80:42 Substitution Kurtis Byrne comes on in place of Merouane Zemmama.
• 79:59 The ball is swung over by Daniel Galbraith, save made by Fraser Forster. The referee blows for offside against Anthony Stokes. Free kick taken by Francis ****oh.
• 79:59 Substitution Charlie Mulgrew joins the action as a substitute, replacing Patrick McCourt.
• 76:16 Joe Ledley takes a shot from deep inside the box clearing the bar.
• 75:37 Corner taken right-footed by Patrick McCourt to the near post, Kevin McBride manages to make a clearance.
• 73:23 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Emilio Izaguirre from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by Paul Hanlon.
• 73:23 Substitution Gary Hooper goes off and Fredrik Ljungberg comes on.
• 72:17 Substitution Kevin McBride replaces David Wotherspoon.
• 71:30 Anthony Stokes takes a shot. Blocked by Francis ****oh. Corner taken right-footed by Mark Wilson, Francis ****oh manages to make a clearance.
• 70:50 Merouane Zemmama takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, Francis ****oh takes a shot. Save by Fraser Forster.
• 69:34 Substitution Edwin De Graaf leaves the field to be replaced by Darryl Duffy.
• 65:46 Substitution Joe Ledley comes on in place of Beram Kayal.
• 64:01 Patrick McCourt takes a shot. Save by Mark Brown. Corner from the right by-line taken by Emilio Izaguirre, the assist for the goal came from Emilio Izaguirre.
• 64:01 GOAL - Anthony Stokes:Hibernian 0 - 3 Celtic Anthony Stokes scores a goal from inside the penalty box to the top right corner of the goal. Hibernian 0-3 Celtic.
• Correction - 60:40 Mark Wilson challenges Merouane Zemmama unfairly and gives away a free kick. Strike comes in from Merouane Zemmama from the free kick. Corner taken right-footed by Merouane Zemmama. The ball is crossed by Merouane Zemmama.
• 60:40 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Merouane Zemmama by Mark Wilson. Merouane Zemmama has an effort direct from the free kick. Inswinging corner taken by Merouane Zemmama from the left by-line,
• 60:16 A cross is delivered by David Wotherspoon. Steven Thicot produces a cross, Daniel Majstorovic manages to make a clearance.
• 58:58 The assistant referee flags for offside against Derek Riordan. Free kick taken by Daniel Majstorovic.
• 56:42 The assistant referee flags for offside against Beram Kayal. Free kick taken by Mark Brown.
• 55:35 The official flags Daniel Galbraith offside. Indirect free kick taken by Fraser Forster.
• 54:31 Daniel Galbraith handles the ball and concedes a free kick. The ball is delivered by Patrick McCourt, Effort from the edge of the box by Anthony Stokes goes wide of the right-hand upright.
• 53:58 Edwin De Graaf challenges Beram Kayal unfairly and gives away a free kick. Mark Wilson takes the free kick.
• 53:58 Booking Booking for Derek Riordan for dissent.
• 52:00 Edwin De Graaf gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Beram Kayal. Indirect free kick taken by Emilio Izaguirre.
• 50:19 Merouane Zemmama gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Beram Kayal. Daniel Majstorovic takes the direct free kick.
• 49:49 Lewis Stevenson concedes a Penalty for a foul on Anthony Stokes.
• 49:49 GOAL - Anthony Stokes:Hibernian 0 - 2 Celtic Penalty scored by Anthony Stokes. Hibernian 0-2 Celtic.
• 48:56 Booking Lewis Stevenson is given a yellow card.
• 47:14 Corner taken by Emilio Izaguirre played to the near post, Daniel Majstorovic takes a shot. Mark Brown makes a comfortable save.
• 46:35 Merouane Zemmama concedes a free kick for a foul on Beram Kayal. Scott Brown restarts play with the free kick.
• 45:35 Anthony Stokes is ruled offside. Direct free kick taken by Paul Hanlon.
• 45:01 The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.
• Half Time
• 45:00+0:13 The ref blows to end the first period.
• 43:35 Anthony Stokes provided the assist for the goal.
• 43:35 GOAL - Gary Hooper:Hibernian 0 - 1 Celtic Gary Hooper grabs a goal from inside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Hibernian 0-1 Celtic.
• 42:55 Beram Kayal takes a shot. Save by Mark Brown.
• 39:49 Edwin De Graaf gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Beram Kayal. Mark Wilson produces a cross, Header by Daniel Majstorovic from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.
• 39:08 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Beram Kayal by Edwin De Graaf. Beram Kayal takes the free kick.
• 37:50 The ball is sent over by Derek Riordan, save by Fraser Forster.
• 36:17 Free kick awarded for a foul by Derek Riordan on Mark Wilson. Fraser Forster takes the indirect free kick.
• 36:14 Francis ****oh sends in a cross, Daniel Majstorovic manages to make a clearance.
• 35:35 Emilio Izaguirre gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Wotherspoon. Free kick taken by Steven Thicot.
• 34:20 Gary Hooper is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Mark Brown takes the indirect free kick.
• 33:54 Emilio Izaguirre takes a shot. Save by Mark Brown.
• 30:31 Daniel Majstorovic is ruled offside. Mark Brown takes the free kick.
• 29:41 Free kick awarded for a foul by Edwin De Graaf on Emilio Izaguirre. Free kick crossed right-footed by Mark Wilson from left channel, David Wotherspoon makes a clearance.
• 29:41 Booking Edwin De Graaf booked.
• 24:46 Beram Kayal gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ian Murray. Merouane Zemmama crosses the ball in from the free kick, save by Fraser Forster.
• 24:46 Booking Caution for Beram Kayal.
• 23:46 Scott Brown is caught offside. Mark Brown restarts play with the free kick.
• 21:59 The ball is delivered by Mark Wilson.
• 21:32 Derek Riordan is caught offside. Daniel Majstorovic takes the direct free kick.
• 16:23 Unfair challenge on Beram Kayal by Merouane Zemmama results in a free kick. Daniel Majstorovic takes the free kick.
• 15:06 The official flags Daniel Galbraith offside. Mark Wilson restarts play with the free kick.
• 14:43 Unfair challenge on Daniel Galbraith by Beram Kayal results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ian Murray.
• 14:06 Anthony Stokes delivers the ball, clearance made by Francis ****oh.
• 13:03 Merouane Zemmama gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Scott Brown. Scott Brown takes the direct free kick. David Wotherspoon concedes a free kick for a foul on Beram Kayal. Mark Wilson crosses the ball in from the free kick, Mark Brown makes a save.
• 11:09 Daniel Majstorovic concedes a free kick for a foul on Merouane Zemmama. Strike comes in from Derek Riordan from the free kick.
• 9:41 Unfair challenge on Beram Kayal by David Wotherspoon results in a free kick. Daniel Majstorovic takes the direct free kick.
• 7:52 The assistant referee flags for offside against Derek Riordan. Direct free kick taken by Daniel Majstorovic.
• 7:06 The ball is delivered by Mark Wilson, clearance made by Edwin De Graaf.
• 6:38 Francis ****oh gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Gary Hooper. Emilio Izaguirre restarts play with the free kick.
• 6:07 Lewis Stevenson delivers the ball, save made by Fraser Forster.
• 4:00 The ball is swung over by Mark Wilson.
• 3:44 David Wotherspoon produces a cross.
• 2:53 Foul by Beram Kayal on Daniel Galbraith, free kick awarded. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Derek Riordan, Beram Kayal manages to make a clearance.
• 2:14 Foul by Steven Thicot on Patrick McCourt, free kick awarded. Daniel Majstorovic restarts play with the free kick.
• 0:32 Header by David Wotherspoon from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.
• 0:00 The referee gets the game underway.

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