SPL Sunday March 21st

Hibernian 0

Celtic 4

0:1 Agathe 18
0:2 Larsson 35
0:3 Larsson 49
0:4 Agathe 81

Att: 9,456

MIB: Dougie MacDonald

Celtic:
Marshall Kennedy Balde McNamara McManus Agathe Lambert Lennon Pearson Thompson Larsson
subs
Beattie for Larsson 61
Smith for Lambert 67

This game opened with Hibs going at Celtic like Dervishes seeking to exploit a depleted Hoops side featuring another debutant, McManus, in defence. Amid the flurry of flailing Hibee arms and legs seeking to cripple any thing wearing a Celtic crest, David Marshall in the Celtic goal kept his cool and a clean sheet.

The opening goal was a sickener for the Hibees who wilted in its wake. Thompson and Pearson, Celtic's resident Van Helsing and Blade, had been repeatedly threatening with a cross or two, and as the Leith Undead averted their eyes Agathe slipped in at the back post to slot the ball home. This trick almost worked again two minutes later but the ball bobbled off Agathe's knee and wide.

Petrov was then culpable of some seriously poor finishing that would have seen Hibs dead and buried, but for his ability to find the corner flag rather than the goal. It took the predatory Larsson to do the job properly when he robbed the dithering Hibs goalie Anderson who was doing a slapstick job of trying to pick up the ball at the edge of the box. Larsson slotted it in from 15 yards.

The third saw Larsson nutmeg the hapless 'keeper before Agathe got his second and Celtic's fourth - another nutmeg on the goalie - in a comfortable second period that eventually saw an over physical Hibs reduced to 10 men. This was another easy three points and a good marker for the likes of youngsters Marshall, Kennedy and Beattie, all of whom show great promise and none of whom had to come through Murray Park.