Celtic vs Hibernian. Scottish Premiership.
Celtic ParkAttendance58,892.
Report as Celtic stretch unbeaten run to 16 games with easy win over Hibernian; Hyeon-Gyu Oh opens scoring before Matt O'Riley nets second; Luis Palma scores penalty shortly after half-time and then Oh bags fourth with smart finish; Christian Doidge scores consolation for Hibs
Thursday 7 December 2023 06:11, UK
Hyeon-Gyu Oh scored twice as Celtic extended their unbeaten run to 16 games with a 4-1 win over Hibernian.
Brendan Rodgers' side are still yet to lose in the Scottish Premiership this season and always looked like winning at Celtic Park on Wednesday night as soon as Oh turned in the opener after just five minutes.
Matt O'Riley headed in the second from a Luis Palma cross and he went from provider to scorer by bagging the third from the penalty spot shortly after half-time.
Oh scored his second with a smart finish to confirm Hibs' six-game unbeaten run would come to an end although they did see Christian Doidge score a late consolation.
The champions got an early settler when Cameron Carter-Vickers got on the end of Palma's corner and hit a shot that skimmed off Oh's leg and beat David Marshall.
Oh was on the end of several crosses without seriously threatening before Marshall parried McGregor's 25-yard strike.
The second goal came in the 36th minute when O'Riley timed his run perfectly to head home Palma's cross after the winger had turned Lewis Miller inside out.
There were more chances at either end before the break. Alistair Johnston and Carter-Vickers both almost converted balls across the face of goal while Joe Hart made a good stop from Elie Youan.
Nat Phillips replaced Carter-Vickers at half-time and Celtic went further ahead in the 51st minute when Palma sent Marshall the wrong way from the spot.
Referee John Beaton was initially unconvinced over Lewis Stevenson's challenge on Alistair Johnston but he did not take long to change his mind after being called to the VAR monitor by Gavin Duncan.
Oh netted four minutes later when he got on the end of McGregor's ball down the left channel, brushed off Will Fish and guided the ball into the far corner.
Youan hit the post with a deflected effort before the wide player set up substitute Doidge for a 72nd-minute tap-in with a return pass.
Australian winger Marco Tilio had come on in the 63rd minute for Celtic for his second appearance for the club. He created a decent shooting chance for himself but shot weakly at Marshall from 20 yards.
Celtic came closer when Marshall stopped Palma's free-kick and both Furuhashi and Iwata missed glorious late chances.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers spoke to Sky Sports at full-time:
"The attitude in the game was excellent from the very first whistle.
"Hibs I really like as a team and the league will be better if teams played like Hibs.
"We knew we had to be really organised against them in our pressure as they can build a game really well.
"Overall, collectively, it was a good win and some good goals.
"I think you saw tonight the desire in the team, the passion and commitment to go and press them game and that always creates opportunities.
"I thought Oh was brilliant in the game, took his goals well and was aggressive in pressing and worked his socks off.
"Tomoki is a player I've wanted to play but he's had a few injuries. I thought he came in and was good in the centre of midfield.
"Mikey [Johnston] showed moments of quality, he just has to be more aggressive in his game."
Hibernian manager Nick Montgomery:
"The manner of the first two goals we gave away is disappointing. You can't give yourself an uphill task away at a place like this against a team like Celtic.
"In the first half we had two big chances, two one-on-ones and if one or both of them go in we're back in the game but it wasn't to be.
"It's a soft penalty, I've watched it back and I don't think anyone expected a penalty but the crowd shouted for it and it went to VAR.
"In patches of the game we played some really good stuff but when you give cheap goals away then you're chasing the game."
Celtic's next Scottish Premiership match is away to Kilmarnock on Sunday, live on Sky Sports. Kick-off 12pm.
Hibernian travel to face Livingston on Saturday. That game kicks off at 3pm.
