With the Gers selecting up an important away win, the champions knew they needed to preserve the hole on the high of the desk
Celtic maintained their place on the high of the Scottish Premiership with a 2-Zero win over Hibernian.
With Rangers securing a 4-2 win away at Aberdeen, Brendan Rodgers’ facet knew they wanted to provide a successful efficiency.
And the league leaders went forward after 25 minutes of their residence recreation towards Hibernian.
Scott Sinclair was inches away from the opener simply moments earlier than Ryan Christie’s strike.
Neat interaction involving Timothy Weah and new signing Jeremy Toljan completed with Christie drilling into the underside nook.
The Boys doubled their lead within the second half, with Christie turning supplier for Oliver Burke.
The midfielder slipped in Burke and the on-loan West Bromwich Albion man noticed his shot loop into the again of the web.
New signing Jeremy Toljan made his first begin at right-back, Timothy Weah got here in for injured winger James Forrest whereas one other of Celtic’s January recruits, 22-year-old Ivory Coast ahead Vakoun Bayo, began on the bench.
The guests, who had Ryan Gauld and Sean Mackie again within the facet, confirmed some early intent however Celtic’s stress started to slowly construct and within the 14th minute Christie got here shut with a range-finding drive from the sting of the field.
Hibs keeper Ofir Marciano then needed to be fast off his line to dam a close-range effort from Weah, who had latched on to a go from midfielder Callum McGregor.
The upcoming opener got here when Christie took a go from Toljan contained in the penalty space and rapidly fired a right-footed drive low previous Marciano for his third aim in 4 video games.
Hibs grew to become more and more ragged and Marciano parried one other Weah shot, this time from 20 yards, as the house facet threatened as soon as extra.
Mark McNulty changed injured Oli Shaw for the beginning of the second half after which Stephen Mallan took over from Gauld simply earlier than the hour mark, seconds earlier than Marciano made a outstanding save from Boyata’s close-range header from a whipped-in Christie free-kick.
Nonetheless, the second aim arrived quickly afterwards. Burke raced into the field to take a intelligent Christie go along with his drive hitting Hibs defender Darren McGregor and looping over Marciano.
Instantly, Darnell Johnson got here on for David Grey to make his Hibs debut and moments later McNulty flashed a drive over the Celtic bar however a comeback regarded unlikely.
Rodgers turned to his bench with Mikey Johnston changing Scott Sinclair whereas Boyata made manner for Nir Bitton.
Bayo was able to make his debut however as he stood on the sidelines, left-back Emilio Izaguirre was crocked by a fierce sort out by Johnson, who was booked by referee Craig Thomson.
Jonny Hayes got here on for the Honduras worldwide who was carried up tunnel on a stretcher, the one bitter word of Celtic’s night.
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