James Forrest and Scott Brown struck to ship the Hoops into the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup
Celtic’s new interim boss Neil Lennon returned to Easter Highway to dump his former membership Hibernian out of the Scottish Cup with a 2-Zero win.
Lennon left Hibs in January beneath unexplained circumstances and was put in cost at Celtic Park till the top of the season on Tuesday following the departure of Brendan Rodgers to Leicester.
He watched his fees forge forward within the 62nd minute with a shocking strike from winger James Forrest earlier than skipper Scott Brown hammered within the second within the 74th minute handy Lennon’s successor, Paul Heckingbottom, his first defeat in 4 video games.
Celtic, the primary workforce into Monday evening’s semi-final draw, have gained all 11 home video games in 2019 and are on track for the home treble-treble.
And with the Betfred Cup already within the trophy cupboard and because the Hoops sit eight comfy factors away from Rangers on the high of the Ladbrokes Premiership, the Glasgow outfit could possibly be simply two cup matches away from that unprecedented achievement, with Lennon again on the helm.
The former Celtic captain’s second tenure as Parkhead manager began with a dramatic last-gasp 2-1 win over Hearts at Tynecastle on Wednesday night.
Lennon, having quickly surveyed his new squad, reinstated right-back Mikael Lustig and striker Odsonne Edouard, with Jeremy Toljan and Ewan Henderson dropping to the bench
For Hibs, midfielder Stephane Omeonga came in for Stevie Mallan.
The home side were almost caught cold in the second minute when Edouard slipped in Oliver Burke but his drive was saved by keeper Ofir Marciano with Scott Sinclair, under pressure from Paul Hanlon, failing to find the target with his shot on the follow-up.
Celtic constructed on that early encouragement, however a long-distance Marc McNulty effort being simply saved by Hoops keeper Scott Bain.
A slick transfer by the guests simply after the half-hour mark noticed Edouard race into the Hibs penalty space after taking a Forrest cross however simply as he formed to go spherical Marciano he misplaced his footing and the house facet survived the scare and by half-time had labored their means again into the sport.
Celtic, nonetheless, stepped up the strain after the break.
It appeared an object was thrown when Sinclair was set to take a nook, with referee Willie Collum eradicating it earlier than play commenced.
Simply earlier than the hour mark Burke went to floor on the fringe of the field when challenged by Hibs left-back Lewis Stevenson however referee Collum took his time earlier than waving play on, to the anger of the travelling assist.
Nevertheless, a minute later those self same followers have been celebrating wildly when Forrest gave Marciano no likelihood with a thunderous drive.
Heckingbottom instantly introduced on Mallan and Marvin Bartley for Mark Milligan and Daryl Horgan however the Edinburgh facet seemed rattled and bereft of perception.
As Hibs started to take probabilities they left gaps and when former Easter Highway midfielder Brown thrashed within the second from 14 yards, for his third aim in six matches, Celtic had secured one more semi-final berth.
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