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VIP Member
Mark Henderson
ROBBIE KEANE was again the hero for Celtic as Neil Lennon continued his winning start as interim manager with a 1-0 win over Hibernian.
The Irishman stroked home a penalty in the 63rd minute, after Aiden McGeady had been fouled in the box by Anthony Stokes, to give Celtic the spoils in an entertaining match at Easter Road.
Lennon was forced into one change for his second game in charge of Celtic, with Lukasz Zaluska starting between the sticks in place of Artur Boruc, who was absent due to a family bereavement.
The Hoops boss had made an impressive start to life in the dugout with a 3-1 victory over Kilmarnock last week and his charges looked determined to continue that form from kick-off.
After 60 seconds, Marc-Antoine Fortune raced to the byline and his cut-back dropped fell behind the onrushing Georgios Samaras.
However, the home side then went close twice from two set-pieces. From Derek Riordan’s free-kick, Ian Murray flicked a header towards the far corner and Zaluska had to push the ball wide. From the resultant corner, Sol Bamba scooped the ball narrowly over.
After seven minutes, Anthony Stokes latched on to a long ball and forced Zaluska into another good stop at his near-post.
It was end-to-end stuff. McGeady disposed Darren McCormack and clipped a delicate ball through for Fortune. However, his shot was blocked and dropped kindly for Graham Stack.
In the 13th minute, a purposeful run from Scott Brown won a corner.
Samaras nodded Naylor’s delivery back across goal and Josh Thompson volleyed over.
Robbie Keane then burst into life, getting on to a ball from NGuemo, the striker looked to knock it past Murray and claimed the defender had used a hand to block the ball, but referee Charlie Richmond waved away the appeals.
The Hoops were now enjoying the better of the play. And when Hibs failed to clear a Naylor corner, Brown fired over.
There had been some heavy challenges flying in and Richmond had to restore calm when tempers flared between Darren O’Dea and Nish in the 24th minute, following a clash on the touchline.
Much to the anger of the Hoops, Thompson was then penalised for holding Nish on the edge of the box, presenting Riordan with a great chance to strike on goal. His shot was blocked, and Nish’s rebound was cleared off the line.
It was Celtic’s turn to come forward once again. Samaras drifted inside, and hit a powerful drive on target. However, Stack was right behind it.
As the half drew to a close, Fortune drove in a superb cross from left. Keane was on the end of it, but never made a clean connection and his shot drifted over.
Fortune had been a constant menace with his movement and pace down the channels and straight after the restart he won another corner.
However, Naylor’s cross was scrambled clear.
On the other flank, McGeady jinked inside two men and his angled shot shaved the post.
The Irish winger was involved again in the 50th minute, linking up to good effect with Naylor on the left. The full-back’s determined run won a corner. From the set-piece, O’Dea’s far-post header was cleared off the line.
Hibs then broke at speed. Liam Miller skipped past Naylor and found Stokes in the box, but the Irish striker was crowded out before he could strike.
Just after the hour mark, Samaras, who had been deployed in a more central role since the break, won a free-kick 25 yards from goal.
Naylor’s effort was on target and Stack had to make a good save.
From the resultant corner, Celtic took the lead. McGeady was caught by Stokes’ high boot and Richmond had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Keane took responsibility and calmly stroked the ball under Stack into the bottom corner.
John Hughes almost drew level in the 69th minute. A free-kick was headed clear and Riordan cracked a spectacular volley onto the bar from 30 yards.
Lennon’s side had certainly been more dominant after the break, and Keane flashed a snap-shot wide of the post after finding space in the box.
In the final 15 minutes, Hughes sent on Daniel Galbraith – the match winner in the last meeting at Celtic Park – and Abdessalam Benjelloun in the search of an equaliser.
But the nearest they came to a goal were long-range efforts from McCormack and Murray which flew harmlessly over.
And Morten Rasmussen, on a substitute for Keane could have extended the Hoops’ advantage. After a flowing move forward, he collected the ball on the edge of the area, but his low shot was held by Stack.
But Keane again proved to be the match winner for Celtic, as Neil Lennon continued his 100 per cent start to life as interim manager.
