Bellamy on the mark as Celtic close gap on leaders Rangers
Alex McLeish’s men missed the chance to extend their lead at the top to nine points with a shock draw against Inverness at Ibrox on Saturday.
Celtic responded with goals from Stilian Petrov, John Hartson and Craig Bellamy. Guillaume Beuzelin gave Hibernian some late consolation with an injury-time strike - but it was a case of men against boys in the capital.
Afterwards Celtic manager Martin O’Neill hailed the influence of an “unplayable” Craig Bellamy after his side closed the gap to four points.
The temperamental striker scored his second goal in Hoops colours to round off Celtic’s scoring.
“I thought there was a period in the game when Bellamy looked unplayable. He was excellent today,” said O’Neill.
“I thought we were fantastic from start to finish in the second half in particular. They were absolutely class. A bit of shine was taken off it with the concession of the goal but if you’d have asked me beforehand would I have taken a victory then I would have said yes and to do so in the manner we did was great.”
An injury to inspirational Englishman Chris Sutton, who set up Hartson’s goal, took more gloss off a fine result.
“It is hard to say how long he’ll be out for,” said O’Neill. “I’ve spoken to Roddy Macdonald (club doctor) and he says it’s too early. He has hurt his hamstring and he will go for a scan tomorrow.”
HIBERNIAN: Simon Brown, Whittaker, Caldwell, Smith, Murphy, Orman (Beuzelin 45), Scott Brown, Ian Murray, Shiels, O’Connor (Sproule 81), Riordan (Konte 81).
CELTIC: Douglas, McNamara, Balde, Varga, Laursen, Petrov, Lennon, Sutton (McGeady 32), Thompson (Fernandez 81), Hartson (Beattie 74), Bellamy.
: K Clark.
ROB HULSE struck his fourth goal in as many games to rescue a precious point for Leeds and deny play-off rivals Millwall victory at the New Den.
The on-loan West Brom striker netted 12 minutes from time to cancel out Paul Robinson’s first league goal for the Lions early in the first half.
The two sides are now locked on 51 points apiece but will view their play-off hopes as still very much alive after the points elevated both sides to within three points off the top six.
The two sides were facing each other in south-east London for the first time since 1987, when the Lions claimed a 3-1 victory at their former home.
: Marshall, Paul Robinson, Lawrence, Ward, Craig, Sweeney (Weston 84), Elliott, Morris, Simpson, Quigley (Peeters 89), Dichio.
: Sullivan, Kelly (Carlisle 90), Butler, Kilgallon, Gray, Lennon, Walton (King 60), Gregan, Derry, Healy (Johnson 84), Hulse.
: B Knight (Kent).
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