Celtic lead Hibs at the break

Celtic 1, Hibernian 0 (half-time)

Welsh international striker John Hartson fired his second goal in four days to give the champions the half-time lead over troubled Hibernian at a sun-drenched Parkhead.

At the other end Caig continued to look shaky and again he could only look on as Thompson’s cross clipped the crossbar.

And, in the 31st minute, the Hibernian goalkeeper was helpless to prevent Celtic from taking the lead.

Thompson’s pass was brilliantly flicked on by Larsson and Hartson coolly clipped the ball past the wrong-footed Caig.

It was the Welshman’s third goal in only his first start and Thompson tried to double Celtic’s lead moments later, but his strike sailed just over the bar.

But the home side were still shaky at the back and they were relieved to see Zambernardi’s deflected effort loop just over the bar in the 35th minute before Orman fired wide.

Gould again made a mess of Brebner’s corner three minutes later, but with the keeper grounded McManus could only head wide.

Larsson was desperate for a goal and it almost arrived just four minutes before the break when he got on the end of a Guppy cross, but was unable to keep his header under the bar.

Balde managed to keep his header down just a minute before the break after another inviting cross from the winger, but Caig got down well to his right to deny Celtic their second goal.