Petrov to the rescue

Hibernian 0 Celtic 1

Celtic took all three points from Hibernian to cling on to their lead at the top of the table heading into Saturday’s Old Firm showdown.

The Parkhead side were without strike duo Chris Sutton and Henrik Larsson and they seemed to be missing their talismanic Swede in particular as they struggled to break down a stubborn Hibs defence.

With Rangers picking up three points against Livingston at Ibrox, a win was essential and Stilian Petrov left it late to secure the points after 77 minutes.

Celtic tried their best to compensate for the void left by Larsson and Sutton, and Petrov managed to put the Hibs goal under pressure early in the game.

He surged into the box after five minutes and unleashed the shot only to be denied by Yannick Zambernardi, who managed to block the effort.

But Hibs seemed determined to take full advantage of Martin O’Neill’s weakened side and they could have opened the scoring after nine minutes, when Ian Murray played a short ball to Derek Townsley and the former Motherwell man drove the ball at goal but he was denied by Hoops defender Bobo Balde who managed to clear to safety.

The best chance of the first half fell to the Easter Road side when skipper John O’Neil picked out Townsley in the box and the big midfielder’s header looked set to hit the back of the net but Alan Thompson managed to clear the ball off the line to keep the scoreline level.

In a desperate attempt to open the scoring, Thompson resorted to a long-range effort and came close with the 40-yard drive but goalkeeper Nick Colgan never looked like being troubled by the shot.

As the game neared half-time, the home support were in an uproar when Celtic goalkeeper Rab Douglas appeared to lift the ball about a yard outside the area, but referee Mike McCurry took no action and ordered play to continue.

Hibs tried to keep the momentum going after the break when Tom McManus took the ball round former team-mate Ulrik Laursen before crossing to Townsley at the far post, but he just failed to connect with the ball and the chance was lost.

Celtic had another chance from a set-piece when they were handed a free kick 30 yards out.

Thompson curled the ball into the area, meeting Balde at the far post but the towering defender sent his header wide of the upright.

Hibs were still looking capable of scoring and O’Neil tried his luck with a long, low effort. Celtic keeper Douglas managed to block but spilled the ball and had to rely on Laursen to clear the danger.

John Hartson had contributed little to the game for Celtic but he should have netted just seconds later only to fire wide from eight yards out.

Hartson squandered another chance when he burst through on goal and tried to chip the Hibs goalkeeper only to send the ball well over the crossbar.

But he made amends after 77 minutes when he played the ball through to Petrov who finally broke the deadlock when he fired a shot past Colgan.

The relief among the visiting support was obvious as they burst into song, after earlier being silenced by a stubborn Hibs display.

McManus had the chance to snatch a share of the points for Hibs shortly before the final whistle but the young striker nodded over the crossbar from just outside the six-yard box.