Celtic survive early scare

Hibernian 1 Celtic 2

Stephen McManus enhanced his case for an elusive Scotland call-up by marching Celtic 15 points clear of Hearts at the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League with a second-half winner against Hibernian at Easter Road.

The defender celebrated his new two-year contract with a vital sixth goal of the season after Shaun Maloney’s penalty cancelled out Derek Riordan’s spectacular free-kick.

Hibernian goalkeeper Simon Brown was sent off for handling the ball outside the area but his replacement Zbigniew Malkowski later made a brilliant penalty save to deny Maloney his second goal of the game.

But McManus was the hero, ironically while up against Scotland defender Gary Caldwell, who he will fight with for a place in the Hoops side next season.

Celtic-bound defender Caldwell put his current side in trouble after just three minutes after challenging Stilian Petrov – who was again being employed in a more forward position – from behind.

Recalled Shunsuke Nakamura, in for the injured John Hartson, stepped up with menace but he curled a left-footed free-kick just past the upright from 22 yards out.

Celtic’s defence looked on edge early in the game and Chris Killen had the ball in the net only for the linesman to pull him up for offside.

Riordan then stung the fingers of Artur Boruc with a right-foot shot from a wide angle but the Polish goalkeeper was far too casual and Stephen Glass almost pounced on the loose ball.

Riordan cut a frustrated figure in the 13th minute when Ivan Sproule raced to the byline but instead of pulling the ball back into his team-mate’s path, drove the ball aimlessly across field.

The Celtic supporters were screaming for a penalty in the 18th minute when Maciej Zurawski went down theatrically in the area under the challenge of Caldwell.

But referee Alan Freeland, who would have plenty to do later, was correct in waving play on.

Sproule again sparked groans from the home supporters when he left Mark Wilson for dead with a burst of pace into the box but fired straight at Boruc, as Killen screamed for a cut-back.

But the speedy Irishman won his side a free-kick in the 23rd minute, after inviting a challenge from Wilson 22 yards out.

Boruc lined up the wall but there was little anybody could do as Riordan curled an inch-perfect right-foot shot into the top corner of the net despite the goalkeeper getting a finger-tip to the ball.

The Celtic defence were again ripped apart by Riordan’s clever flick to send Glass through on goal but he snatched at the chance and pulled his effort wide of the far post.

Hibernian paid for that in the 36th minute when Freeland awarded the under-par visitors a controversial penalty.

Maloney jinked his way through on goal from Petrov’s pass before going to ground under the tackle of Steven Whittaker.

The referee booked the bemused full-back before Maloney made matters worse by blasting the spot-kick into the roof of the net.

Caldwell could maybe have done more to prevent Whittaker from making the challenge on Maloney in the build-up to Celtic’s goal.

But he would have been disappointed in himself again just after the break when Glass picked him out unmarked in the box, from a corner, only for the defender to head wastefully over the crossbar.

And it was the Celtic supporters singing on the hour when Zurawski flicked on Nakamura’s corner and the ball fell into the path of McManus, who bundled the ball into the net from eight yards.

But if that sucked the life out of the home side, they appeared dead and buried moments later when Hibernian lost goalkeeper Brown.

Zurawski attempted to chip the Hibernian man and he left the referee with little option but to send him off having thrust up his hand outside the box.

Hibs boss Tony Mowbray brought on Malkowski for Riordan and he saved Maloney’s free-kick before Nakamura fired over the rebound.

Malkowski then kept the home side hanging on with a stunning save from Maloney’s 71st-minute penalty.

Whittaker was fortunate not to be sent off after bringing the youngster down but Maloney placed the ball towards the corner of the net only to see the substitute goalkeeper tip it around the post.

Maloney and Nakamura combined to play Petrov through to kill the game off but he shot poorly and Malkowski made the save.

Celtic continued to pressure and Zurawski crashed a long-range effort just wide of the post. Steven Fletcher came agonisingly close to getting on the end of Whittaker’s low drive before Nakamura, who was being jeered for theatrically going down in the box, was replaced by Stephen Pearson.

Malkowski denied Maloney with another fine save in the 84th minute before the youngster was fouled by Thomson, who was booked.

But the day belonged to McManus and the celebrating Celtic fans.