Hibs were left to rue a number of missed chances before league leaders Celtic ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at Parkhead this afternoon.
The result, coupled with Hearts victory over Dundee at Tynecastle means that David Gray’s men returned to the foot of the table.
Head coach Gray made two changes to his starting line up with Jordan Obita returning from suspension taking over from Junior Hoilett and Lewis Miller returning at right back in place of Chris Cadden.
Celtic made five changes from the side that beat Aberdeen Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alex Valle were replaced at the back with Liam Scales and Greg Taylor, while Adam Idah replaced Kyogo Furuhashi up front.
In midfield, Luke McCowan and record-signing Arne Engels were promoted from the bench, preferred to Paulo Bernardo and Reo Hatate.
Hibs started on the front foot and should have taken the lead in the second minute when Kuharevich broke clean through but was foiled by the left boot of Kasper Schmeichel in the Celtic goal.
Moments later Nicky Cadden let fly from just outside the box, but the Danish goalkeeper did well to save.
But despite the bright start, Celtic took the lead against the run of play in the sixth minute when Nicolas Kuhn fired an excellent ball across the face of goal, and Arne Engels was on hand to tap home from close range.
Moments later Daizen Maeda cut back found the onrushing McCowan but the midfielder’s shot skimmed the crossbar and goes behind.
The home side continued to press forward but Hibs missed a great chance in the 17th minute when Miller set up skipper Joe Newell on the penalty spot, but the Englishman’s effort flew high and wide over the bar.
Hibs should have equalised moments later when Kuharevich beat the offside trap but his touch let him down and Schmeichel saved from close range. The Ukranian picked up a knock in the incident and although he tried to play on the decision was taken out of his hand and he was replaced by Josh Campbell.
Khun the set up Adam Idah but the striker missed an open goal and the ball was cleared for a corner.
Celtic had a penalty claim turned down by VAR in the 32nd minute as the home side looked to double their advantage.
At the other end Campbell and Nicky Cadden combined but the linesman’s flag denied Hibs a corner.
Engels then picked up a yellow card for a stamp on Newell. VAR had a look but did not recommend it was upgraded to red.
Five additional minutes were added on at the end of the first half and it took a great save from Jordan Smith to deny Idah but there was no more scoring, and the players left the field with the hosts one goal in front.
James Forrest replaced Khun at the restart.
Celtic started on the front foot and doubled their lead in the 57th minute when Idah headed on a corner kick and the ball rebounded off Newell into the net.
An underhit backpass from McCowan allowed Elie Youan to prod a shot at goal that Schmeichel blocked before Nicky Cadden’s follow-up effort was turned behind.
Miller then went close with a powerful effort which deflected off Greg Taylor.
From the resultant corner a Bushiri header tested the Celtic keeper as the Hibs players looked to get something from the game.
Martin Boyle replaced Nicky Cadden with just under 20-minutes remaining.
Auston Trusty met a Paulo Bernardo corner, but his header was tipped over by Smith in the Hibs goal
Youan, Miller and Newell were then replaced by Hoilett, Chris Cadden and Dwight Gayle.
With four minutes remaining Forrest dispossessed Nectar Triantes and found Kyogo Furuhashi who added a third to wrap up the three points.
Schmeichel was voted Celtic’s man of the match.
Celtic: Schmeichel, Johnston, Trusty, Scales, Taylor, McGregor, Engels, McCowan, Kuhn, Maeda, Idah.
Substitutes: Sinisalo, Kyogo, Valle, Yang, Carter-Vickers, Bernardo, Hatate, Forrest, Ralston.
Hibs: Smith, Miller, O’Hora, Bushiri, Iredale, Obita, Triantis, Newell, N. Cadden, Youan, Kuharevich.
Substitutes: Bursik, Levitt, Doyle-Hayes, Boyle. C. Cadden, Moriah-Welsh, Hoilett, Campbell, Gayle.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
