POST MATCH THOUGHTS FROM THE BUS PARK AT CELTIC PARK

1. INJURY WOES

Two worrying injuries to Leigh Griffiths and Craig Gordon in the first half changed the match dynamic and saw Celtic on the back foot in the second half. Griffiths, having opened the scoring and causing Hibs all sorts of problems in the opening half hour, pulled up with a re-occurrence of his calf problem. He knew straight away and signalled to the bench. Gordon cleared  just before the interval and was hurt as Efe Ambrose challenged.  The keeper’s injury looks serious and reports coming out after the game suggest that it is bad news. It looks like Craig Gordon’s season is over and Brendan Rodgers will be forced to sign a replacement keeper.

2. MOUSSA’S MARE

NOTHING went right for substitute Moussa Dembele today. He even picked up a yellow card when referee Bobby Madden reckoned he went down too easily. No-one else seemed to agree with Madden but it summed up Dembele’s afternoon. If there were scouts watching him this afternoon then there is unlikely to be a bid forthcoming for a player who is struggling for fitness, form and now confidence. The injury to Griffiths, which usually means two or three weeks out of the side, makes it all the more important that the Dembele we saw last season returns.

3. McGINN MAKES HIS CASE

LIFELONG Celtic fan John McGinn bossed the midfield for Hibs in the second half as Neil Lennon’s side worked hard for an equaliser. Eventually Brendan Rodgers had to sacrifice James Forrest for Kouassi to ensure the points remained at the Parkhead The former Celtic boss might be thinking that Anthony Stokes could have got him something today. For all McGinn’s endeavour the visitors were restricted to a few long range efforts. Edinburgh folk, apparently in the know, reckon there is interest in McGinn from Brendan Rodgers. He did his case no harm today so it’s over to you Brendan.

4. BRILLIANT BROONY

Scott Brown is a big game player and relished the chance to go toe to toe with the young pretender John McGinn today. The Hibs star has a great second half so was bettered by Broony who was brilliant for the ninety minutes.

5. MISS OF THE SEASON

WHEN Scotty Sinclair was first to react to the save from the Leigh Griffiths free kick in the opening period of today’s game, all he had to do was walk the ball from three yards into the empty net. Somehow he managed to hit the junction between the post and bar and watched in horror as the ball came back into play. It was an incredible miss but with 17 goals to his name already this season, the fans were happy to forget about it and get on with supporting the team. Celtic’s win maintains the eleven point lead over Aberdeen who beat Kilmarnock at Pittodrie. The loan Rangers play at Dingwall tomorrow fourteen point behind the Champions.

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