Callum McGregor reminded the watching Scotland manager, Steve Clarke, what he will be missing with a spectacular goal in Celtic’s dominant victory over Hibernian at Easter Road. The 31-year-old midfielder fired into the top corner from nearly 30 yards, two days after announcing his retirement from international football.
Nicolas Kühn had given Celtic an early lead that they never looked like relinquishing as Hibs struggled to make inroads on Kasper Schmeichel’s goal until the later stages of David Gray’s first home league match as permanent head coach.
Gray brought in Dylan Levitt and the new signing Mykola Kuharevich following his team’s opening 3-0 defeat against St Mirren, while Celtic were unchanged from their 4-0 win over Kilmarnock.
The champions were ahead inside three minutes from a move that originated with a Hibs throw deep in Celtic’s half. Greg Taylor’s clearance from inside his box found Kühn, who played a quick ball over the top that left the Hibs defence exposed to Kyogo Furuhashi’s pace. The Japan forward probably should have played in Kühn, but opted to shoot from 22 yards. However, Josef Bursik could only palm the low shot into the path of James Forrest, who squared for Kühn to slide home.
Celtic continued to look like a side who have picked up where they left off in last season’s title run-in with the bonus of the winger Kühn showing an improved burst of pace. Hibs also contributed to their own downfall with a succession of loose passes in their own half. Josh Campbell’s wayward ball earned Furuhashi a good chance that he squandered, and more inaccurate passing put them on the back foot and allowed McGregor his moment of magic in the 19th minute.
Things threatened to get out of hand for the hosts. The centre-back Warren O’Hora volleyed Alistair Johnston’s cross off the underside of his own bar and Matt O’Riley curled just over from 20 yards.
Celtic remained in complete control and stepped up their efforts to add to their lead early in the second half. McGregor’s shot was deflected off the post and Kühn and O’Riley threatened before Taylor’s wonderful ball got Furuhashi in behind, but Bursik saved.
Hibs showed signs of life with balls across the face of goal from Martin Boyle and Lewis Miller, while Gray brought on Kieron Bowie for a debut. Rudi Molotnikov produced the home team’s first shot at goal at around the 70-minute mark, but fired well wide after beating two men.
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Furuhashi fluffed a chance to finish off a devastating counterattack either side of going down injured with two separate problems. He shook both off but, with no experienced deputy, the winger Mikey Johnston came on in the centre-forward role to give the Japanese striker a rest, and curled not far wide from 20 yards.
Bowie’s display gave Hibs fans at least one positive to take from the game and the former Fulham forward’s shot from a tight angle brushed off the bar. Johnston himself went off in the closing stages after taking a whack in the face from Bursik as he followed up on O’Riley’s saved header, and his fellow substitute Daizen Maeda finished the game as a centre-forward.