Celtic slide further off Scottish pace

29 October 2011 17:17

Celtic slipped 12 points behind rivals Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League after they were held to a goalless draw by Hibernian at Parkhead.

Rangers continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 2-1 win away to Aberdeen thanks to goals from Kyle Lafferty and Nikica Jelavic, but the win was overshadowed by a serious knee injury suffered by Steven Naismith in the first-half.

The Hoops had easily knocked Hibs out of the League Cup in midweek thanks to a rampant second-half display in a 4-1 win at Easter Road.

But there was none of that urgency on show at Parkhead as a much changed Hibs side frustrated Neil Lennons side for 90 minutes.

Gary Hooper hit the post and James Forrest smacked the crossbar while Hibernians Leigh Griffiths and Ivan Sproule came close.

But neither keeper was really tested in a match that keeps Celtic third, three points behind Motherwell, albeit with a game in hand.

At Parkhead, a slip from Paul Hanlon allowed Anthony Stokes to whip in a cross that a bounced off strike partner Hooper and straight to Graham Stack.

Stokes then swapped sides and cut in from the left and his low shot was flicked away by the outstretched leg of Stack.

Hibs looked dangerous on the counter-attack and a good passing move set up Garry OConnor at the edge of the box but his first-time effort flashed wide.

Hooper created a great chance for the opener when he played a one-two with Stokes but his shot hit the outside of the post before Stack had to dive low to his left to stop a 25-yard shot from Forrest as the hosts tried to break the deadlock.

Hibs began the second-half on the front foot and both Daniel Galbraith and Griffiths tested Fraser Forster with free-kicks from 25 yards out.

The pace of on-loan Wolves striker Griffiths saw him find Galbraith with a cut-back which was deflected on to the roof of the net by Mulgrew.

Forrest, who scored a double in the midweek League Cup game between the same two sides, saw his thunderbolt strike from 20 yards clip the bar on its way out.

Hibs were winning the midfield battle and the Hoops brought on Paddy McCourt and Victor Wanyama in an attempt to get a grip of the game.

Substitute Ivan Sproule wasnt far away with a late shot as Hibs came close to snatching a winner.

At Pittodrie, Rangers lost Naismith to an early knee injury and it was his replacement Lafferty, who fired an angled shot past Gonzalez to give his side a 58th minute lead.

Darren Mackie brought down Sasa Papac in the box to allow Jelavic to double the score from the spot 11 minutes later.

Former Rangers player Richard Forsters speculative shot from 25 yards saw McGregor concede his first goal away from home this season when the keeper let his shot slip through his fingers.

Rory Fallon was then sent off in injury time for aiming an elbow at Dorin Goian.

Elsewhere, Inverness Caledonian Thistle remain bottom following a 3-2 defeat to Motherwell while Dunfermline lost 4-1 at home to Dundee United. Ten-man Hearts lost 1-0 at home to Kilmarnock while St Mirren defeated managerless St Johnstone 1-0.

Source: AFP