These bhoys mean business

There was an impressive purpose and determination about the way Celtic beat Hibs 3-0 today.

After another week dominated by honest mistakes and the increasingly tiresome moans of President George Peat it would have been easy for Neil Lennon’s side to lose their focus.

Regardless of Hibs current form, Easter Road will never be an easy venue with questions hanging in the air about the ability and mentality of the current Celtic side.

By the time that Craig Thomson blew his final whistle those questions had been answered with Lennon’s side bouncing back from the midweek disappointment at Hamilton.

Lennon and his backroom staff would have used recent events to motivate the team with the sight of Willie Collum as fourth official providing another reminder of the obstacles ahead.

Throughout the game Celtic showed that they have the nerve and killer instinct that a championship chasing side must show.

The shape of the team looked good with Gary Hooper partnering Anthony Stokes in attack and Biram Kayal increasingly infuential in the centre of the park.

After just two full days of training Hooper was short of match fitness but not his predator instinct.

Seeing Mark Brown block a one-on-one in the 43^rd minute must have been a disappointment but within 60 seconds he was showing his composure in front of goal with two great touches to control a cross from Stokes then steer his shot past Brown into the corner of the net.

There was a visible sense of relief when the ball hit the net with Celtic going on to dominate the second half and tieing up the points thanks to a double from Stokes.

Despite their recent heavy schedule Celtic kept the pace up and pinned Hibs back for long periods turning the last 20 minutes of the match into a virtual exhibition.

Lennon made full use of the advantage to bring on his substitutes with Joe Ledley, Freddie Ljungberg and Charlie Mulgrew all making an impact.

Three matches against Aberdeen, two with Rangers and games against Hearts and Dundee United will have a massive bearing on the season- and test the character of the current squad.

On the evidence of today’s match at Easter Road it looks like Lennon has got a squad capable of fighting all the way for this season’s honours.

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