Rangers open 10-point gap, Celtic slump

Rangers increased their lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League to 10 points with a 2-0 win at St Mirren on Wednesday as Celtic slumped to a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Hibernian.

Both Old Firm sides struck early with Steven Davis giving Rangers a second minute while Marc-Antoine Fortune headed Celtic ahead with four minutes gone.

However, Hibernian struck back against the run of play through Anthony Stokes mid-way through the first-half.

As Celtic committed men forward in search of the equaliser a fast break from Hibs saw substitute Danny Galbraith fire a stoppage time winner past Artur Boruc almost at the same time as Nacho Novo scored to make sure of the points for Rangers at St Mirren.

It leaves Walter Smith’s side ten points clear of Celtic, who have played a game less.

“Since I’ve come to the club the players have given me absolutely everything and I think that is possibly the result of the hard work they’ve given me,” Hibs manager John Hughes said after his side closed to within two points of Celtic.

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray said his side had missed an opportunity to keep apace with Rangers.

“We had enough chances to score more goals but give Hibernian credit as they defended resolutely. There were one or two tonight that didn’t reach the targets they have set for themselves this season,” said Mowbray.

Celtic’s pressing game had the visitors rattled from the start and a slack back pass almost allowed Georgios Samaras in before Fortune gave Celtic the lead in the fifth minute. The striker leapt highest at the front post to meet a Paul Caddis corner and bullet a header off the bar and past Graeme Smith.

Aiden McGeady looked hungry for a goal and a shell-shocked Hibs side allowed him three opportunities in quick succession but he couldn’t find the target with any of them.

The chances continued to come for Celtic and Fortune headed well over from another Caddis corner before nodding wide after McGeady picked him out in the box.

The Easter Road side’s first real opportunity didn’t materialise until the 23rd minute when Stokes fired a fierce shot that Boruc did well to hold on to.

The Polish keeper then showed great reflexes to turn a Josh Thomson header round the post after the Celtic defender knocked the ball towards his own goal in the 26th minute.

However, Boruc was picking the ball out of the net from the corner as Stokes got in front of him to nod Derek Riordan’s corner into the net.

Hibs grew in confidence and a wicked bend in Riordan’s shot from 30 yards nearly fooled Boruc before Stokes drilled his effort just wide. Celtic had the ball in the net in the 45th minute when Samaras knocked in on the line but the Greek striker’s effort was chalked off for a foul on keeper Smith.

The Hoops should have restored their lead seconds after the break when Fortune held off two Hibs defenders to slip in McGeady but he sent his shot wide.

Niall McGinn sent in a fierce ball across goal for Samaras but the Greek swung his foot at it and missed it completely. Smith then pulled off a superb save from McGinn’s close range volley before the Northern Irishman made way for South Korean Ki Sung-Yeung. Samaras’ torrid time in front of goal continued when he missed a golden chance to score when he headed a Caddis cross over the bar inside the six-yard box and he was immediately subbed to allow Morten Rasmussen to make his debut.

As Celtic pressed for a winner Ki lost the ball and Stokes broke quickly up the park before slipping sub Galbraith into the box and he fired an angled shot low past Boruc to give Hibs an injury-time winner.

Elsewhere Aberdeen won 3-0 away to Hearts, ten-man Motherwell held Falkirk to a goalless draw and Dundee United versus St Johnstone ended 3-3.

GLASGOW, AFP