Arne Engels back with a Celtic bang as Hibs howlers let champions off the hook – 3 talking points

Arne Engels returned to strike as Celtic kept up the pace at the top of the Premiership.

The Belgian hit the fourth goal of his Parkhead career to open the scoring before Adam Idah’s header was knocked into his own net by Hibs captain Joe Newell. Sub Kyogo Furuhashi leapt from the bench to score a sublime third near the finish as the champions triumphed.

It was a day where Celtic created chances and took some of them. Hibs, on the other end, didn’t. David Gray’s team wasted huge opportunities. Mykola Kukharevych missed two huge one-on-one openings as did Elie Youan. Celtic keeper Kasper Schmeichel made big saves for his team at those moments and his colleagues made them count at the other end. Victory ensured there were no slips for Brendan Rodgers’ team ahead of their Champions League showdown against Dinamo Zagreb. It was not, however, plain sailing with some scares.

Hibs had a magnificent opportunity in the opening seconds when Nectarios Triantis sprung the home backline with a brilliant pass which sent Kukharevych racing through one-on-one. The Ukrainian had time against Schmeichel, but the Dane thrust out a leg to stop and also pushed away a subsequent strike from Nicky Cadden.

Kukharevych would pay dearly moments later when Engels flicked the champions ahead. Nicolas Kuhn released Alistair Johnston who delivered a centre which the Belgian knocked into the net.

Luke McCowan hit the bar just afterwards from a Daizen Maeda pass and Adam Idah came close as Rodgers’ side hunted a quick kill. Hibs stayed composed and some lovely build-up engineered a chance for Newell which he hoisted over the crossbar.

Having had one chance to beat Schmeichel, Kukharevych got another when put through again and, for a second time, he got