Celtic extend lead at top as missed Hibernian chances prove costly

Celtic stretched their lead at the top of the William Hill Premiership with a 3-0 win over a Hibernian side who will have left Parkhead with regrets.

Midfielder Arne Engels opened the scoring in the sixth minute but the visitors spurned a series of opportunities with Mykola Kuharevich failing with two one-on-one opportunities against Hoops goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who was announced as man of the match.

Parkhead striker Adam Idah should also have had a couple before the break before his header in the 54th minute was helped into his own net by Easter Road skipper Joe Newell.

Hibs, who are now back bottom of the table, kept going but Celtic added a third in the 84th minute through substitute Kyogo Furuhashi.

The Hoops moved nine points ahead of Aberdeen, who drew 1-1 at home to St Johnstone, and 14 clear of Rangers, who play Ross County on Sunday and whom they meet in next week's Premier Sports Cup final at Hampden Park.

Before that, however, Celtic will face Dinamo Zagreb away in the Champions League on Tuesday night, looking to take another step towards the knockout stages.

After resting centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers in the five changes Brendan Rodgers made, he will most certainly be reinstated by the Hoops boss.

Rodgers continued with his rotation strategy, with defenders Liam Scales and Greg Taylor, midfielders Luke McCowan and Engels and Idah coming into the side.

Hibs, with Lewis Miller and Jordan Obita returning to their defence, should have taken the lead in the second minute when Kuharevich was sent racing clear by Nectarios Triantis but Schmeichel stopped his unconvincing shot with his foot.

Moments later, the Hoops keeper made a better save from midfielder Nicky Cadden’s drive from the edge of the box.

The sense