FULL-TIME RESULTSpublished at 17:08 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2024
17:08 GMT 7 December 2024
Scottish Championship
As in the top flight, the Championship leaders stretch their lead, Falkirk going eight points clear after beating Raith Rovers as second-top Livingston were held by Morton.
Partick Thistle move to within two points of Ayr after beating the third-top visitors.
Airdrieonians find themselves 10 points adrift at the bottom after losing away to Queen's Park.
FULL-TIME St Mirren 0-1 Motherwellpublished at 17:00 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2024
17:00 GMT 7 December 2024
What a way to win it! It looked for most of that game like St Mirren were the more likely of the teams to snatch a victory in Paisley, but Tony Watt's header sends all three points back to Motherwell.
A welcome relief for Stuart Kettlewell after three games without a win.
FULL-TIME Celtic 3-0 Hibernianpublished at 16:57 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2024
16:57 GMT 7 December 2024
Kyogo's wonderful lofted finish ensures a seventh successive league victory for Celtic against a Hibs side whose first-half profligacy continued into the second half.
Aberdeen's draw against St Johnstone means the champions stretch their lead at the top of the Premiership to nine points.
Postpublished at 16:55 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2024
16:55 GMT 7 December 2024
Heart of Midlothian 2-0 Dundee
It should be 3-0 to Hearts!
Lawrence Shankland volleys a cross low and Jon McCracken makes a cracking save. Kenneth Vargas works it back to Alan Forrest and it's cleared off the line.
Possible Kilmarnock penaltypublished at 16:53 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2024
16:53 GMT 7 December 2024
Dundee United 1-0 Kilmarnock
Substitute Gary Mackay-Steven's free-kick into the Dundee United box allows Kilmarnock to exert some pressure and there are claims for a penalty as Richard Odada seems to connect with Bobby Wales the act of clearing.
Arne Engel's third league goal of the season set Celtic on their way to victory
George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland
Brendan Rodgers praised Celtic's attacking play as they overcame a wasteful Hibernian to move nine points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership, but criticised his team's performance out of possession.
Arne Engel's first-half tap-in, before Joe Newell's own goal and Kyogo's delightful dink after the break, made it seven successive league wins for the champions.
However, the visitors spurned several clear-cut chances in a first half where they found some joy against Celtic's high defensive line.
"Some of our attacking play was excellent," Rodgers said.
"Our downside for today was our pressing - it was nowhere near what I would want and expect it to be - and that gave them chances."
Mykola Kuharevich was twice denied one-on-one with Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, and Newell blazed over the bar when unmarked inside the box.
Celtic made their chances count at the other end though, as Engels swept home Alistair Johnston's cross and Adam Idah's flick-on was diverted into his own goal by Newell.
Hibs' profligacy continued after they fell two behind, with Schmeichel denying Elie Youan and Nicky Cadden in quick succession before Lewis Miller headed straight at the Denmark international.
Liam Scales and Auston Trusty both had efforts saved in a frenetic second half, before Kyogo made it three with a glorious finish.
The Japanese striker effortlessly took the ball in his stride after the hosts' high press pinched possession, and he calmly lofted the ball over Jordan Smith.
Aberdeen's 1-1 draw against St Johnstone means Celtic have strengthened their hold on the title race, with third-placed Rangers in action at Ross County on Sunday.
This is now Hibernian's worst start to a top-flight season since the 1979-80 season, when they finished bottom of the league and were relegated.
Rodgers' rotation pays dividends again
Rodgers spoke earlier this week about the importance of using his whole squad in order to keep players fresh amid a packed fixture schedule.
The Celtic manager did so again here, bringing record-g Engels and Luke McCowan into midfield, and dropping Cameron Carter-Vickers and Kyogo to the bench for a breather.
It wasn't the smoothest of starts for Celtic, with Hibs regularly getting in behind Scales and Trusty.
However, Schmeichel showed his worth once again - making nine saves in total - to keep the hosts' clean sheet intact, before Engels marked his return with a goal.
Another hallmark of this Celtic side is their intensity out of possession, and their third goal of the game was a perfect example.
James Forrest nipped in to win the ball back in a dangerous area, before feeding Kyogo, who showed why he is so feared by defenders up and down the country with a finish of real class.
Attentions now turn to Europe and a Champions League trip to Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday, where Rodgers will likely shuffle his pack once more.
Hibs leave shooting boots at home
A chaotic draw against high-flying Aberdeen and a comprehensive win over Motherwell in Hibs' last two outings showed signs of improvement.
The momentum from those displays carried into their trip to Glasgow and they should really have hit the front inside two minutes.
Kuharevich had the entirety of Celtic's half to himself but his tame shot was saved by Schmeichel's left leg.
They continued to create opportunities that rarely come around against Celtic, but Newell leant back and skied his shot with the goal at his mercy and Kuharevich's heavy first touch saw another gilt-edged chance go begging.
It felt as though Hibs could play all afternoon and not score as they continued to waste chances after the break - Elie Youan and Lewis Miller the guilty parties.
David Gray's side return to the bottom of the Premiership, but if they continue to create chances of the quality they did here - and Kieron Bowie returns to the side in the new year - the goals will surely come.
What they said
Media caption,
'I wouldn't be telling you!' - Rodgers remains tight-lipped on Schmeichel's contract
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "The win was very good on the back of the midweek game against Aberdeen.
"Thankfully, I have a top international goalkeeper, who, when we needed him, made saves.
"I can trigger [the option for another year in Schmeichel's contract] at any time; I wouldn't tell you, I would tell him first."
Hibernian head coach David Gray: "We'll never accept losing, but everything I asked the players to do was there for large periods.
"When you get big opportunities you need to take them. We had three or four clear-cut chances - I can't a Hibs side coming here and having so many.
"If I didn't see the attacking intent we've got, I'd be much more concerned."
Celtic have won each of their last three league meetings with Hibernian, last winning more in a row over Hibs from April 2010 to July 2011 (6).
Hibernian are winless in 19 away games against Celtic in all competitions (D4 L15) since a 2-1 victory in January 2010 under John Hughes. Hibs have lost their last five away to Celtic, last losing more in a row on the road against the Hoops in October 1984 (7).
Celtic have won 21 of their last 23 league games (D2) since a 2-1 defeat at Hearts in March. At home, the Bhoys have won 14 of their last 16 (D2), with Hearts again the last side to beat them (2-0 in December 2023).
Hibernian have scored exactly three goals in both of their last two league games (W1 D1); they had only netted 3+ goals in two of their previous 21 league matches before this.
Celtic’s Nicolas Kühn has been involved in more goals than any other player in the Scottish Premiership this season (5 goals, 6 assists), with his 11 involvements coming in just 12 appearances.