The conditions were truly atrocious, with constant rain and a swirling wind ensuring that every seat in Parkhead welcomed its guest with a puddle and the players had a hard time using the ball to any effect due to the wind.
Celtic made several changes, with both full backs being replaced by Robson and Hinkel and Paul Hartley made a start in the middle of the pitch. Cillian Sheridan made his first start up front and Celtic looked the livelier of the sides in the first half.
Like the wind, Celtic huffed and puffed in the opening exchanges without ever looking to blow Hibernians house down and it was the visitors who got the first site of goal after and incisive break saw Fletchers shot well saved by Boruc. Celtic started to make an impact in the game winning several corners on the right hand side that caused the Hibs defence problems.
It was from a corner from the left that saw Celtic take the league. Nakamura put in a perfect corner for Captain Stephen McManus to volley home from close range. Celtic appeared to be cruising at this stage and when the Hibs defence misread a simple forward pass young Sheridan was on hand to pounce on the ball, round the keeper and score his first senior goal for Celtic.
Hibs always looked dangerous on the break and Celtic took their foot off the gas towards the end of the match to allow Fletcher to score, albeit in slightly fortuitous circumstances as his shot clipped off Nish's head and past the stranded Boruc.
Into the second half and Celtic's lead had gone. Before you had the chance to say, "when will it be my turn to win that fecking Paradise Windfall" Hibs had managed to hit the byeline and square the ball across the box for Nish to tap in.
The panic merchants then got into full abusive flow as player after player were called everything name under the son for simply trying and failing to score a goal instantly. Once Celtic dusted themselves down and started going forward the crowd did manage to get back to their role of support but the level of absolute drivel that some people are prepared to shout out and the extent that they wish to display their ignorance to football never fails to astound me.
I always thought that the Kaiser Chiefs song "We are the angry mob" was written about these Celtic fans, especially the line "we like who we like and we hate who we hate and we are all so easily swayed". That is maybe the subject for another article.
Despite the abuse and 'support' Celtic went about their task and got on with their job of winning the Football match. Strachan brought on McGeady for Nakamura - whom was probably providing our most incisive passing at this stage in the game as we went for goal. The breakthrough came from yet another corner kick as the likeable Glenn Loovens (AKA Sean Bean) scored with a perfectly placed header that the player on the post should have dealt with.
Scott Brown then put the icing on a fine man of the match performance with a great goal that sealed the win in what was a thoroughly entertaining game of football.
Yours in Celtic
Clydebuilt