Hooper inspires five-star Hoops

Goals from Anthony Stokes and the former Scunthorpe striker gave the impressive visitors a commanding interval lead.

Hoops defender Charlie Mulgrew fired in a free-kick just after the break and Hooper grabbed his second before substitute Ki Sung-yueng, on for Victor Wanyama, made it five to extend the Parkhead side's winning domestic run to 18 games.

There was less than a minute played when Hibs goalkeeper Graham Stack had to save from Hooper's close-range flick after he had been set up by Stokes, with the home side forced to defended a couple of early corners.

Hibs rallied but there was an inevitability about the opener in the 14th minute which saw Stokes head in Mulgrew's corner from the right without much interference from the home defence.

The second goal six minutes later came from a quick Celtic break, Hooper playing the ball out to Stokes on the left and then racing into the Hibs box to take the return pass and shoot low past Stack from 10 yards. Already it looked all too easy for the league leaders.

Celtic threatened every time they went forward and in the 37th minute midfielder Joe Ledley drove towards the Hibs goal before driving over the bar, before Stack had to make a save from Parkhead skipper Scott Brown who had been set up by Stokes.

Barely a minute into the second half, Paul Hanlon fouled Hooper 20 yards from goal and Mulgrew curled in a delightful left-footed free-kick to make it 3-0, although questions may be asked about Stack's positioning.

Celtic were rampant and in the 52nd minute, Hooper flashed in a drive from the left-hand side of the box, Stack looked favourite to save but the Hibs keeper watched in dismay as the ball escaped his grasp and ended up in the corner of the net.

In the 77th minute Kris Commons' wayward shot from the left cannoned off Ki and behind Stack for number five before Ledley saw a header come back off the bar following a Ki corner as Celtic hunted more goals.

Source: PA

Source: PA