Football United

Celtic this afternoon survived one of the sternest examinations of their championship credentials to date, emerging triumphant at Easter Road to move back into second place in this new and unusual three-horse race for the title.

Pole position is, of course, still held by a Hearts side without a blemish to their domestic record thus far, but Gordon Strachan will know that continuing to chalk up victories against teams such as Tony Mowbray’s Hibernian – who were outclassed in the first half, but excellent in the second – will go a long way towards ensuring his side stay in touch at the top.

An early goal from Stilian Petrov was enough for Strachan's Celtic, who, unchanged from the 2-0 win over Aberdeen and kitted out in the new all-black strip, had begun the match clearly determined to slash the eight-point deficit separating them from the early season pace-setters.

HIBERNIAN: Malkowski; Whittaker, Caldwell, Hogg, Murphy; Shiels (Riordan, 65'), Stewart (Fletcher, 75'), Thomson, Hogg; Sproule, O’Connor (Konte, 50')

CELTIC: Boruc; Telfer, Balde, McManus, Camara; Petrov, Lennon, Nakamura (Maloney, 69'), Thompson (Pearson, 50'); Zurawski, Hartson (Beattie, 61')

GOALS: 0-1, Petrov (6')

PREMIER LEAGUE

Pos. Team Pld Pts
1. Hearts 7 21
2. Celtic 7 16
3. Rangers 7 13
4. Hibernian 7 13
5. Kilmarnock 7 13

Source: celticfc.net