Celtic 3 Hibs 1 – Hoops set to eclipse Brendan Rodgers’ Invincibles as they close in on incredible tally

THEY’RE not Invincibles this season but Brendan Rodgers’ current vintage are now poised to go one better than the 2017 Celtic idols who swept the board unbeaten.

Back then it was 106 goals for the league campaign.

4

4

4

And now after Nicolas Kuhn, 21 for the season, Adam Idah, now on 19, and Reo Hatate, with his 10th, all got on the mark the four-in-a-row Hoops are on the exact same mark with still two games left against Aberdeen and St Mirren.

Martin Boyle had given Hibs the league – but they incredibly folded in the final minutes of the first 45.

Rodgers had made it clear he was looking at freshening up his side with the Scottish Cup final in a fortnight, and the push for a sixth Treble in nine years, now the clear priority after a fourth successive title was wrapped up and the last Old Firm derby negotiated.

And the headline news was the return of number one Kasper Schmeichel after a six-week, six-game lay-off with a shoulder injury.

The veteran Dane will drop back out for the midweek trip to Aberdeen but return for Premiership trophy presentation day against St Mirren next weekend.

Stopper Auston Trusty was in for the rested Cameron Carter-Vickers while Kuhn was back in attack with James Forrest and Viljami Sinisalo dropping to the bench.

Hibs boss David Gray opted for only one change with Josh Campbell back in for Junior Hoilett.

It was a sixth meeting of the season for the sides and the Hibees came to the East End of Glasgow in good shape, just two defeats in their previous 22 games with 15 wins.

Gray’s men – wearing black armbands in respect to former long term club owner Sir Tom Farmer who passed away on Friday – lined up for a classy guard of honour for Celtic.

Then they put their full focus on giving their hosts nothing.

And it would be an excellent first half for the Hibees up to a dramatic closing stages collapse when they shipped two awful goals.

There was glorious sunshine in Paradise.

But it was tough for Celtic to dazzle against a well-drilled Hibs side that was all about containment and out-balls for the lightning quick Boyle and giant targetman Mykola Kuharevich.

The Hoops should’ve opened the scoring in the ninth minute, Hatate’s measured through ball finding Idah in the box at an angle but the striker could only shoot straight at Jordan Smith who parried.

Celtic absolutely dominated the ball and tried hard to move about a rigid Hibs team.

Greg Taylor put Idah in on goal in the 13th minute – but the Republic of Ireland frontman looked sluggish as he produced a weak shot telegraphed for Smith with an offside flag easing the £9 million star’s burden.

But there were still a few groans from the Celtic support at his lacklustre attempt.

Arne Engels blasted over from 20-yards before, suddenly, at the other end Boyle found himself in front of goal after a decent break of the ball but was brilliantly denied by a Schmeichel reflex save from his powerful right foot volley.

It was a huge chance for Hibs, with Kuharevich also firing wide seconds later.

Celtic soon resumed control and a superb Daizen Maeda drilled cross found no takers in the box.

We had a two minute stoppage for treatment to Hibs No1 Smith which also allowed for a water break.

It would be Hibs who were especially revitalised with the resumption of play.

They took a stunning 25th minute lead – and it was Boyle, from a poor Trusty clearance, that delivered a composed finish from 12-yards which left Schmeichel helpless.

Hibs survived a VAR check for a possible Celtic penalty from a Chris Cadden hand-ball – it hit him a yard out from a Maeda touch – but the Hoops started to turn the screw approaching the interval.

Idah couldn’t get to a Maeda ball across the face of the six-yard box which was begging to be finished, but Celtic would level in the 41st minute with a goal that would’ve upset Hibs boss Gray.

A straightforward Tony Ralston clipped ball saw Rocky Bushiri and Idah collide and an unmarked Kuhn simply strolled on to it, round Smith and tap home.

Considering how hard Hibs had worked to clear and intercept, to concede such a basic equaliser was cheap.

4

VAR checked it for offside but Celtic’s leveller stood.

Boyle had a big opportunity to put Hibs back in the lead in the 44th minute but slipped at the critical moment six yards out after turning Liam Scales.

Within seconds he’d be cursing himself even more as Celtic went ahead.

Again, the simplicity of their strike would’ve gutted Gray in the visitors’ dugout.

Kuhn merely lofted a ball into the box for Idah, darting beyond the back-line, who strode on with no pressure and fired past Smith.

From feeling really encouraged to deflated in quickfire time, Hibs had their work cut out going in at the break.

They started the second half brightly with a couple of corners.

But Celtic – after a brief flare-up between Kuhn and Jack Iredale resulted in bookings for each – made it 3-1 in the 58th minute.

Smith fumbled what should’ve been a comfortable Maeda cross and the Hoops kept the ball alive in the Hibs box before Engels squared for Hatate to finish in style with his right foot.

The Japanese midfielder, as he does with most challenging moments in games these days, made it look simple.

That was that for Hibs but in fairness they didn’t give in.

Schmeichel got down to hold a Jordan Obita effort in the box and then smothered a shot straight at him from sub Junior Hoilett.

Both sides weren’t shy in attacking in the closing stages with Smith saving from sub Luke McCowan.

But there would be no more goals.

And for Celts midfield kid Sean McArdle, 17, there was a dream introduction from the bench for the final five minutes and added time.

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page