Celtic manage 1-0 win; Du Wei rest with injury
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-09-19 10:45

GLASGOW, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Stilian Petrov's early goal secured Celtic a 1-0 win at Hibernian on Sunday to close the gap on Scottish leaders Hearts to five points.

Bulgaria midfielder Petrov took advantage of sloppy defending to score after six minutes in a scrappy match.

The new-signing China defender Du Wei missed the oppotunity to make a debut on fatherland's traditional Mid-Autumn Festival due to an injury at reverve team match.

Celtic spurned a host of good chances and Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura curled a low free-kick against the post early in the second half.

"We had the first 45 minutes and then Hibs got the second," Celtic manager Gordon Strachan told BBC Radio Scotland.

"In the second half Hibs came out and played really well... we went into a kind of defensive shell and that's something we have to work on.

"We could've scored two or three on the counter attack. But, I am a happy man with a lot of things and we have another clean sheet."

Celtic's Polish keeper Artur Boruc capped a fine display with an excellent save in the final minute, blocking substitute Steven Fletcher's near post shot.

Hearts top the standings with a maximum 21 points from seven games after their 1-0 win at Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Saturday. Celtic are second with 16 points with Rangers, Hibernian and Kilmarnock on 13 points.