3 things we learned from Celtic’s 3-1 win vs Hibernian

Here are three things we learned as a second-string Celtic side managed to beat Hibernian 3-1 in their last pre-season friendly.

Celtic’s second game in three days ended positively with a well earned 3-1 home win against a pretty strong Hibernian side who went a goal ahead after 14 minutes. The performance helped show some really promising players in the squad.

The Hoops lined up with a team missing many of the first team regulars and gave opportunities to a few players on the fringe of the squad. It’s not entirely fair to say it was our B team against a set of Hibs regular first team players, but it was pretty close to that. Which makes the win even more satisfying.

Starting line ups included:

Apart from that nice warm feeling everyone gets from a win, what else did we get from the game? Well, many of the players deserve. Mention, everyone will have slightly varying views and opinions but there were some clear stand out points.

Griff and Klimala up front are dangerous

Leigh Griffiths – We all know his fitness had raised lots of comments and views from all and sundry. Neil Lennon talked at the weekend of Griffiths determination and promised to give him game time, indicating he deserved the chance.

Well this isn’t a huge “He’s back” declaration. It’s actually much simpler than that and probably better news. It’s more like he has never been away. Griffiths may well need more game time for fitness and freshness, that’s the case for most of the squad anyway.

He came on as a sub on 59 mins and played alongside Klimala for the first time competitively. Leigh did very well, he brought life to the game, nearly scored with an early run through and shot and in truth didn’t look like he’d been away or had problems. And he nearly capped it all with a goal, it was his all the way until Klimala claimed with a final touch. A fine performance though for a first game anyway, even more so given the build up.

Patryk Klimala – This guy continues to work hard all game, put himself about, caused trouble and scored two goals. What’s not to like. A great game to get under his belt. There wasn’t a lot of time available for a thriving relationship up front with Griffiths, but the two did combine on multiple occasions and changed the game in Celtic’s favour. They worked out positions, dragged the defence apart and played across the front line without getting in each other’s way, which is a positive.

Well, when I say not in each other’s way, that opening goal of Klimala’s was a shot from Griffiths heading across goal and into the net. Klimala popped up on the line to knock it over into the net where it was already heading. Griffiths may have a different view, but surely we’d all want a striker hungry enough to bang everything into the net and claim a goal regardless.  Klimala is definitely settling in well as a hard working striker. Could be good things to come.