Sutton doubles Hibs' agony

It was not the strip show Hibernian wanted. Not even a garish new kit could hide the way they were cruelly exposed by Celtic at Easter Road last night. Four goals in a blistering first-half rout meant that Paul Fenwick's late header was scant consolation for the embarrassed Edinburgh club.

Hibernian's initial bouyancy reflected their splendid 2-2 draw at Ibrox Park last weekend and not the painful memories of last season's Scottish Cup Final. That day, Celtic wore yellow shirts which were copied by thousands of followers, giving Hampden Park the appearance of a field of sunflowers. This time, both sides eschewed their normal green colours, Celtic in a new white number while Hibernian unveiled an all-purple kit.

Black and blue would have been more appropriate, for Alex McLeish's side were belted senseless in a first half from which they emerged with a shell-shocked look. Had Robert Douglas not denied Craig Brewster's shot on the turn in the opening minute then things might have been different, but once Celtic inflicted three goals in four astonishing minutes they were beyond salvation.

Lubomir Moravcik opened the floodgates after 16 minutes, having coaxed a foul out of Mathias Jack. Paul Lambert's short free-kick found the Slovakian and Hibernian never sensed the danger until after Moravcik unleashed a 35-yard shot with the outside of his left boot high past Nick Colgan.

Hibernian were so rattled that the next wound, 60 seconds later, was self-inflicted. Ulrik Laursen overhit a back-pass to Franck Sauzée, who could not prevent Chris Sutton forcing his way through and drilling a low shot past Colgan. Barely 19 minutes were on the clock when Sutton procured another. Johan Mjallby's pass was chested into Moravcik's path and he scooped a pass for Sutton to muscle past Laursen and fire in another right-foot drive.

Remarkably, Henrik Larsson ­ awarded his European Golden Boot in Monaco on Thursday ­ had not contributed a goal. That changed on the half-hour when the prolific Swede netted Celtic's fourth. Hibernian were too preoccupied with Sutton at Alan Thompson's well-delivered corner and allowed Larsson to bullet a header which Grant Breb-ner, on the line, could not halt.

The wrath of McLeish must have made Hibs' dressing-room as uncomfortable as being in Celtic's firing line and the arrival of Ulises de la Cruz provided a meaner look after the interval. The Ecuadorean ­ a record £700,000 purchase this summer ­ showed why he has helped his country to the brink of the World Cup Finals with a series of robust, pacy runs down the right flank.

One foray took De la Cruz to the byline where he delivered a fine cross which Ian Murray met with a hook shot destined to find the net until Didier Agathe headed it off the line. Tom McManus, who scored at Rangers, sensed another goal coming when he twisted away from Oliver Tébily, but Douglas saved at his feet. The goalkeeper then trumped that with a stunning save to deny Sauzée's free-kick.

Hibernian 1

Fenwick 85

Celtic 4

Moravcik 16, Sutton 17, 20, Larsson 31

Half-time 0-4 Attendance: 14,701