HOOPY WITH THE POINTS

Strachan’s men, who have one SPL game left against Dundee United at Tannadice, put the pressure back on their Light Blue rivals, although Rangers have three games remaining.

The Celtic boss stressed that while his side always try and play good football, he is well aware only victories matter at Celtic Park.

“It was a good game and a fitting finish to the season at Parkhead,” Strachan said. “It was end to end and, at one point, it was like basketball.

“So I think everyone got their money’s worth although obviously we are more satisfied than Hibs.

“But, trust me, it’s all about the result. I’ve heard some rubbish since I’ve come here about people wanting to see stylish football and all the rest of it but everybody wants to watch winning football.

“We will try and perform at the same time as you’ve seen against Hibs but trust me, if we had performed like that and got beaten, there would have been all hell to pay.”

While Celtic have to wait 11 days before the trip to Tannadice, rivals Rangers play Zenit St Petersburg in the UEFA Cup final on Wednesday before finishing off their league campaign.

Strachan said: “I wish Rangers all the best. It’s all I can do. Walter Smith, his coaching staff and players have had an incredible amount of work to do in that tournament and it has to be admired.”

“We have 11 days to wait before our last game but we just get on with it. I’m just happy that the players have put themselves in a position where the last day is important.”

Hibs’ defeat means Motherwell will be Scotland’s UEFA Cup representatives next season, their first appearance in Europe in 13 years.

Strachan was glad to give his close friend Mark McGhee, the Fir Park boss, a helping hand. He said: "He deserves it for what Motherwell have had to go through this year on and off the pitch."

Celtic had started nervously. Keeper Artur Boruc had to foil Ross Campbell by rushing from his goals before beating away a shot from Dean Shiels for a corner which caused less panic.

The home side fought back and McDonald crossed for strike partner Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink to head just wide of the target from 16 yards, followed soon after by a Barry Robson effort from close range which went high over the bar.

Celtic were into their stride and in the 13th minute Gary Caldwell’s back-post header from a Robson corner was cleared off the line by Hibs skipper Rob Jones.

As a lively game continued, McDonald then fired wide from the edge of the Hibs box. Boruc was called into action again when he had to tip over a powerful Steven Fletcher drive from 20 yards, with the home side again defending the set-piece.

In the 26th minute Robson rose highest to meet a Shunsuke Nakamura corner but his header flew wide of the far post.

Caldwell then surrendered possession with a careless back-pass which was picked up by Filipe Morais, the ball eventually being smuggled to Shiels at the back post but his shot was blocked by McManus.

It was the beginning of a poor passage of play by the home side who took turns in giving up possession much to the frustration of the Celtic support.

But that frustration turned to cheers in the 36th minute when McManus towered above a clutch of players inside the Hibs six-yard box to power a Nakamura corner low past goalkeeper Andy McNeil.

It was perhaps harsh on the Leith side but there was almost worse to follow. In the 43rd minute, after Jones had fouled McDonald 25 yards from goal, Nakamura beat McNeil with his curling free-kick - only to see the ball rebound off the right post before it was cleared to safety.

Celtic should have doubled their lead within two minutes of the restart when, on the counter-attack from another poor Hibs corner, Nakamura sent McDonald clear on goal.

The Australian rounded McNeil but his angled shot was blocked by Murray as was his second attempt from the rebound, the Easter Road side able to breath again, but only for a few moments.

After Jones clattered Vennegoor of Hesselink 25 yards out, McNeil was forced into a fine save from another Nakamura free-kick which looked to be creeping in at the right post.

Hibs continued to weave some pretty patterns but it was the home side who retained the real goal threat, and McDonald should have done better than blast the ball over the bar from 14 yards just before the hour mark.

McGeady came closer in the 62nd minute when he turned inside Murray at the edge of the Hibs box and drove inches over the bar.

The nerves grew as the home side struggled to add to their precarious lead, and after John Rankin’s corner was headed back across goal by Jones, Guillaume Beuzelin’s volley from eight yards out was brilliantly blocked by Boruc.

Then Boruc had to throw himself low to his right to save from Hibs substitute Clayton Donaldson, who had replaced Ross Campbell.

The Easter Road side knew defeat ended their UEFA Cup hopes and they piled forward looking for the crucial equaliser.

But in the 83rd minute Hibs defender Canning, already on a yellow card, was sent off after an overly robust challenge on Robson and that was the end of their European hopes.

Three minutes later a long Robson free-kick was deflected by Morais to the back post to McDonald who headed in from six yards out for his 31st goal of the season.

Then Murray was shown a straight red for a foul on McGeady to end a miserable day for Hibs, as the UEFA Cup place went to Motherwell.

Boss Mixu Paatelainen admitted it had been a disappointing day all round. He said: “We passed the ball well and again, like last week against Rangers, we didn’t take our chances.

“I am disappointed to miss out in UEFA Cup, but when I came to Hibs in January, I thought Dundee United and Motherwell were too far ahead so it’s a bonus that we managed to challenge them.

“I think we deserve credit for that.”

On the dismissal of Canning and Murray, Paatelainen said: “I didn’t see Martin Canning’s second booking.

“I was about to replace him with Colin Nish and go for it but I was too late.

“But Ian could have done something else to slow McGeady down rather than just taking a swipe at him.”

CELTIC: Boruc, Wilson, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Hartley, Robson, McGeady, McDonald (Sheridan 90), Vennegoor of Hesselink (Samaras 78). Subs not used: Mark Brown, Scott Brown, Balde, Caddis, Donati.

HIBERNIAN: McNeil, Hogg, Jones, Canning, Murray, Morais, Beuzelin, Rankin, Campbell (Donaldson 70), Shiels, Fletcher. Subs not used: Ma-Kalambay, Kerr, O’Brien, Gathuessi, Chisholm, Nish.