Hibs came within 10 minutes of ending Celtic’s unbeaten domestic run at Parkhead this afternoon, but in the end had to settle for a share of the points after a pulsating 90 minutes.
Head Coach Neil Lennon made one change to the starting XI that beat Ross County last week with Vykintas Slivka replacing Simon Murray.
Celtic were missing former Hibs’ midfielder Scott Brown due to injury whilst Leigh Griffiths was dropped to the bench alongside Hibs Scottish Cup final hero Liam Henderson.
Lennon was given a hero’s welcome from the Celtic fans and a warm embrace from Brendan Rodgers before the game started.
Hibs started brightly and in the second minute Anthony Stokes was brought down on the edge of the box by James Forrest and Craig Gordon did well to tip the resultant free kick over the bar.
Celtic took the lead in the 16th minute with their first attack when Moussa Dembele found Callum McGregor who had time to take a couple of touches before firing the ball past Ross Laidlaw.
Hibs came more into the came after falling behind but were unable to break through the Hoops defence.
In the 22nd minute Stokes did well to get a shot away but Craig Gordon saved easily
Seven minutes later James Forrest was shown a yellow cared for diving by referee Willie Collum, much to the annoyance of the home supporters.
Hibs started the second half brightly with John McGinn dominating the midfield area and the Scotland international produced a sensational equaliser with a superb low shot which beat Craig Gordon on his left side after being set up by Marvin Bartley.
Griffiths replaced Dembele on the hour mark as Brendan Rodgers looked to regain the advantage.
The visitors almost took the lead when McGinn’s corner was headed on by Stokes into the path of Steven Whittaker at the back post but the fullback’s point blank effort was somehow clawed away by Gordon.
Lewis Stevenson was booked for bringing down Patrick Roberts as play raged from end to end.
Hibs continued to press forward and took a deserved lead in the 77th minute when McGinn once again fired a superb shot from long distance which flew over Gordon into the net to the delight of the large travelling support.
The lead only lasted four minutes however and the hosts equalised when a corner was knocked down into the path of McGregor who fired home from close range.
Celtic almost grabbed a winner near the end when substitute Scott Sinclair broke clear and appeared to be held back by Efe Ambrose but the referee waved play on and the game ended all square.
The pair meet again in three weeks time in the semi-final of the Betfred Scottish League Cup at Hampden Park and today’s result will have given Lennon’s men confidence.
Celtic: Gordon, Lustig, Boyata, Tierney, Forrest Nitcham, Rogic, McGregor Hayes, Edouard, Dembelie. Subs: Roberts, Griffiths, Sinclair, De Vries Ajer, Henderson, Ralston
Hibs: Laidlaw, Whittaker, Hanlon, Bartley, McGinn, Slivka, McGeouch, Stevenson, Boyle, Ambrose, Stokes. Subs Dabrowski, Matulevicius, Swanson, S.Murray, Barker, F.Murray, Porteous
Referee Willie Collum
Attendance 59,259
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
