MAGNIFICENT in Munich, dismal in Leith.
Yesterday Celtic sank to just a second league defeat of the season only four days after earning Champions League plaudits for a heroic draw against Bayern.
Hibernian’s Josh Campbell (right) celebrates scoring their side’s second goal[/caption]
Daizen Maeda celebrates disallowed goal[/caption]
And they deserved every bit of flak for a mediocre performance at Easter Road as much as the praise they got for their brave efforts at the Allianz.
But let’s not take anything away from resurgent Hibs, now 13-games unbeaten.
David Gray’s side had a Josh Campbell double to celebrate for giving them a commanding first half lead before a Daizen Maeda strike provided Celtic hope.
But Brendan Rodgers’ players got what was due them for an especially desperate opening 45 minutes.
It was an epic effort by the Hoops in Germany and, as widely anticipated, Rodgers made changes although some thought there would be more than three.
In came Greg Taylor, Luke McCowan and Adam Idah.
Rodgers had lost twice here during his first spell as Celts boss.
And Hibs counterpart Gray was desperately hoping they could get at the champions right from the off.
He brought back Lewis Miller, Nathan Moriah-Welsh and Kieron Bowie – and he sure got his wish of rattling the visitors early.
Hibs started really well, full of purpose, full of aggressive pressing and solid tackling.
And they stunned Celtic by taking a second minute lead – a goal brilliantly constructed.
It started with a pass from Warren O’Hora in the right-back position deep inside the Hibees’ half.
And it culminated in a terrific Nectar Triantis through ball for Campbell who took the ball in his stride and fired past Kasper Schmeichel from 16-yards.
It was just the midfielder’s first goal for over two months.
But it also encapsulated what he is capable of on a far more regular basis, a perfectly timed run into the box for a clinical finish.
Funnily enough, he’d do it again before the break.
There was no mistaking how up for it Hibs were and soon Warren O’Hora would shoot wide as they pressured Celtic every opportunity.
Then Hoops captain Callum McGregor was caught out by Keiron Bowie – not helped by a challenging ball from Taylor – and the bustling Hibs frontman quickly made space in the box before unleashing a powerful left foot shot forcing a fine Schmeicehl diving save.
Sluggish Celtic finally got their act together in the 11th minute to provide some kind of threat – Daizen Maeda darting in behind Miller for a fine Nicolas Kuhn cross but just failing to connect with an attempted diving header.
Daizen Maeda scores the goal which gave Celtic a lifeline[/caption]
Celtic had a spell of huffing and puffing, including a number of corners and a Taylor shot over, but Hibs were the more convincing team.
Maeda had a 22nd minute shot brilliantly blocked by a resolute Hibs defence and then Hibs No1 Jordan Smith did well parrying a close range effort by Alistair Johnston.
Smith also saved a weakly hit Arne Engels free-kick.
But on a firm, lively pitch, it was Hibs who were more assured with their work first half.
Four minutes into added time it was a Martin Boyle cross which caused chaos in the Celts defence and created Hibs’ second goal.
Campbell rose brilliantly and determinedly in-between bodies at close range to get a header down which left Schmeichel rooted and the ball went in off the post.
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Initial home delirium was quelled by an offside call from ref Steven McLean but it then went to VAR.
And within a few moments studio official Alan Muir ruled the goal should stand.
Suddenly, Celtic were staring at real capital punishment.
Rodgers responded with ruthless half-time changes – hauling off the three players he’d, ironically, brought in to re-fresh his side post-Munich.
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It was a stark indication of what he thought of their efforts. But, frankly, he could’ve chosen quite a few others at that stage.
Jeffrey Schlupp, Reo Hatate and Jota were given the task of sparking the Hoops.
McGregor shot wide in the opening minutes of the second half, then Jota also fired an effort wide.
But Hibs responded quickly – Schmeichel forced into a reaction save from a point-blank Miller attempt.
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There was a VAR check for serious foul play – Rocky Bushiri on Schlupp – but the defender was cleared without much delay.
Celtic were toiling for their much-needed breakthrough when, incredibly, they were GIFTED it in the 68th minute from calamitous defending by Bushiri and Smith.
Jota’s ball into the box was mis-hit by Hatate with the ball flipping up over the defence and coming down between the centre-half and keeper inside the six-yard box.
Incredibly, both stood still – and the alert Maeda raced in to toe-poke the ball behind an embarrassed Smith for his 23rd goal of the season.
Celtic survived what looked a strong Hibs penalty appeal in the 75th minute – with sub Mykola Kuharevich appearing to be bundled over – before darting up the pitch through Jota and suddenly having a chance of their own.
The Portuguese winger’s lung-bursting run took him all the way into Hibs box where he forced his way past a back-tracker, rounded Smith and had a shot cleared off line brilliantly by Bushiri.
Seven minutes from the end of the 90 the Hoops thought they’d levelled through a point-blank Maeda shot and initially whistler McLean gave it, with Hibs furious at what they believed was the ball going out before a Johnston bye-line cross.
VAR colleague Muir promptly checked – and then to Celtic’s dismay backed up Hibs’ belief.
Eight minutes of added time produced frantic Hoops efforts to salvage even a point.
But Hibs stayed strong for the biggest win yet of their legendary manager’s debut campaign in the hot-seat which has been on the rise now for over two months.
- Hibs XI: Smith, Miller, O’Hora, Rocky, Iredale, N. Cadden, Moriah-Welsh, Triantis, Campbell, Bowie, Boyle. Subs: Bursik, Ekpiteta, Newell, C. Cadden, Obita, Hoilett, Gayle, Molotnikov, Kuharevich.
- Celtic XI: Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Taylor, McGregor, McCowan, Engels, Kühn, Idah, Maeda. Subs: Sinisalo, Scales, Jota, Yang, Schlupp, Kenny, Hatate, Ralston, Bonnar.
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