The Glasgow side scored twice through Adam Idah following debatable penalty kick decisions at the start and end of this contest.
A wonderful strike from Dylan Levitt was sandwiched between them in a game that could and should have provided at least a point for us.
We had the opportunities during an enthralling 90 minutes that saw us take the game to Celtic in the second half, only to fall to a narrow defeat.
Nick Montgomery made four changes to his side following a disappointing result against St Mirren a few days prior.
Lewis Miller and Martin Boyle went straight into the starting XI following their return from international duty, Nathan Moriah-Welsh started his first match for the Club and Dylan Vente once more spearheaded our attack.
With Rangers drawing level with Celtic at the top of the cinch Premiership the night before, the men from the east end of Glasgow wasted little time as they started on the front foot.
The game was only four minutes old when Nectarios Trantis and Alastair Johnston accidentally clashed heads whilst contesting a high ball and although both required treatment, referee Nick Walsh penalised the home defender by awarding a penalty kick.
The decision appeared harsh, although the Celtic man unquestionably came off worse and after lengthy treatment he was replaced by Anthony Ralston.
Eventually, the penalty was taken, and Idah calmly sent David Marshall the wrong way for the opening goal of the game and his first for Celtic.
Hibs were defending in numbers as Celtic pushed for another early goal and on 15 minutes Paulo Bernardo showed clever footwork to create space on the edge of our box for a shooting opportunity that he blazed high and wide of goal.
Two minutes later, Daizen Maeda was sent clean through on goal only for a woeful first touch took the ball away from his path to allow Will Fish to hook it clear.
Our best chance came midway through the first half when Jordan Obita got beyond Callum McGregor on the left and his fizzing cross eventually fell kindly for Elie Youan off Boyle. The Frenchman must’ve thought he was scoring only for a brave block from Liam Scales to deflect it wide of goal.
There wasn’t much to note for the remainder of the first half as we defended in numbers when he had to, pressing Celtic well and attempting to catch them on the break.
As it was, the visitors took a slender lead into the interval thanks to Idah’s early penalty which, despite Celtic’s possession stats, was the only shot on target for either side.
The second half started in much the same way the first had with Celtic on the offensive. Scales glanced a header wide from Alexandro Bernabei’s cross early on.
Moments later and Bernardo threaded a fine ball through for Idah who was denied by a smart save from Marshall at his near post.
After working tirelessly for the team this evening, striker Vente was replaced by Myziane Maolida and the substitute was barely on the field for a minute when we levelled as Levitt swept home a stunning low drive that left Joe Hart helpless.
It was the former Dundee United midfielder’s first goal for the Club and fittingly it was a wonderful finish for the Welshman.
We took a huge lift from the goal and almost grabbed a quick-fire second when Myziane’s overhead kick was acrobatically kept out by Hart at his near post.
The momentum was with us and a fantastic reverse pass from Youan opened Celtic’s defence up and allowed Myziane in on the angle where it took a brave block from Ralston to divert his goal bound effort wide for a corner kick that was eventually fired into the side netting by Triantis.
Despite our growing pressure on the Celtic goal, the visitors should have restored their lead with 15 minutes remaining when Luis Palma’s cross found Idah just in front of goal, he somehow managed to miss the gilt-edged chance before Kyogo looked certain to net the loose ball only to delay too long and allow Joe Newell to make a crucial interception.
We were soon back on the attack and very unlucky not to go ahead ourselves as a ball into the Celtic box evaded everyone and found Miller sliding in at the back post where his effort beat Hart only to go agonisingly wide of the far post.
We pushed hard for a second goal and Hart saved from Triantis before Fish dragged a shot just wide through a ruck of bodies.
With three minutes of normal time remaining, Kyogo saw a powerful shot held by Marshall only for VAR to intervene and recommend a second Celtic penalty of the evening. Idah took the responsibility for it once more and again sent Marshall the wrong way to net.
Again, the decision appeared extremely harsh on us and although we tried to restore parity once again, the closest we came was an angled Jair Tavares effort that Hart saved at his near post.
Hibernian: Marshall, Miller, Fish, Levitt (Amos 68’), Youan (Jair 90’), Vente (Myziane 58’), Boyle, Newell, Obita, Triantis, Moriah-Welsh. Substitutes not used: Wollacott, Mayenda, Stevenson, Le Fondre, Molotnikov, Megwa.
Celtic: Hart, Johnston (Ralston 10’), Scales, Idah, Kuhn (Abada 65’), Bernabei (Kyogo 71’), Bernardo, O’Riley, Maeda (Palma 71’), McGregor, Welsh (Nawrocki 65’). Substitutes not used: Bain, Thiago, Vata, Kelly.
Referee: Nick Walsh.
Attendance: 18,303.
