Report: Hibs 2 Celtic 1

Hibs produced one of our best performances of the season to defeat Celtic 2-1 this afternoon in the Leith sunshine.

The victory extends our unbeaten run to 13 in all competitions– the first time we’ve achieved that since 1978 – and condemned the visitors to their first domestic defeat outside Glasgow this term.

Josh Campbell may have scored the vital goals this afternoon however this was a team performance, and everyone in green produced a colossal performance.

Campbell scored at both the start and end of the first half to give us a deserved lead at the interval before Celtic hit back after the break, through Daizen Maeda.

Maeda thought he had restored parity late on only for his effort to be chalked off following as VAR review as we held on to move fourth in the William Hill Scottish Premiership.

David Gray made three changes to his side with Lewis Miller preferred to Chris Cadden on the right, Nathan Moriah-Welsh replacing Kwon in midfield and Kieron Bowie starting in attack at the expense of Dwight Gayle.

On the bench today we welcomed back skipper Joe Newell and Marvin Ekpiteta as the pair returned following lengthy injury lay-offs.

Visitors Celtic made three changes themselves following their European exertions in midweek with Adam Idah, Luke McCowan and Greg Taylor in for Jota, Reo Hatate and Jeffrey Schlupp, who all dropped to the bench.

Brendan Rogers men have made a habit of starting these fixtures quickly and getting their noses in front early on however, today, the early breakthrough was made by us.

There were only two minutes gone when Nectar Triantis drove forward from midfield and split the Celtic defence with a terrific through ball that released Josh Campbell in behind; he stayed calm before finishing low past Kasper Schmeichel to put us ahead.

It was Josh’s third goal of the season and was a clinical finish under pressure from Cameron Carter-Vickers.

It was no fluke however as we continued to press Celtic in the opening moments, going close to another when Warren O’Hora volleyed just wide from a Nicky Cadden corner kick.

Celtic appeared shell-shocked and it took a fine save from Schmeichel to beat away a powerful snapshot from Bowie after Martin Boyle had dispossessed Callum McGregor on the edge of the visitors’ box.

Slowly Celtic began to gain control in the middle of the park and their first effort came in the 17^th minute when Taylor’s rising effort from the edge of the box flashed over Jordan Smith’s crossbar.

We were playing a risky high line this afternoon, which left gaps if we didn’t time it correctly and Celtic persistently sought that ball in behind our backline.

On one such occasion a ball over the top of us found Idah ghosting in behind only for a poor first touch to allow Smith to gather.

Moments later O’Hora did brilliantly to dive in and block a powerful shot from Daizen Maeda and then Alastair Johnston was denied at the near post by a fine save from Smith.

It wasn’t all one-way traffic as Schmeichel twice produced stunning saves to thwart Campbell before play was called back for offside on each occasion.

Celtic’s Johnston required lengthy treatment for a head-knock as half-time loomed, with both sets of players using it as an opportunity to take instruction from their respective benches.

It led to five minutes of additional time being signalled by the fourth official at the end of the half, and in the fourth of those we doubled our lead.

Boyle’s cross from the left found Campbell at the back post and his header across goal gave Schmeichel no chance.

Initially the effort was chalked off for offside side only to be given following a VAR review showing Trusty had played him on.

Celtic’s response was to make a triple change during the interval with Jota, Hatate and Schlupp replacing McCowan, Idah and Taylor – ironically the change the Hoops had made prior to kick-off now being reversed.

The visitors started the second half with increased intensity as McGregor and Jota fired wide in the opening moments from efforts on the edge of our box.

Yet, we always remained a potent threat and were desperately unlucky not to increase our lead in the 56^th minute when Nicky Cadden’s floated free kick into the back post was met by the head of Miller, only for Schmeichel to keep it out with an instinctive stop.

Bowie left the field to a standing ovation just after the hour after a terrific, energy sapping performance from him and was replaced by Mykola Kuharevich. It had been Kieron’s first start of an injury-hampered season, and he ran himself into the ground for the cause.

With 22 minutes remaining Celtic reduced arrears when Hatate’s mis-hit effort looped over Rocky and Maeda stole in to stab home from close range.

The goal lifted the Celtic players and suddenly we appeared a very tired side with Jordan Obita replacing Moriah-Welsh in the middle of the park to give us fresh legs.

Then with 13 minutes remaining a controversial moment as Kuharevich appeared to be bundled over the in Celtic box and play was waved on.  Celtic countered through Jota who did brilliantly to get away from Jack Iredale to step away from Smith only for Rocky to hook his shot off the line!

It would be Rocky’s last involvement as he and Boyle were replaced by Ekpiteta and Junior Hoilett for the closing stages.

The Celtic pressure was relentless and with seven minutes remaining they had the ball in our net after Maeda again stabbed in from close range.

The goal however would not stand and after a VAR review it was chalked off having gone out of play before Johnston’s cut back.

A huge let off for a tired looking Hibs with several of our boys going down with cramp in the closing stages.

Eight added minutes were signalled and in the first of those Nicolas Khun curled an effort wide of Smith’s far post.

We were hanging on as Celtic threw everything at in those final minutes with a tackle from Miller on Jota in front of the East Stand celebrated like a goal by some before the final whistle brought a breathless match to an end.

At full-time the boys were rewarded for their brave performance with a rousing rendition of Sunshine on Leith as the supporters showed their appreciation.