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Champions lose at home to Hibs - but there will be no
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill insisted that his team is “still there fighting” for the Premiership title despite suffering a major setback by losing 2-1 at home to Hibs.
The defending champions fell to an 88th-minute winner from Hibs substitute Kai Andrews after a Benjamin Nygren strike had cancelled out Felix Passlack’s opener for the visitors. The defeat leaves Celtic six points behind leaders Hearts in third place, albeit with a game in hand over them and second-placed Rangers, who are two points ahead of them and next weekend’s opponents at Ibrox.
Celtic also had defender Auston Trusty send off for striking out at Jamie McGrath on 74 minutes and were denied a penalty kick when their defender Liam Scales and Hibs’ Jack Iredale were involved in an altercation in the box moments later.
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill watches on as his team fell to a 2-1 defeat by Hibs. | SNS Group“We played some really fantastic football,” said O’Neill. “We went in 1-1 at half time and we should probably have been in front. The sending off has a big affect. We had the momentum at that stage. We had some chances second half and if you don’t put them away there’s a possibility at the other end.
“It’s tough, it’s a setback. We are six points behind Hearts. Domestically it’s a tough ask for us but we’re still there fighting. We are far from finished.”
On the red card incident, which came after a VAR review, O’Neill commented: “I’ve just had a word with the referee [Matthew MacDermid]. He said he was going to have a word with the two players then VAR intervened and said it was violent conduct. I’ve spoken to him. At the end you can’t do this if that’s the rules now. It doesn’t matter if someone is holding onto you in an attempt to breakaway. You can’t thrust in the manner he did to get away.”
Trusty is now suspended for next weekend’s Old Firm derby. O’Neill threw out the idea of an appeal. “Personally I wouldn’t have thought so,” said O’Neill. “The referee has explained to me that’s what VAR said. It was violent conduct so I don’t think anyone will change their minds.
O’Neill was less convinced about the penalty incident, with Celtic claiming Iredale was pulling Scales’ shirt. “The referee’s words were he didn’t hold onto him long enough but it seems a wee bit strange,” said O’Neill. “He’s grabbing someone’s shirt as he’s making a move to get the ball. Some years ago it was a penalty. But VAR, they’ve passed that one on.”
O’Neill made a big call pre-match by keeping faith with goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. The 39-year-old was at fault for two goals in Thursday’s 4-1 Europa League defeat by Stuttgart but kept his place. He was blameless for both Hibs efforts and made a smart stop from Martin Boyle.
“Kasper has been a really fine goalkeeper,” said O’Neill. “He’s been a member of a side that won the Premier League. You can’t rest on laurels for the rest of your life but it wasn’t a big decision for me. I sat here on Thursday and said he’s made big saves for us and he made a save at 1-0 down. He did fine. I think the competition for places should apply to everyone but I thought he showed some character.”
Celtic’s attentions now turn to Thursday’s second leg with VfB Stuttgart, where they need a three-goal swing. It is likely O’Neill will rest players with Rangers in mind three days later. “I’ll think about that tomorrow in terms of prioritising,” added O’Neill.