Celtic went into today’s game in great form after smashing Anderlecht 3-0 in the Champions League in midweek. They’re also top of the SPL by two points. But they had to win today to ensure that Aberdeen did not overtake them.
Celtic were unfortunately without Scott Brown today who suffered an injury in midweek. However, they still had a strong enough squad without their captain to see off Hibernian.
The first half was very much dominated by Celtic. However, 1-0 was not the most comfortable score line and Celtic will have been eager to extend their lead as soon as possible. That lead did prove to be not good enough for Celtic as Hibs managed to take a 2-1 lead in the second half before Celtic equalized late on.
Here are the Celtic player ratings from their draw with Hibernian
Craig Gordon: 7.5/10
He made a decent save early on from a Hibs free kick. There was not a lot he could have done about Hibs first goal.
Gordon then pulled off a world-class save in the 64th minute to prevent Hibs taking the lead. There was not a lot he could have done about the two goals. But his save in the 64th minute was superb and kept Celtic in the game
Mikael Lustig: 6/10
Lustig had a quiet half in terms of defending and he spent most of the half in the midfielder area. He got on the end of a free kick in the 67th minute but headed wide. He didn’t go to well defensively today and could have done better clearing some chances.
Dedryck Boyata: 8/10
Hibs broke through in the 34th minute and looked certain to score. However, Boyata tracked back well and put in a superb tackle. Boyata then cut out a good Hibs cross in the 36th minute that could have well resulted in a goal.
He perhaps could have done better closing down Hibs for their first goal. Boyata then cleared another Hibs dangerous cross in the 63rd minute. Boyata was probably Celtic’s best defender today and prevented Hibs from having several good chances.
Kieran Tierney: 6.5/10
Tierney got forward well early on putting a good ball into the box for Dembele. But it was intercepted. He also did well to get back and defend the few chances Hibs had in the first half.
However, his defensive display was not great in the second half and Hibs got in behind way too often down his side.
James Forest: 6.5/10
Forest was very positive in the first half using his pace down the left-hand side putting in several good balls. He also did well on the right cutting inside and causing problems as well.
His second half was a lot quieter and he was taken off in the 69th minute.
Callum McGregor: 8/10
McGregor opened the scoring with a great finish on the edge of the box after knocking it past a Hibs defender. He also controlled the play in the first half very well.
McGregor nearly got his second of the game in 68th minute with a long shot. This time it went over though. However, McGregor was Celtic’s hero today when he smashed home their second to bring them level in the 80th minute after a corner was not cleared.
Oliver Ntcham: 6/10
Ntcham also had a quiet first half. He made a few good passes but had little to do. He didn’t have the best second half either and was dominated by the Hibs attack for a lot of the second half.
Jonny Hayes: 6/10
Hayes had a decent first half and won a corner in the 32nd minute from some good play down the left. Hayes then played a good through ball into Edouard on 38 minutes who failed to convert.
Unfortunately for Celtic Hayes didn’t create too much today which resulted in them not scoring enough to win the game.
Tom Rogic: 6.5/10
His first chance came in the 17th minute when he rolled the ball past two Hibs defenders and got a shot off which was saved. Rogic had another attempt moments later but this one was blocked.
The attacking mid did not have a great second half and also didn’t create enough chances for Celtic’s strikers.
Moussa Dembele: 6.5/10
Dembele had a fairly quiet first half and didn’t really get any good chances. He did assist McGregor’s first goal though.
The Frenchman started the second half much brighter playing in Sinclair in the 47th minute whose chance was saved. However, he was then subbed off on 60 minutes as Celtic needed to get back into the game.
Odsonne Edouard: 6.5/10
Edouard has a decent start to the game. He won a free kick early on in a dangerous position and put the effort just over.
Edouard had probably the best chance of the first half on 38 minutes when Hayes played him in. But he failed to beat the keeper when he probably should have.
Edouard was then subbed off at halftime for Scott Sinclair. Not the most existing half from the French man. But also not the worst, even though he probably should have scored his chance in the 38th minute.
Substitutes
Scott Sinclair: 7.5/10
Sinclair almost made an instant impact curling a shot on goal on 47 minutes. The Hibs keeper made a good save though.
Sinclair then put a good cross into the Hibs box on the 74th minute which was cleared. He then got through on the 87th minute but put the ball straight at the keeper, he was also held back a bit.
The winger was definitely Celtic’s best sub and one of their best players in the second half. He was unlucky not to score and probably should have started.
Lee Griffiths: 5.5/10
Griffiths did very little when he came on. Granted he has not helped out by Celtic’s lake of creativity today. However, he still could have done a bit better.
Patrick Roberts: 5.5/10 (69th minute)
Roberts was also not a very effective sub compared to his usual standards and could have done a lot better.
