Match ends, Hibernian 0, Celtic 0.
HibernianHibernian0CelticCeltic0
Celtic dropped their first Scottish Premiership points of 2022 after being held to a goalless draw by a stubborn Hibernian - but still maintained their three-point lead at the summit.
Ange Postecoglou's side were denied an eighth consecutive league win as they spilled points for only the second time in 16 games.
Liel Abada and Josip Juranovic went close, and Matt O'Riley's free-kick and a close-range Abada shot were saved by Hibs goalkeeper Matt Macey in the best of the visitors' chances.
The stalemate proved not to be costly, though, as Rangers lost a two-goal lead to draw with Motherwell at Ibrox.
Asked if he thought the display matched Celtic domestic form this year, Postecoglou replied: "Absolutely. We didn't get the goal we deserved. That's something we have to accept."
Hibs defended stoutly, but had few clear openings. Their best opportunity was an enterprising run by Josh Doig which ended with his shot slipping wide, but the point is enough to nudge them back into fourth place.
It was definitely a less intense performance from Celtic, but their form since the winter break has given them the edge in the title race and Rangers still have plenty of work to do if they want to retain the championship.
Celtic brought back Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate, Abada and Jota among others following the midweek Europa Conference League exit at the hands of Bodo/Glimt and they started strongly.
Juranovic's cross almost created a chance for Tom Rogic, before a superb diagonal by Jota set Abada away on the right, only for his lob over Macey to drop wide.
The goalkeeper would be more tested as the half went on, though. First Juranovic's deflected free-kick was claimed at the second attempt by Macey, who later thwarted Daizen Maeda's attempt to round him and tipped over a Juranovic free-kick.
Hibs created precious little in the first half, with their main moment of note the loss of Kevin Nisbet. The striker was unable to recover following a challenge with Carl Starfelt, who was booked. His manager later said it "didn't look good" for Nisbet.
Shaun Maloney's side did finally carve out an opening after the break but Sylvester Jasper was left frustrated when his shot was blocked by team-mate Christian Doidge. That, and Doig's effort which panicked Joe Hart, were as good as it got for the hosts.
Instead, their attentions were devoted to repelling Celtic. O'Riley was sent on in place of Rogic and was soon involved, his low strike being collected by Macey after Abada won a free-kick in a promising position.
The Israeli attacker was also denied by the Hibs keeper following Greg Taylor's pass, with Maeda flagged offside as Celtic tried to force in the rebound.
Abada nudged a deep Jota cross into the side netting before six minutes of added time ensued and Celtic spurned their remaining openings, meaning they were held to nil domestically for the first time in 10 games.
Man of the match - Matt Macey
What we learned
Hibs' undoing in their previous two league meetings with Celtic had been the loss of early goals and a clean sheet was a vast improvement on those performances.
The stubborn defending was not complimented by much incisive attacking and Nisbet then Doidge had very little to go on.
The zip of Celtic's play in previous games since the winter break was lacking and deliveries from open play and corners particularly let the visitors down in the Leith sunshine.
Giorgos Giakoumakis missed the game through illness and Celtic missed the Greek striker's presence in attack.
What they said
Hibernian head coach Shaun Maloney: "In terms of mentality and desire not to get beat, it's as high anything I've had in the couple of months I've been here. There's a side of that performance that I am really, really proud.
"Some of our players put in an incredible shift. I can't ask for any more. It's all about the players. Myself and the coaches can give them a guidance but the performance is all about them."
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou: "We controlled the whole game. It's not easy when the opposition have so many bodies in the box. Things have to be pretty precise and it just didn't go our way.
"I get it, people will look at the result and paint the picture from there. I always look at the performance. We just didn't get the bounce in the right areas and in and around goal and we didn't get the goal we needed."
What's next
Hibs begin their March fixtures away to Premiership bottom side Dundee on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), when Celtic are at home to St Mirren.
Player of the match
PorteousRyan Porteous
with an average of 6.95
Hibernian
Avg
- Squad number5Player namePorteousAverage rating
6.95
- Squad number3Player nameDoigAverage rating
6.79
- Squad number33Player nameBushiriAverage rating
6.78
- Squad number22Player nameDoyle-HayesAverage rating
6.77
- Squad number32Player nameCampbellAverage rating
6.76
- Squad number16Player nameStevensonAverage rating
6.74
- Squad number1Player nameMaceyAverage rating
6.68
- Squad number27Player nameCaddenAverage rating
6.68
- Squad number20Player nameJasperAverage rating
6.68
- Squad number8Player nameWrightAverage rating
6.66
- Squad number15Player nameNisbetAverage rating
6.50
- Squad number23Player nameAllanAverage rating
6.48
- Squad number9Player nameDoidgeAverage rating
6.39
- Squad number14Player nameMuellerAverage rating
6.20
Celtic
Avg
- Squad number88Player nameJuranovicAverage rating
4.70
- Squad number20Player nameCarter-VickersAverage rating
4.67
- Squad number11Player nameAbadaAverage rating
4.64
- Squad number17Player nameJotaAverage rating
4.62
- Squad number33Player nameO'RileyAverage rating
4.60
- Squad number3Player nameTaylorAverage rating
4.35
- Squad number4Player nameStarfeltAverage rating
4.30
- Squad number41Player nameHatateAverage rating
4.28
- Squad number18Player nameRogicAverage rating
4.16
- Squad number38Player nameMaedaAverage rating
4.15
- Squad number15Player nameHartAverage rating
4.09
- Squad number42Player nameMcGregorAverage rating
2.90
Line-ups
Hibernian
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Macey
- 33BushiriBooked at 83mins
- 5PorteousBooked at 69mins
- 3Doig
- 27CaddenBooked at 90mins
- 22Doyle-Hayes
- 32Campbell
- 16StevensonBooked at 45minsSubstituted forAllanat 76'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 8WrightSubstituted forMuellerat 62'minutes
- 20Jasper
- 15NisbetSubstituted forDoidgeat 26'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Doidge
- 14Mueller
- 21Dabrowski
- 23Allan
- 24McGregor
- 31Mitchell
- 36Delferriere
- 46Blaney
- 49MacIntyre
Celtic
Formation 4-3-3
- 15Hart
- 88Juranovic
- 20Carter-Vickers
- 4StarfeltBooked at 23mins
- 3Taylor
- 18RogicBooked at 45minsSubstituted forO'Rileyat 58'minutes
- 42McGregor
- 41Hatate
- 11Abada
- 38Maeda
- 17Neves Filipe
Substitutes
- 6Bitton
- 16McCarthy
- 21Ideguchi
- 29Bain
- 33O'Riley
- 49Forrest
- 56Ralston
- 57Welsh
- 77Dembele
- Referee:
- Kevin Clancy
- Attendance:
- 17,374
Match Stats
Home TeamHibernianAway TeamCeltic
- Possession
- Home39%
- Away61%
- Shots
- Home2
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home0
- Away3
- Corners
- Home3
- Away9
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away16
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Hibernian 0, Celtic 0.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Reo Hatate (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Sylvester Jasper.
Booking
Chris Cadden (Hibernian) is shown the yellow card.
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Attempt missed. Jota (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Greg Taylor.
Booking
Scott Allan (Hibernian) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Callum McGregor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Scott Allan (Hibernian).
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Rocky Bushiri.
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Matt O'Riley (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Christian Doidge (Hibernian).
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Foul by Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic).
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Christian Doidge (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt missed. Liel Abada (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Jota with a cross.
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Corner, Hibernian. Conceded by Joe Hart.
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Carl Starfelt (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jake Doyle-Hayes (Hibernian).
Post update
Corner, Hibernian. Conceded by Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Post update
Greg Taylor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
