Match Pictures | Matches: 2021 – 2022
Trivia
- KO: 12pm; Sunday; League Match 28 of 38
- Abject performance by Celtic who without Kyogo & Gioakoumakis were totally impotent in attack.
- Celtic saved on the day after Motherwell make a comeback from two down to salvage a draw v Sevco at Ibrox! Celtic loannee Liam Shaw comes on as sub for Motherwell.
- Celtic remain 3pts ahead in the title race with a 9 goal superior goal difference.
- Back to the league after humiliation in Europe knocked out of the conference cup.
- Scottish Premiership clubs ‘wavering’ over VAR as cost surges towards 100 grand. Some calling on Celtic and Sevco to pay up!
- Kyogo Furuhashi is in a race to be fit for Celtic’s next match with Sevco after Postecoglou admitted the Japanese forward is “miles away” from full fitness.
- Boxing: Scotland’s Josh Taylor is declared the victor over Jack Catterall after the world super-lightweight title fight at the OVO Hydro on Saturday. Controversial with many disputing the decision.
- Covid: restrictions ending soon in England but later on in Scotland. Vaccine passports will no longer be required at Celtic Park from Monday 28th of February.
- Russia/Ukraine: war started past week with military action across Ukraine. Fighting intensifiying, and action being taken across Europe with sanctions & boycotts etc. Refugees from Ukraine to flee the conflict but UK is doing next to nothing to support their access to the UK.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is moving Russia’s nuclear deterrent to “special alert”. The announcement does not mean Russia intends to use the weapons. Germany pledges a massive hike in defence spending
- Rugby: Scotland absolutely hammerred at home by France (on course for Grand Slam). Ireland defeat Italy, England defeat Wales.
Summary
(joebloggscity of TheCelticWiki)
General opinion was that this was as if it was a match performance by a side at the end of a dead season rather than going for the title in a close race. Only real positive today was on the defensive side. Gave up no shots on target and only 2 overall.
Murmurs increasing the recent unconvincing form (despite mostly scraping wins) but also certain resurfacing of concern over the squad, tactics, formations & substitutions.
Complete lack of urgency from Celtic, Hart and Carter Vickers messing about in the 88th minute just about summed it up. Livi in a week now looking more daunting.
Celtic only saved this day by Hibs being poor in attack, and then Sevco squandering a two goal lead to draw at Ibrox with Motherwell!
Etims: Maeda, Hatate, O’Riley and Rogic struggling recently. That’s fitba. It happens. Bench them. Big squad. Mid not doing enough recently, which seems the crux of our probs. Mix it up and eventually good players soon find form again.
@AgentScotland: Outwith Fir Park Celtic haven’t played remotely well enough since going top of the league, they’ve been winning domestically but just by the skin of their teeth, it’s an inexperienced squad and they’ll need to learn quick about the pressure of leading the league.
That was an awful game of football, Hibs decided to just nullify Celtic at the expense of any real attacking threat and they did it comfortably, if Celtic can’t break this Hibs team down when it’s not really their game it doesn’t bode well for when they go to Livi next weekend
Only time will tell if this is two points dropped or ome point gained, I was at Tynecastle in 2003 and watched Martin O’Neill throw everything at snatching a late winner only to get hit with a (spectacular) sucker punch, they then went on to ose the title on goal difference.
With the lack of attacking options on the bench I’m surprised Ange didn’t at least rotate his front three throughout the game, Maeda can play left, Jota can play right, Abada can go through the middle, there was just nothing, a lack of invention & lack of desire to change.
Teams
Celtic:
Formation 4-3-3
- 15Hart
- 88Juranovic
- 20Carter-Vickers
- 4StarfeltBooked at 23mins
- 3Taylor
- 18RogicBooked at 45mins Substituted forO’Rileyat 58′minutes
- 42McGregor
- 41Hatate
- 11Abada
- 38Maeda
- 17Neves Filipe
Substitutes
- 6Bitton
- 16McCarthy
- 21Ideguchi
- 29Bain
- 33O’Riley
- 49Forrest
- 56Ralston
- 57Welsh
- 77Dembele
Goals:
Assists:
Hibernian
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Macey
- 33BushiriBooked at 83mins
- 5PorteousBooked at 69mins
- 3Doig
- 27CaddenBooked at 90mins
- 22Doyle-Hayes
- 32Campbell
- 16StevensonBooked at 45mins Substituted forAllanat 76′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 8Wright Substituted forMuellerat 62′minutes
- 20Jasper
- 15Nisbet Substituted forDoidgeat 26′minutes
Substitutes
- 9Doidge
- 14Mueller
- 21Dabrowski
- 23Allan
- 24McGregor
- 31Mitchell
- 36Delferriere
- 46Blaney
- 49MacIntyre
Goals:
Assists:
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
Stats
- Possession
- Home39%
- Away61%
- Shots
- Home2
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home0
- Away3
- Corners
- Home3
- Away9
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away16
Articles
How sluggish Celtic misfired at Hibs to continue recent direction of travel
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/how-celtic-misfired-at-hibs-to-continue-recent-direction-of-travel-3588615
That the edge has come off Celtic was illustrated in crystal clear fashion in their scoreless draw at Easter Road.
By Andrew Smith
Sunday, 27th February 2022, 3:31 pm
Celtic’s Liel Abada looks to the skies after passing up a chance against Hibs. (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)
Celtic’s Liel Abada looks to the skies after passing up a chance against Hibs. (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)
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HAVE YOUR SAY
Hibs’ admirable tenacity – and their commendable facing down of adversity that left them without at least half a dozen starters before then losing Kevin Nisbet early on – certainly must be factored in to the halting of a winning run in the cinch Premiership for Ange Postecoglou’s men that stood at eight games.
Yet, in truth, the final outcome was more about the direction of travel for Celtic for a number of weeks now – even aside from their home and away filletings by Bodo/Glimt in the Conference League. Since they demolished Motherwell 4-0 at Fir Park, a sluggishness has crept into Celtic’s displays that single-goal wins have glossed over.
Certain misfiring elements witnessed in passages of recent domestic games all came together for about 85 minutes as Shaun Maloney’s men – who didn’t produce a single shot on target – proved as obdurate as their visitors were uninspired for long stretches. Even if the Celtic manager contended otherwise in believing all that was lacking from his team was a goal; Postecoglou rejecting any suggestions his team was missing a spark, or didn’t pass the ball with their usual crispness.
Matt Macey makes a save from Matt O’Riley. (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group)
Matt Macey makes a save from Matt O’Riley. (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group)
An encounter between two coaching aesthetes whose teams were largely reduced to artisanship didn’t look from the stands as the Australian called it. Privately, Postecoglou would have hoped for a renewed brio from his team through restoring the seven first-picks he left out of the starting line-up for their miserable 2-0 defeat in Norway on Thursday.
Instead, much of Celtic’s approach play was imprecise before they began to pose a serious threat in the closing minutes against a home side that defended in numbers, and as if their lives depended on repelling their opponents.
A meandering confrontation, the only efforts on target across the first hour came from two Celtic free-kicks. Matt Macey was athletic to tip over from a rising Josip Juranovic deadball from 20-yards just on the interval, but the Hibs keeper had no trouble gobbling up a a Matt O’Riley free-kick truck tamely straight at him.
Macey was alert to prevent Leil Abada rounding him in about the only other clear opening in the first period, and he had willing helpers with Josh Campbell bravely throwing himself in front of an O’Riley close-rangers late on. Taking his lead from Chris Mueller thwarting Reo Hatate earlier with similar courageous abandon.
Celtic’s winning run in a tight title race wasn’t going to be everlasting and with 18 wins and now four draws across a 22-game unbeaten run they remain in good shape. However, that won’t be the case if their fizzing football proves in as short supply as it was on Leith – whatever Postecoglou might choose to believe. On that score, there will already be some of a Celtic disposition whose knees will knocking at the prospect of next week’s trip to their bogey team/ground with an away day at Livingston. Which happens to be the scene of their last domestic defeat, all of five months ago.
Ange Postecoglou insists Celtic only lacked one thing against Hibs – ‘I get it, the world has collapsed’
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou refused to accept his team lacked anything except a goal as they dropped points in the cinch Premiership for the first time since before Christmas with a mundane scoreless draw against Hibs at Easter Road.
By Andrew Smith
Sunday, 27th February 2022, 3:40 pm
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/postecoglou-insists-celtic-only-lacked-one-thing-against-hibs-3588624
Decreeing the outcome the product of a “good performance” he insisted that when it came to energy and creativity it was the home side “sitting so deep” and the “bodies in the box” that had made things “difficult”. He then was bullish in response to whether his team’s passing was crisp enough – “absolutely it was,” he stated – before mock exasperation to a follow-up as to whether there was a spark missing.
“No, is this working?” the Australian said, tapping the mike in front of him. “Where were you sitting? [the press box] Exactly. You’ve got to understand football is not played in perfect isolated conditions. You’re talking about an opposition whose main role is to try and stop you, a pitch that is not conducive to moving the ball quickly. Within that the players were still brave, they were still passing into the right areas, we still got into the right areas.
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“I get it – we didn’t win, the world has collapsed, I understand that. We’ll manage that the next couple of days. But from my perspective, when you come away from home and you dominate an opposition at what is traditionally a tough venue and you don’t get the win, you’re disappointed because I think our play deserved it.”
Meanwhile, any reaction that will ensue from the first points Celtic dropped in nine league matches isn’t a source of concern for the Postecoglou. “I think that’s normal. You guys will know better than me,” he said. “If this football club doesn’t win every week there’s obviously an expectation. That’s fine. I’m not here to tell people what to think or what their assessment of the game is. I’m here to give my assessment of the game. People might have a different view and that’s fine, I accept that. But when you’re asking me my assessment and we’ve come away from home and the team is set up to try and stop you and we were as comfortable as we were in the game itself, there’s not much more I can ask from my players.”
Giorgos Giakoumakis missed out with illness and the Celtic manager expects him to return for Wednesday’s home meeting with St Mirren. But, despite a series of crosses flying over heads in the eight minutes for added time as Celtic started to show an urgency not always apparent against opponents that never threatened them, the absence of the Greek’s aerial presence then seemed felt. Not, for Postecoglou, though.
“I don’t think we missed him,” the Celtic manager said. “He should be okay…we are hoping he will be okay for Wednesday. It is just an illness and he wasn’t right for today. With a bit of luck he will be [in midweek]. Giako wasn’t going to make us play any better than we did today. We played well enough, we just weren’t able to score a goal.”
BBC
By Andy CampbellBBC Sport Scotland
Last updated on
1 hour ago1 hour ago.From the section Scottish Premiership
Liel Abada has a shot for Celtic against Hibernian
Celtic could not find a way through against Hibs
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.
Reaction & as it happened
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
Hibs goalkeeper Matt Macey makes a save to deny Daizen Maeda
Hibs’ last line of defence played his part with some important saves
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.
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Match ends, Hibernian 0, Celtic 0.
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Hibernian 0, Celtic 0.
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Post update
Attempt blocked. Reo Hatate (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Sylvester Jasper.
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Booking
Chris Cadden (Hibernian) is shown the yellow card.
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Post update
Attempt missed. Jota (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Greg Taylor.
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Booking
Scott Allan (Hibernian) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Post update
Callum McGregor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Post update
Foul by Scott Allan (Hibernian).
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Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Rocky Bushiri.
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Post update
Matt O’Riley (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Post update
Foul by Christian Doidge (Hibernian).
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Post update
Foul by Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic).
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Post update
Christian Doidge (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Post update
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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Post update
Corner, Hibernian. Conceded by Joe Hart.
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Post update
Carl Starfelt (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Post update
Foul by Jake Doyle-Hayes (Hibernian).
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Post update
Corner, Hibernian. Conceded by Cameron Carter-Vickers.
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Post update
Greg Taylor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Post update
Foul by Christian Doidge (Hibernian).
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Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ryan Porteous.
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Booking
Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Post update
Jota (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Post update
Foul by Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian).
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Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Chris Mueller.
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Post update
Attempt missed. Josh Doig (Hibernian) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Josh Campbell.
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Post update
Foul by Matt O’Riley (Celtic).
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Post update
Scott Allan (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Post update
Offside, Celtic. Liel Abada tries a through ball, but Daizen Maeda is caught offside.
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Post update
Attempt saved. Liel Abada (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Greg Taylor.
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Substitution
Substitution, Hibernian. Scott Allan replaces Lewis Stevenson.
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Post update
Attempt saved. Matt O’Riley (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Booking
Ryan Porteous (Hibernian) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Post update
Liel Abada (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Post update
Foul by Ryan Porteous (Hibernian).
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Post update
Foul by Greg Taylor (Celtic).
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Post update
Josh Campbell (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Post update
Jota (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Post update
Foul by Chris Mueller (Hibernian).
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Post update
Attempt blocked. Josip Juranovic (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Matt O’Riley.
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Substitution
Substitution, Hibernian. Chris Mueller replaces Drey Wright.
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Post update
Attempt blocked. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Josip Juranovic.
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Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Matt O’Riley replaces Tomas Rogic.
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Post update
Attempt blocked. Sylvester Jasper (Hibernian) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Chris Cadden.
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Post update
Attempt missed. Jota (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Reo Hatate.
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Post update
Corner, Hibernian. Conceded by Jota.
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Post update
Foul by Greg Taylor (Celtic).
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Post update
Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Post update
Foul by Jota (Celtic).
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Post update
Sylvester Jasper (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ryan Porteous.
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Post update
Offside, Hibernian. Ryan Porteous tries a through ball, but Sylvester Jasper is caught offside.
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Second Half
Second Half begins Hibernian 0, Celtic 0.
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Half Time
First Half ends, Hibernian 0, Celtic 0.
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Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Matt Macey.
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Post update
Attempt saved. Josip Juranovic (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
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Booking
Lewis Stevenson (Hibernian) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Post update
Liel Abada (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Post update
Foul by Lewis Stevenson (Hibernian).
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Booking
Tomas Rogic (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Post update
Foul by Tomas Rogic (Celtic).
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Post update
Drey Wright (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Post update
Foul by Liel Abada (Celtic).
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Post update
Lewis Stevenson (Hibernian) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Josh Doig.
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Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Matt Macey.
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Post update
Attempt blocked. Jota (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum McGregor.
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Post update
Attempt blocked. Josip Juranovic (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Post update
Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Post update
Foul by Ryan Porteous (Hibernian).
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Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Rocky Bushiri.
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Post update
Offside, Celtic. Reo Hatate tries a through ball, but Greg Taylor is caught offside.
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Substitution
Substitution, Hibernian. Christian Doidge replaces Kevin Nisbet because of an injury.
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Booking
Carl Starfelt (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Post update
Foul by Carl Starfelt (Celtic).
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Post update
Kevin Nisbet (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Post update
Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Post update
Foul by Tomas Rogic (Celtic).
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Post update
Sylvester Jasper (Hibernian) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Post update
Foul by Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic).
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Post update
Foul by Greg Taylor (Celtic).
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Post update
Drey Wright (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Post update
Attempt missed. Liel Abada (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Jota with a through ball.
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Post update
Foul by Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic).
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Post update
Sylvester Jasper (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Post update
Foul by Greg Taylor (Celtic).
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Post update
Chris Cadden (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Post update
Hand ball by Reo Hatate (Celtic).
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Post update
Attempt blocked. Liel Abada (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Tomas Rogic.
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Post update
Foul by Callum McGregor (Celtic).
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Post update
Sylvester Jasper (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Post update
Foul by Josip Juranovic (Celtic).
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Post update
Sylvester Jasper (Hibernian) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Kick Off
First Half begins.
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Post update
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.