2026-05-03: Hibernian 1-2 Celtic, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 2025 – 2026

Trivia

KO: 12:00, Sunday, Sky Sports; Match day 35
Very bad day for VAR, firstly Celtic denied a penalty that should have been given for foul on Nygren, no VAR check! Then Hibs score a goal which should have been ruled out for handball by the scorer! Very dubious with conspiracy theories galore, but undeniably very questionable decisions & process.
Next day: Hearts defeated Sevco 2-1 (coming from one down) and put themselves in the driving seat for the title; Sevco effectively now out of the title race.
(1) Hearts 76pts +32GD (2) Celtic 73pts +27GD (3) Sevco 69pts +33GD
First time this season 5 domestic wins in a row for Celtic! (excluding matches won in extra-time)
Maeda left the pitch with his right boot completely off, and hobbling towards the dressing room.
On Sunday night Celtic held its annual Player of the Year Awards:
- Academy Player of the Year: Hayden Borland
- Young Player of the Year: Hyunjun Yang
- Women’s Goal of the Season: Maria McAneny v Hibernian
- Men’s Goal of the Season: Hyunjun Yang v Sevco
- Special Recognition Award: Celtic supporter Jackie Dow
- Women’s Players’ Player of the Year: Morgan Cross
- Men’s Players’ Player of the Year: Benjamin Nygren
- Women’s Top Goalscorer of the Year: Saoirse Noonan
- Men’s Top Goalscorer of the Year: Benjamin Nygren
- Women’s Player of the Year: Kelly Clark
- Men’s Player of the Year: Benjamin Nygren
Bolton Wanderers manager Steven Schumacher praises on-loan Celt Johnny Kenny after he scored five goals in his past five League One appearances.
Hayato Inamura hopes to return to Celtic as a more complete player.
SPFL refused to overrule Celtic’s risk assessment of the game v Sevco , which determined tickets should not be sold to The Union Bears. They will only have an allocation of fans if they agree to Celtic’s conditions.
Cvancara: Čvančara’s Celtic spell could be over as he could be set for surgery due to injury.
Callum Osmand is not quite ready for a first-team return but has featured for the B team.
Cameron Carter-Vickers has resumed training
Kasper Schmeichel may require three further operations after having undergone initial surgery on his damaged shoulder
Reports:
Celtic have set their sights on a move to appoint Thomas Frank but the former Tottenham and Brentford manager would need some convincing to come to Scotland.
Celtic have registered an interest in 24-year-old West Bromwich Albion and United States defender George Campbell.
Celtic have fallen behind in the race to sign 22-year-old midfielder Issa Doumbia as some Premier League clubs are interested, while Serie A clubs are likely to follow, in the 22-year-old who Venezia value at £12m.
Celtic are expected to pursue a permanent deal for Marcelo Saracchi once they know the identity of their next manager.Saracchi is happy to join long-term, but remains eager to get more minutes and will have other options on the table this summer.
Wilfried Nancy is among the contenders to take charge at Ligue 1 side Nancy for next
Celtic are linked with a move for Polish defender Oskar Wojcik this summer, after seeing a bid rejected in January.
Former Celtic midfielder Massimo Donati is on the shortlist to take charge of former European champions Steaua Bucharest.

Summary

Pre match: Martin O’Neill doesn’t think some Hibs fans wanting Celtic to win at Easter Road will impact David Gray’s coaching staff or players. One Hibee player admitted fans asking him & others to throw this match! Hibs defeated Celtic at Celtic Park in last meeting.

BBC: A big three points for the champions. Celtic are now level on points with Hearts at the top of the table. It wasn’t pretty against the 10 men of Hibs, but Martin O’Neill’s side got the job done. Kelechi Iheanacho popped in the winning goal just moments after coming off the bench.

Ex-Celt & Ex-Hibs John Collins: ‘A blatant penalty’published at 13:19 BST 13:19 BST Hibernian 1-1 Celtic John Collins Former Celtic and Hibs player on BBC Sportsound Surely VAR has to have a look? It’s as blatant a penalty as you’ll ever see. If VAR have watched that and think it shouldn’t be a penalty, every one of them should be sacked.

John Collins Former Celtic and Hibs player on BBC Sportsound Celtic never made enough clear-cut chances but you always felt they were going to get the second goal. Hibs worked hard and got in their blocks and headers but they kept giving the ball to Celtic as if to say ‘keep coming at us’. When they conceded again, they started playing again and got up the pitch making it nervous. But it is a massive three points for Celtic and it puts the pressure on Hearts and Rangers for tomorrow./ Iheanacho has a good awareness of what’s round about him. He can take it in and you can play one-twos off him but what he doesn’t have is legs to start a game. So the manager has a decision to make. Do you have him on the bench when games are usually won in the last 20 minutes? I think he’ll be a bench player used for the last minutes until the end of the season. But there’s every chance he could be a hero at the end of the season.

Hibernian head coach David Gray tells BBC Sportsound: “I thought Celtic started fast, as you would expect, but when you go down to 10 men after everything I spoke about before the game about giving us the best possible chance to win, it makes it extremely difficult. “I can’t defend the red card. It’s not the player’s character and there’s no intent there but it’s a red card because of where the contact is. “I think the most important thing was to stay in the game. We’ve done that in the last three games now and you have to try and take the opportunities when they do come. “We changed the shape at half time, which we might have done even without the goal because you want to try and stay in it as long as you can if the players give everything, which they do and they did today, putting their bodies on the line. “You want to be in it for the last 10 minutes to have a go, and we did that. We had a real go at the end and had a big chance. When you get those chances you need to take them.”

Martin O’Neill tells BBC Sportsound: “We’ve played some really decent stuff but we had to defend towards the end. “Of course there was an anxiety before the (winning) goal but we got there. It’s natural there would be anxiety with our supporters and maybe with the manager too. “We’ve just got to take each game on its merit. You can’t control anything else. “What do I want for tomorrow [when Hearts face Rangers]? I genuinely don’t know. We’ve won today so there’s a bit of relief for 24 hours. “Even if we win the three games left at this minute, it doesn’t guarantee winning the league. The margin of error is very small and it seems like I’ve been saying that for months. It is what it is.”

Maestro of KDS:

A few points:

– we were rotten. We wouldn’t have won vs 11 players. The lack of any sort of cutting edge is unreal, the fact we are playing without a striker is damning on the club. Maeda works his socks off but is simply a shocking finisher.

– whenever we get in front we go from passive 3 yard passes backwards to punting the ball in a frenzy. Why aren’t the coaches addressing this? That being said, how O’Neill has this team winning is beyond me.

– the ref decisions in that game need investigated. From Robertson trying to disallow a legit goal, to him flagging offsides for non offside incidents, to them consistently giving throw ins to hibs that were clearly ours. Add to that then getting the softest free kick they score with for a slight nudge, but a two handed shoving of our player out the pitch isn’t a foul somehow! Then scoring a goal after controlling a ball with their hand, which everyone saw and yet they magically can’t see it. And then there is this allowance of non stop time wasting, soft foul after soft foul, breaking up our play

joebloggscity of TheCelticWiki: Bottom line when it comes to that penalty, if the officials are going to enforce VAR then the system in place needs to be up to scratch. More cameras & quality of pictures etc. The current system in place at too many grounds in Scotland is amateurish. Today a penalty should been awarded to Celtic for shove on Nygren, and then the Hibs goal should have been ruled out for handball!

Just to be clear. Every single major decision on the pitch went against us today:

The red card – ref gave a yellow.

Our first goal – linesman disallowed for offside.

The handball goal – ref allowed. Would have been disallowed if the onfield decision had been correct.

The nygren penalty shove – ref gave a goal kick and booked a Celtic player. The one Celtic player who is closest to a suspension.

4 major decisions the ref got wrong. 2 corrected, but the other 2 ignored by var. And that’s why they do it. They know that the on field decisions will stand if there’s any ambiguity. It got 50% of the decisions to go against us today.

Teams

Celtic

Manager: Martin O’Neill
Formation: 4 – 2 – 3 – 1

Starting lineup
12, V. Sinisalo
63, K. Tierney
05, L. Scales,54′, Yellow Card at 54 mins
06, A. Trusty
02, A. Johnston, subbed for L. McCowan at 64 mins
27, A. Engels,90’+2, Yellow Card at 90 mins plus 2
42, C. McGregor (c), Captain
23, S. Tounekti, subbed for J. Forrest at 63 mins
08, B. Nygren, subbed for A. Ralston at 77 mins
13, Yang Hyun-Jun, subbed for K. Ịheanachọ at 70 mins
38, D. Maeda

Subs:

31, R. Doohan
49, J. Forrest
41, R. Hatate
14, L. McCowan,90’+4, Yellow Card at 90 mins plus 4
47, D. Murray
21, A. Oxlade-Chamberlain
56, A. Ralston
36, M. Saracchi
17, K. Ịheanachọ

Goals:

D. Maeda (41′)
K. Ịheanachọ (72′)

Assists:

A. Johnston (41′)

Hibernian

Manager: David Gray

Formation: 3 – 4 – 1 – 2

Starting lineup
13, J. Smith
15, J. Iredale, subbed for A. Šuto at 81 mins
33, R. Bushiri
05, W. O’Hora
19, N. Cadden, subbed for J. Obita at 46 mins
11, J. Newell (c), Captain, subbed for D. Barlaser at 73 mins
14, M. Chaiwa
27, K. Megwa
17, J. McGrath, red card 21 mins (after VAR review)
21′, Red Card at 21 mins
47, O. Elding, subbed for D. Scarlett at 81 mins
10, M. Boyle, subbed for J. Campbell at 46 mins

Subs:

28, K. Andrews
22, D. Barlaser
12, C. Cadden
32, J. Campbell,54′, Yellow Card at 54 mins
08, A. Manneh
21, J. Obita,48′, Yellow Card at 48 mins
39, F. Owens
44, D. Scarlett
77, A. Šuto,90’+3, Yellow Card at 90 mins plus 3

Goals:

J. Newell (45’+3)

Assists:

Match Officials
Referee: David Dickinson
Video Assistant Referee: Don Robertson
Assistant Referee 1: Calum Spence
Assistant Referee 2: Douglas Ross
Fourth Official: Iain Snedden
Assistant VAR Official: Duncan Nicolson

Venue:Easter Road Stadium
Attendance:18,113 [Total fantasy… Over half of the Hibs stands were empty!]

Articles

Match Report (see below)

Pictures

Match Pictures

Match Links

Stats

Basic Stats
Overall possession
Hibernian 18.6%
Celtic 81.4%
Shots
Hibernian 4
Celtic 27

Shots on target
Hibernian 1
Celtic 6

Total touches inside the opposition box
Hibernian 5
Celtic 52

Goalkeeper saves
Hibernian 4
Celtic 0

Aerial duels won
Hibernian 18
Celtic 15

Fouls committed
Hibernian 7
Celtic 11

Corners
Hibernian 0
Celtic 13

In-depth match stats
Attack
Shots
Hibernian 4
Celtic 27

Shots on target
Hibernian 1
Celtic 6

Shots off target
Hibernian 3
Celtic 7

Attempts out of box
Hibernian 2
Celtic 14

Total offsides
Hibernian 1
Celtic 2

Distribution
Total passes
Hibernian 162
Celtic 725

Pass accuracy %
Hibernian 51.2
Celtic 89.2

Backward passes
Hibernian 19
Celtic 104

Forward passes
Hibernian 90
Celtic 172

Total long balls
Hibernian 62
Celtic 50

Successful final third passes
Hibernian 14
Celtic 217

Total crosses
Hibernian 9
Celtic 27

Defence
Total tackles
Hibernian 9
Celtic 5

Won tackle %
Hibernian 33.3
Celtic 40

Fouls committed
Hibernian 7
Celtic 11

Total yellow cards
Hibernian 3
Celtic 3

Total clearances
Hibernian 36
Celtic 19

Pre Match Facts

After their 2-1 win in February, Hibernian could earn back-to-back league victories over
Celtic for the first time since September 2007 under John Collins.

Celtic have won three of their last four league visits to Hibernian (L1), as many as their previous 15 beforehand (W3 D8 L4).

Hibernian have lost both of their last two league games, but haven’t lost three in a row in the Scottish Premiership since October 2024.

Celtic’s run of three consecutive wins is the longest ongoing winning streak in the Scottish Premiership. Only from October to December have they had a longer league winning run this season (5) – when the fourth win was away to Hibernian under Martin O’Neill (2-1).

Hibernian have seen three players sent off in their last two league games, including two last time out against Hearts. It’s as many red cards as they’d received in their previous 59 Scottish Premiership matches combined.

Articles

Martin O’Neill issues ‘preferred’ Hearts-Rangers outcome as Celtic boss reacts to VAR flashpoints in Hibs win
Lewis Anderson

By Lewis Anderson

Sports journalist
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/latest-celtic-news/martin-oneill-issues-preferred-hearts-rangers-outcome-as-celtic-boss-reacts-to-var-flashpoints-in-hibs-win-8485621

Comment
Published 3rd May 2026, 16:10 BST
Celtic boss fears technology could have a big say in title race

Celtic boss Martin O’Neill admitted he would prefer a draw between Hearts and Rangers as he admitted concern over the role VAR could play in the title race after his side’s 2-1 win over Hibs.

The defending champions survived a jittery afternoon at Easter Road to edge past 10-man Hibs and secure a crucial 2-1 victory that piles the pressure on their two title rivals ahead of their holiday Monday showdown at Tynecastle.

Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho came to Celtic’s rescue once again as they avoided any slip-up in Leith after Joe Newell’s controversial equaliser shortly before half-time had cancelled out Daizen Maeda’s opener.

Focus now shifts to across the city to Tynecastle and a relieved O’Neill confessed he will tune in to watch their rivals fight it out from behind his couch.

“Where will I be watching? From behind the couch. I’m behind the couch most of the time,” the 74-year-old said with a wry smile. “I was certainly behind the couch for the last five minutes against Hibs.

”I won’t be there in person – I’m not sure I’d get a fantastic welcome – but I will definitely be watching it. We have our Player of the Years awards this evening, so I’ll likely watch it at the club or the training ground tomorrow.

“I honestly don’t know what my preferred outcome is. Even if we win the rest of our games, we aren’t guaranteed to win the league because if Hearts win all of theirs, they have a better goal difference that we won’t make up. Perhaps a draw would be best so that both teams drop points.”
O’Neill concerned VAR could have big bearing on title race

O’Neill gave his assessment of VAR’s decision to allow Hibs a route back into the match shortly before half-time. The ball appeared to catch Newell’s arm before he prodded it into the net.

It was a decision that left the visitors’ dugout incensed and led O’Neill to admit he is concerned the technology could have a big say over the remaining games this season.

“I certainly am,” he responded. “When it was introduced for the 2018 World Cup, I thought it was a good thing. Now, six or seven years on, I’m not so sure. I think it has stopped referees from refereeing properly, which was perhaps a natural progression over time.

“I had a small monitor to the side of me that Gavin Strachan controls, so I’m often listening to his take on certain situations. He thought their equalising goal was pretty contentious, and being biased, I agree with him.

“Whatever VAR comes up with is what happen. It worked for us in one aspect (for Maeda’s opener) and didn’t in another. I’d probably have a different opinion if we had lost the game.”

Discussing his side’s latest scrappy success, the 74-year-old added: “We missed some good early chances, but then we got the goal and the opposition had a player sent off, which shifted things in our favour. Interestingly, I thought we played better when they had 11 men than when they had 10. We saw last week how Hibs fought strongly with only nine men, so I knew it would be a challenge.

“It would have been nice to get as third goal for comfort, but I’m delighted to have won a nervy ending to a game were we might have been our own worst enemies.”

Celtic labour to victory over 10-man Hibs to move joint top as gauntlet laid down to Hearts and Rangers
Lewis Anderson

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/latest-celtic-news/celtic-labour-to-victory-over-10-man-hibs-to-move-joint-top-as-gauntlet-laid-down-to-hearts-and-rangers-8485646
By Lewis Anderson

Sports journalist

Comment
Published 3rd May 2026, 15:30 BST
Updated 3rd May 2026, 15:35 BST
Celtic breathe sight of relief as visitors made to work hard to see off depleted hosts in Leith

Celtic’s margin for error in this title race is minuscule. Once again, Kelechi Iheanacho proved the difference-maker as Hibs were consigned to three defeats on the bounce.

For a fourth time in three games, Hibs were left to rue more red card absurdity as the defending champions laboured to a narrow 2-1 victory that moves them joint top of the Premiership table ahead of Hearts’ blockbuster showdown with fellow title rivals Rangers on Monday.

Jamie McGrath was the latest sinner for Hibs after being ordered off for a needless lunging challenge with only 21 minutes on the clock. Celtic looked set to coast to three points when Daizen Maeda notched his fourth goal in three games soon after, but a controversial Joe Newell equaliser just before half-time handed the Edinburgh club a lifeline.

That was until Iheanacho stepped off the bench to pop up with the close-range winner after 72 minutes, which leaves the Hoops now only trailing long-time leaders Hearts on goal difference.

Anything less a win in the capital would have made it difficult for Martin O’Neill’s side in the title race with only three rounds of fixtures remaining. Alistair Johnston was handed a first start since October at right-back for the visitors after making his long-awaited return to action during the final 20 minutes of last weekend’s 3-1 victory over Falkirk.

Hibs – missing suspended trio Raphael Sallinger, Felix Passlack and Grant Hanley – made four alterations after passing up a chance to derail city rivals Hearts’ bid for a first league title in 66 years with defeat in the Edinburgh derby last week. Any notion of them lying down to Celtic was dismissed by David Gray pre-match as the battle to bring European football back to Easter Road for a second successive season remains in the melting pot.

Gray pointed out that his players remain fully motivated to catch fourth-placed Motherwell, who lost at Falkirk on Saturday. That task now seems thankless as they are left six points adrift of the Steelmen and looking over their shoulder with Falkirk now only two behind in the race for Euro qualification.
How Hibs vs Celtic unfolded

Hibs could take heart from their previous meetings against Celtic this season, most notably claiming four points on their two visits to Glasgow’s east end. That seemed to do little to rally the Hibs support ahead of this game with huge gaps of empty seats spotted in the home stands shortly before kick-off.

After a relatively tame opening, Hibs’ poor discipline of late reared its head again as they hit the self-destruct button. McGrath caught the returning Johnston late with a reckless sliding challenge, and after a VAR review and a quick visit to the pitch side monitor, referee David Dickinson brandished a straight red.

From then on, Celtic were in the ascendency and starting to turn the screw. They continued to enjoy the lion’s share of possession and their pressure told when Johnston’s low delivery was swept home from five yards by Maeda to round off a slick move, only for him to be flagged offside. Matter not, though, as VAR came to his rescue to reverse the on-field decision.

It was one-way traffic until right on the stroke of half-time when Hibs surprisingly levelled the contest, having struggled to conjure up much of note in the opposition’s half.

Captain Newell was presented with the chance to equaliser after goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo flapped at the ball as he attempted to punch Nick Cadden’s free-kick clear. It dropped kindly for Newell who turned home. A lengthy VAR checked ensued as Celtic claimed that an arm was used to control the ball, but it was deemed there was insufficient evidence of a handball to overturn the call.

Celtic went in at the break shell-shocked. O’Neill sought answers after hopes of a much-needed clean sheet evaporated. Hibs retreated with ten men after the break as the visitors laid siege on Jordan Smith’s goal.

There was plenty of endeavour on show, but little in the way of quality from last season’s champions as O’Neill summoned experienced striker Iheanacho, a man for the big moment, to replace Yang with 20 minutes left.

It proved a tactical masterstroke. Kieran Tierney’s corner from the right was flicked into Iheanacho’s path and the ex-Sevilla marksman controlled the ball on his chest before displaying tremendous composure to drill beyond Smith in a crowded penalty box.

O’Neill cut a more animated figure on the touchline in the closing stages. Aware of how important goal difference could become, the 74-year-old was urging his team on in pursuit of a third goal. It didn’t arrive but pressure had been successfully applied on both Hearts and Rangers as this engrossing three-way fight for the title nears a conclusion.

Celtic labour to victory over 10-man Hibs to move joint top as gauntlet laid down to Hearts and Rangers
Lewis Anderson

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/latest-celtic-news/celtic-labour-to-victory-over-10-man-hibs-to-move-joint-top-as-gauntlet-laid-down-to-hearts-and-rangers-8485646
By Lewis Anderson

Sports journalist

Comment
Published 3rd May 2026, 15:30 BST
Updated 3rd May 2026, 15:35 BST
Celtic breathe sight of relief as visitors made to work hard to see off depleted hosts in Leith

Celtic’s margin for error in this title race is minuscule. Once again, Kelechi Iheanacho proved the difference-maker as Hibs were consigned to three defeats on the bounce.

That was until Iheanacho stepped off the bench to pop up with the close-range winner after 72 minutes, which leaves the Hoops now only trailing long-time leaders Hearts on goal difference.

It was one-way traffic until right on the stroke of half-time when Hibs surprisingly levelled the contest, having struggled to conjure up much of note in the opposition’s half.

Iheanacho is Celtic’s super sub as he fires Hoops to victory over Hibs

https://www.celticfc.com/news/2026/may/03/iheanacho-is-celtic-s-super-sub-as-he-fires-hoops-to-victory-over-hibs/
First Team

By Daylin Docherty

Share
03 May 2026, 2:06 pm

Scottish Premiership
Sunday, May 3 2026
Easter Road, Edinburgh

HIBERNIAN…1
(Newell 45+3)

CELTIC…2
(Maeda 41 & Iheanacho 72)

Celtic will return to Glasgow with three precious points after a hard-fought 2-1 win over Hibernian at Easter Road moved Martin O’Neill’s side level with Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.

In a game packed with drama, VAR checks, a red card and long spells of Celtic pressure, the Hoops found a way to get the job done in Edinburgh, with goals from Daizen Maeda and substitute Kelechi Iheanacho proving decisive.

Celtic made a strong start and created a big early opening after excellent work from Maeda, who won possession from Jack Iredale high up the pitch.

Yang pounced on the loose pass, drove into the box and looked to cut the ball back for Benjamin Nygren, whose right-footed effort was blocked by Rocky Bushiri.

Moments later, Callum McGregor lifted a clever pass over the Hibernian defence to find Maeda, who timed his run well and took the ball down before firing over the bar as Celtic continued to look dangerous in the opening stages.

There was then a VAR check for a possible penalty after Maeda appeared to be clipped inside the box by Jordan Smith, but after a review, the decision was made not to award a spot-kick.

The game’s first major turning point arrived after 19 minutes when Jamie McGrath was initially shown a yellow card for a late challenge on Alistair Johnston.

Referee David Dickinson was then sent to the monitor, and after reviewing the incident, upgraded the punishment to a red card, leaving Hibernian to play the rest of the match with 10 men.

Celtic continued to press for the opener, and Yang almost created it with a brilliant pass on the counter-attack to release Maeda. The Japanese forward stayed onside and timed his run well, but pulled his shot just wide of Jordan Smith’s goal.

Johnston, making his first start since October, was heavily involved down the right and picked out Sebastian Tounekti at the back post with a lofted ball. The Tunisian controlled it well and found Nygren, whose left-footed strike was parried away by Smith.

The breakthrough finally arrived four minutes before the interval. Following a well-worked move, Johnston fired the ball across the six-yard box, where Maeda was on hand to tap home from close-range.

Assistant referee Douglas Ross initially raised his flag for offside, but VAR overturned the decision after replays showed Maeda was behind the pass, giving Celtic a deserved 1-0 lead.

However, Hibernian found a leveller deep into first-half stoppage time. Cadden’s delivery to the back post was headed back into the danger area by Martin Boyle, and after Viljami Sinisalo was unable to clear strongly enough, Joe Newell prodded the ball home.

After a lengthy VAR check for offside and handball, the goal was awarded, giving the 10 men a lifeline.
19%

Possession
81%
4

Shots
27
1

Shots On Target
6
0

Corners
13
7

Fouls
11

Cards

Hibernian made changes at the break, introducing Jordan Obita and Josh Campbell, and both were quickly involved in the action.

Obita was booked after catching Yang in the face with an outstretched hand, before Campbell was also shown a yellow card following a coming together with Maeda after a physical challenge on Nygren.

Celtic continued to push for a second goal, with Kieran Tierney’s corner eventually falling to McGregor outside the box, but his effort was comfortably gathered by Smith.

Tounekti then delivered a dangerous low cross across the face of goal, but it just evaded both Nygren and Maeda.

Martin O’Neill turned to his bench midway through the half, introducing James Forrest and Luke McCowan in place of Johnston and Tounekti, before Kelechi Iheanacho replaced Yang as Celtic looked for a way through the Hibernian rearguard.

And the Nigerian striker made an immediate impact. Just moments after coming on, Iheanacho was in the right place when Tierney’s corner came all the way through to him inside the box, and he calmly side-footed the ball beyond Smith to restore Celtic’s lead.

The closing stages brought tension as Hibernian pushed for another equaliser, and they had a major chance in the 89th minute when the ball fell to Ante Suto inside the area.

The Croatian took aim with his left foot from 12 yards, but dragged his effort wide of Sinisalo’s goal. That proved to be the final scare for Celtic, who saw the game out to claim a crucial victory on the road.

Next up for the Hoops is the Glasgow derby at Paradise, as the title race continues to gather pace towards its climax.

Hibernian: Smith, O’Hora, Bushiri, Iredale (Suto 81′), Megwa, Chaiwa, Newell (Barlaser 73′), Nicky Cadden (Obita 45′), McGrath, Boyle (Campbell 45′), Elding (Scarlett 81′)

Subs: Manneh, Chris Cadden, Obita, Barlaser, Andrews, Campbell, Owens, Scarlett, Suto

Celtic: Sinisalo, Johnston (McCowan 64′), Trusty, Scales, Tierney, McGregor, Engels, Hyunjun Yang (Iheanacho 70′), Nygren (Ralston 77′), Tounekti (Forrest 63′), Maeda

Subs: McCowan, Iheanacho, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Doohan, Saracchi, Hatate, Murray, Forrest, Ralston

Manager: Easter Road win was a big result for us

https://www.celticfc.com/news/2026/may/03/manager–easter-road-win-was-a-big-result-for-us/

First Team

By Paul Cuddihy, Celtic View Editor

Share
03 May 2026, 2:52 pm

Martin O’Neill had predicted a tough game at Easter Road against Hibernian, and that’s what transpired although, in the end, his Celtic side took all three points with a well-deserved 2-1 victory.

The goals came from Daizen Maeda in the first-half and substitute Kelechi Iheanacho late in the second-half, and the victory puts Celtic joint top of the Premiership table ahead on Monday’s game at Tynecastle between Hearts and Rangers.

Speaking to Celtic TV after the game, Martin O’Neill said: “It was a big result for us. I thought we started pretty strongly, we got good possession, we made a couple of really good chances, which we spurned, but we finally got in front.

“Overall, I’m naturally delighted to have won the game, that’s the most important thing, but we made it really difficult for ourselves, particularly in the second-half.

‘We finally forced the goal – Iheanacho scored the goal, which was delightful, and it wins the game for us.’

“Sometimes it’s really difficult when you’re coming off the bench.

“First of all, you have to try and get into the game, secondly, something might fall to you, but he showed great composure because the ball took an age to come down, and he still put it in the net as only he can do.

“We won today, so whatever result happens tomorrow, it happens. We’re just going to get ourselves physically prepared for the derby and mentally prepared for the game.”

Kelechi Iheanacho: I’m always happy to help the team win

https://www.celticfc.com/news/2026/may/03/kelechi-iheanacho–i-m-always-happy-to-help-the-team-win/
First Team

By Paul Cuddihy, Celtic View Editor

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03 May 2026, 3:09 pm

Kelechi Iheanacho once again made a decisive impact to help Celtic win a game, scoring late on to give the Hoops a 2-1 victory over Hibernian at Easter Road.

The Nigerian striker did the same thing at Dens Park last month, while he scored two extra-time goals at Hampden against St Mirren to help the Hoops progress to the Scottish Cup final.

And his goal at Easter Road, a coolly-taken finish from eight yards out, takes his tally to seven for the season.

Speaking to Celtic TV after the game, Kelechi Iheanacho said: “I always feel great to come in and help the team to get the win, so I’m happy today. The whole team is happy, and especially the fans.

‘It’s really important to stay patient, especially when you’re playing against 10 men.’

“It’s really difficult because they sit back and wait for you to come, so you need patience to move them from side to side to create spaces, and, at the end, we got our reward.

“In the box you need to be composed but it was a difficult finish, to be fair. I wanted to head it at first but I had a second touch to chest it and then the guys started rushing out and I just had to get it on target and see what happened.

“I’m happy that the fans are loving every moment of it, and I’m enjoying it.

“We just need to focus on the rest of the games and do the job we need to do and at the end, we’ll get the trophy hopefully.”

…

BBC

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c2k2j2zxvz2t#Report
ByClive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

Celtic laboured to take advantage of Hibernian’s fourth red card in three games before securing a victory that lifts them level on points with Heart of Midlothian at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

Jamie McGrath was the latest Hibs sinner with a lunging challenge on Alastair Johnston after just 21 minutes.

The reigning champions looked set for an easy victory when Daizen Maeda scored his fourth goal in three games soon after.

But Joe Newell netted a controversial equaliser – where he seemed to control the ball with his hand – just before the break, only for Kelechi Iheanacho to secure the close-range winner.

It means Celtic only now trail Hearts on goal difference before the long-time leaders host Rangers, who are four points behind in third, on Monday.

Hibs, meanwhile, are left six points adrift of fourth-placed Motherwell and only two clear of Falkirk in the race for European qualification.

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Hibs still looked shellshocked by their derby loss to Hearts in a lacklustre start during which Rocky Bushiri had to block a Benjamin Nygren shot and Maeda was put clear only to blast wastefully over.

Johnston was making his first start since picking up an injury in October and the Canada right-back was lucky not to suffer another as McGrath’s outstretched foot connected above his ankle.

It had already been one-way traffic with Hibs at full stretch and it became a defence versus attack training exercise when a VAR check confirmed the Republic of Ireland midfielder’s exit.

Celtic’s pressure told when Johnston found Maeda with a low cross to sweep home from five yards. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but the decision was reversed following a VAR check.

Hibs had rarely been in the Celtic penalty box but struck back on the stroke of half-time in controversial circumstances.

Goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo’s weak punch fell to Newell and the midfielder prodded home from 10 yards. It looked like the ball had come off the Englishman’s arm, but the goal stood after VAR decided there was insufficient evidence to rule it out.

Celtic were struggling to create chances after the break, but substitute striker Iheanacho settled the game as he controlled a corner on his chest before a calm finish from five yards.

Striker Ante Suto, nevertheless, had a chance for a second shock equaliser two minutes from time, but the substitute fired into the side-netting.
Analysis: Momentum with Celtic and Hibs pay again for red card

The chat before the game was whether Hibs and their fans could contemplate a victory that might help city rivals Hearts to their first league title since 1960.

It could explain the empty seats dotted around Easter Road for what was a vital game for their own chances of European qualification.

The lack of atmosphere may have contributed to the home side’s lacklustre start, but they also looked uncertain at the back in the absence through suspension of goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger and wing-back Felix Passlack from last week’s derby defeat, along with centre-half Grant Hanley from the previous week’s red card.

McGrath’s moment of madness added to their woes, but even by then Celtic were on their way to an 85% domination of possession by half-time.

Defeat was probably no surprise considering Hibs have now failed to win any, and have lost nine, of the 13 league games when they have conceded the opening goal this season.

Since Hibs shocked Celtic 2-1 in Glasgow in February, David Gray’s side have won just once in seven outings, losing their latest three, while Martin O’Neill’s side have lost only once, winning nine of their 10 games, including their latest five.

Celtic’s scorers were probably no surprise either, Maeda having rediscovered his scoring touch and now found the net on his latest three visits to Easter Road.

Iheanacho proved to be the super sub again, just as he had with his extra-time double in the Scottish Cup semi-final against St Mirren, as his fourth goal in five games perhaps handed Celtic the momentum in a seesaw, three-team title race.

Winning is everything at this stage of the season.
What they said

Hibernian head coach David Gray: “It is a case of deja vu going down to 10 men. I thought Celtic started fast, as we expected, but then you find yourself down to 10 men and it makes it extremely difficult.

“It is a definite red card. I think the most important thing is to stay in the game and we have done that – and then take the opportunities when they come.

“They put the bodies on the line to give us the chance to have a go in the last 10 minutes and we had one big chance and didn’t take it.”

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill: “A man sent off for Hibs, they had a couple sent off last week, and you think 11 v 10, we should be reasonably comfortable.

“We lost a very poor goal from our viewpoint just before half time and it changes the complexion of the game – Hibs having something to hold on to and defend very strongly, as they did last week with nine men.

“Of course there was an anxiety before the goal, but we got there. What do I want for tomorrow [when Hearts face Rangers]? I genuinely don’t know. We’ve won today, so there’s a bit of relief for 24 hours.”

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Martin O’Neill issues ‘preferred’ Hearts-Rangers outcome as Celtic boss reacts to VAR flashpoints in Hibs win Lewis Anderson

Celtic labour to victory over 10-man Hibs to move joint top as gauntlet laid down to Hearts and Rangers Lewis Anderson

Iheanacho is Celtic’s super sub as he fires Hoops to victory over Hibs

Manager: Easter Road win was a big result for us

Kelechi Iheanacho: I’m always happy to help the team win

BBC

Martin O’Neill issues ‘preferred’ Hearts-Rangers outcome as Celtic boss reacts to VAR flashpoints in Hibs win
Lewis Anderson

Celtic labour to victory over 10-man Hibs to move joint top as gauntlet laid down to Hearts and Rangers
Lewis Anderson