Scottish Premiership
Saturday, September 28. 2019
Easter Road, Edinburgh

CELTIC…1
(Christie 23)

HIBERNIAN…1
(Ajer og 7)

CELTIC were held to a 1-1 draw against Hibernian at Easter Road after fighting back from a goal down. The home side were fortunate to take the lead but Celtic responded well and pressured their opponents with numerous opportunities throughout the remainder of the game.

Christian Doidge’s cross came off Kristoffer Ajer to give Hibs the lead but Ryan Christie equalised for the champions with his 11th goal of the season.

The home side pressed Celtic aggressively in the early stages and were eager to attack when in possession.

Scott Allan was the source of Hib’s creating attacking play and his passing through the middle provided opportunities for his team.

He picked out Glenn Middleton early on and the winger pinged a shot across the Celtic goal which Forster saved comfortably.

There was little the Hoops stopper could do five minutes later, however, when Hibs took the lead via a wicked deflection.

Allan was again the creator, threading a pass in for Doidge and the Welsh striker’s cross from inside the box came off the foot of Ajer and snuck in at the near post.

Celtic reacted positively to going behind and upped the tempo in attack with a prolonged period of pressure on the Hibs goalmouth.

James Forrest, playing out on the left flank, was a constant threat. He had one attempt saved at the near post and another from the edge of the area blocked. Ryan Christie fired a powerful shot on goal from around 18-yards but his attempt could not find an avenue on goal either.

The pressure soon paid off as Celtic got the well-deserved equaliser. Moritz Bauer lifted a good cross into the box and Christie rose high above his marker to head the ball into the top corner.

Celtic’s dominance showed for the remainder off the half and the tempo remained high as the Hoops went in search of a second goal.

That almost came from Callum McGregor towards the end of the first period. The Celtic midfielder had been excellent throughout, using his footwork and change of pace to break away with the ball and create openings in the final third. He weaved between three opposition players and tried to pass the ball across goal with his left-foot but the Chris Maxwell got down to make the save.

Hibs only other chance of the half came from Steve Mallan. The midfielder let off a powerful shot from distance that was heading for the bottom corner before Forster dived across goal to make the save and hold on the ball.

Celtic started the second half brightly and Edouard and Forrest nearly crafted a goal one minute after the restart. The French striker knocked the ball down for Forrest to strike on the half volley but the shot was blocked before it could reach the Hibs goal.

Hibs didn’t look content with settling for a draw and tried to create chances on the counter-attack. Forster had to be alert to deny Doidge from close range. The Hibs forward turned with his back to goal and managed to get a shot off which Forster got down to and held.

Christie was constant source of torment for Hibs with his energy and direct style of attacking play and the Scotland international saw a penalty appeal waved away after Lewis Stevenson brought him down on the by-line.

With Ntcham on a yellow-card Neil Lennon opted to replace the French midfielder for Jonny Hayes who slotted into the left of midfield, allowing Christie to move inside.

Hayes immediately weighed in on the attacking action with a good cross from a set-piece which Jullien headed over the crossbar. Moments later the Irishman came close himself with a looping shot across goal from the edge of the area.

Celtic bombarded the Hibs goal constantly in the latter stages of the game and could have scored three. Scott Sinclair’s shot from a tight angle was blocked and McGregor nipped in to have a pop himself but Maxwell made an excellent save to keep the score level.

Hayes then came close but the ball bounced awkwardly in front of him and he fired his shot over the crossbar. Bayo passed up a good chance after working some space for himself inside the box with a quick change of direction but he blasted his shot over the crossbar.

CELTIC: Forster; Bolingoli, Ajer, Jullien, Bauer; Brown, McGregor, Ntcham (Hayes 60), Christie, Forrest (Sinclair 84); Edouard (Bayo 71)
Subs: Gordon, Elhamed, Elyounoussi, Rogic

HIBERNIAN: Maxwell; Hanlon, Vela, Doidge, Mallan, Stevenson, James, Jackson, Middleton (Horgan 70), Hallberg (Newell 88), Allan
Subs: Marciano, Whittaker, Kamberi, Shaw, Murray

Website Man of the Match: Ryan Christie

Celtic fight back to secure a draw against Hibernian