Jonnyboy
10-12-2017, 04:54 PM
Heading to Easter Road today I was excited because I felt we were in with a real chance of ending Celtic’s impressive unbeaten run in domestic matches. I was a tad apprehensive too because I knew that if we didn’t play well throughout the team, then we might suffer the backlash of Celtic’s abysmal performance against Anderlecht in midweek.
Another topic of conversation pre match was whether we’d play 3 5 2 or 4 4 2 but once I heard the starting eleven it transpired that neither would be the case as Neil opted for a 5 man midfield with Stokes the lone striker. I have to say I really don’t think that formation works very well as it does not suit Stokesy and today we struggled with it for about 75 minutes before making changes that should surely have been made earlier.
I’d said on the messageboard ahead of this game that I felt we needed to get into Celtic from the off and to make sure we won more than our fair share of second ball but for the first twenty minutes we did neither and almost paid the penalty when a shockingly bad pass by McGeouch put James Forrest through on goal and for the life of me I cannot understand how he missed a glorious chance with only Rocky to beat.
A rare chance at the other end saw Boyler brilliantly take a diagonal pass down with his chest before hammering the ball at goal, Craig Gordon saving the effort with his feet. Celtic were dominating the ball but creating little with only half chances coming their way as our defence stood firm. Our own possession wasn’t great as we seemed to continually give the ball away but we survived until half time having not conceded.
During the break the discussion centred around what changes, if any Neil Lennon would make but as it turned out, the same eleven started and in the same formation. Fifteen minutes in and we were punished as slack play between McGeouch and Stokes gifted possession to Celtic and Scott Sinclair, who’d given Whitty a torrid time throughout, saw his shot saved by the feet of Marciano. It was a warning not heeded as moments later, Edouard struck a low drive off the post and Sinclair reacted the quickest to fire past a stranded Marciano.
Around three or four minutes later, Hibs conceded again when losing possession about twenty yards out as Celtic worked the ball to Sinclair whose shot was deflected past Marciano. Things looked bleak and it was hard to imagine anything other than a defeat was on the cards. As Hibs prepared to introduce Simon Murray to the fray, Bartley went down injured and Neil Lennon changed his mind, opting instead to introduce young Oli Shaw and what an inspired decision that would prove to be. Prior to the youngster making his mark, the one mistake in the game made by Ambrose allowed Dembele a clear shot on goal but he was denied by Marciano with Rocky again on hand moments later to deny Sinclair his hat trick.
Young Oli was working hard and was instrumental in the move that led to us getting a corner with about fifteen minutes left. Earlier corners had frustrated us as they all seemed to be launched in to the grateful hands of Craig Gordon but this one was taken short and when Celtic made a hash of clearing the ball, Whittaker shot low for the corner but the ball deflected to Efe who slotted it home with the help of a deflection off Scott Brown.
Remarkably, Hibs now had their tails up and less than five minutes after Efe scored a great ball from Lewis found Oli Shaw in the box and the youngster did really well turning his marker before firing the ball high into the net. Neil Lennon then made a double change, bringing on Slivka and McGregor for Barker and Whitty and that meant a move to right back for Efe, a change he revelled in as he thundered forward at every opportunity.
Hibs were in the ascendency now but this Celtic team never gives up and while other teams might have closed up shop to protect the point they’d earn, they piled forward at every opportunity with Boyata, who was a very lucky boy not to be sent off following a shocking challenge on McGeouch and having already been yellow carded earlier in the game, headed over the bar when scoring looked an easier option. With the home support roaring Hibs on, young Oli Shaw came agonisingly close to ending Celtic’s unbeaten run. A fantastic ball into the box from Ambrose saw Gordon and Simunovic get into a terrible tangle the result of which saw the ball reach the feet of Shaw on the 18 yard line. Oli might have blasted it at goal but instead he showed he has an old head on young shoulders by cleverly steering the ball past Gordon and Simunovic into what looked like an empty net. It was agony to endure as the Hibs support rose as one to celebrate the goal only to see Lustig lunge to clear the ball as it was about to cross the line. Moments later, Sinclair got free on the left but lashed a good opportunity well wide of Rock’s goal.
When the final whistle sounded, Celtic players sank to the ground or wandered around in a daze as though they’d lost while the Hibs players looked equally stunned at earning a point when it had looked to be all but lost. I know that Graham Murty and Jonathan Johansson were watching from the stand and I wonder if they were as breathless as everyone else. Having said that I’d prefer they left when Celtic were 2-0 up, thinking Hibs weren’t such great shakes after all!
On the way home I listened to the interviews given by the managers and felt that Rodgers was disrespectful of Hibs while Lennon was candidly honest. I reckon Rodgers is fine when his team have won and he can flash that Dulux White Gloss smile of his but we see the real man when they’ve drawn or lost. I also heard on the radio that Niall McGinn was in the crowd so perhaps Hibs are interested in him after all?
The players
Rocky – had no chance with either goal and had two or three excellent saves to deny Celtic
Whitty – I believe he’s struggling with a pelvic problem and it looked like it today as Sinclair ran him ragged on occasion
Efe – other than one blip I can’t recall Efe doing anything other than defend stoutly
Paul – much the same as Efe in that he defended well and kept both Edouard and later Dembele pretty quiet
Lewis – a couple of suspect clearances and beaten once by Forrest but otherwise was solid and the fact that Forrest was hooked speaks volumes to me
Boyler – very unlucky to see Gordon save with his legs in the first half, I thought he was fine but I’m not sure he warranted the sponsors’ man of the match award
McGeouch – Dylan never really got going today, until the last fifteen minutes or so
Marv – not one of his better games I felt the Celtic midfield and McGregor in particular gave him a hard time. I didn’t think his booking was fair either
SJM – worked his socks off in the first half and drove Hibs forward at every opportunity in the second. The fact that he managed to do all that and still come off best in his personal duel with Scott Brown leads me to awarding him my man of the match.
Barker – this laddie is so infuriating as he clearly has skill but doesn’t display it nearly enough. Was poor again defensively, losing Lustig on numerous occasions as Celtic attacked
Stokesy – last week I suggested he was lazy but today he worked really hard and tried his best to carry out the loan striker role. I wonder if he scores from free kicks in training because he sure misses loads during games
Oli – once again I feel this laddie has it all in terms of whether he makes it in the game. Took his goal really well, made a number of excellent runs and was so unlucky at the death not to make it 3-2
Slivka – worked hard without really standing out but at least helped curtail Lustig’s forays down the right
Daz – never gives the ball away, you know!
The Manager
I thought Neil took to long to make his changes and to go after the game but credit to him for changing both personnel and shape enough to earn us a draw
The referee
Can anyone explain to me why Lustig was not booked for a shocking challenge on McGinn early in the first half or why Boyata didn’t get a second yellow for that late foul on McGeouch? Beaton is a very poor referee but like many others in his profession, he’s bulletproof
The fans
An incredible turnout. Kudos to the Since1875 and Section 43 folk, for trying their hardest to drown out a very loud Celtic support. If my ears did not deceive me, around 3,500 Celtic fans will be missing from their next game because they’re all off to join the IRA.
Another topic of conversation pre match was whether we’d play 3 5 2 or 4 4 2 but once I heard the starting eleven it transpired that neither would be the case as Neil opted for a 5 man midfield with Stokes the lone striker. I have to say I really don’t think that formation works very well as it does not suit Stokesy and today we struggled with it for about 75 minutes before making changes that should surely have been made earlier.
I’d said on the messageboard ahead of this game that I felt we needed to get into Celtic from the off and to make sure we won more than our fair share of second ball but for the first twenty minutes we did neither and almost paid the penalty when a shockingly bad pass by McGeouch put James Forrest through on goal and for the life of me I cannot understand how he missed a glorious chance with only Rocky to beat.
A rare chance at the other end saw Boyler brilliantly take a diagonal pass down with his chest before hammering the ball at goal, Craig Gordon saving the effort with his feet. Celtic were dominating the ball but creating little with only half chances coming their way as our defence stood firm. Our own possession wasn’t great as we seemed to continually give the ball away but we survived until half time having not conceded.
During the break the discussion centred around what changes, if any Neil Lennon would make but as it turned out, the same eleven started and in the same formation. Fifteen minutes in and we were punished as slack play between McGeouch and Stokes gifted possession to Celtic and Scott Sinclair, who’d given Whitty a torrid time throughout, saw his shot saved by the feet of Marciano. It was a warning not heeded as moments later, Edouard struck a low drive off the post and Sinclair reacted the quickest to fire past a stranded Marciano.
Around three or four minutes later, Hibs conceded again when losing possession about twenty yards out as Celtic worked the ball to Sinclair whose shot was deflected past Marciano. Things looked bleak and it was hard to imagine anything other than a defeat was on the cards. As Hibs prepared to introduce Simon Murray to the fray, Bartley went down injured and Neil Lennon changed his mind, opting instead to introduce young Oli Shaw and what an inspired decision that would prove to be. Prior to the youngster making his mark, the one mistake in the game made by Ambrose allowed Dembele a clear shot on goal but he was denied by Marciano with Rocky again on hand moments later to deny Sinclair his hat trick.
Young Oli was working hard and was instrumental in the move that led to us getting a corner with about fifteen minutes left. Earlier corners had frustrated us as they all seemed to be launched in to the grateful hands of Craig Gordon but this one was taken short and when Celtic made a hash of clearing the ball, Whittaker shot low for the corner but the ball deflected to Efe who slotted it home with the help of a deflection off Scott Brown.
Remarkably, Hibs now had their tails up and less than five minutes after Efe scored a great ball from Lewis found Oli Shaw in the box and the youngster did really well turning his marker before firing the ball high into the net. Neil Lennon then made a double change, bringing on Slivka and McGregor for Barker and Whitty and that meant a move to right back for Efe, a change he revelled in as he thundered forward at every opportunity.
Hibs were in the ascendency now but this Celtic team never gives up and while other teams might have closed up shop to protect the point they’d earn, they piled forward at every opportunity with Boyata, who was a very lucky boy not to be sent off following a shocking challenge on McGeouch and having already been yellow carded earlier in the game, headed over the bar when scoring looked an easier option. With the home support roaring Hibs on, young Oli Shaw came agonisingly close to ending Celtic’s unbeaten run. A fantastic ball into the box from Ambrose saw Gordon and Simunovic get into a terrible tangle the result of which saw the ball reach the feet of Shaw on the 18 yard line. Oli might have blasted it at goal but instead he showed he has an old head on young shoulders by cleverly steering the ball past Gordon and Simunovic into what looked like an empty net. It was agony to endure as the Hibs support rose as one to celebrate the goal only to see Lustig lunge to clear the ball as it was about to cross the line. Moments later, Sinclair got free on the left but lashed a good opportunity well wide of Rock’s goal.
When the final whistle sounded, Celtic players sank to the ground or wandered around in a daze as though they’d lost while the Hibs players looked equally stunned at earning a point when it had looked to be all but lost. I know that Graham Murty and Jonathan Johansson were watching from the stand and I wonder if they were as breathless as everyone else. Having said that I’d prefer they left when Celtic were 2-0 up, thinking Hibs weren’t such great shakes after all!
On the way home I listened to the interviews given by the managers and felt that Rodgers was disrespectful of Hibs while Lennon was candidly honest. I reckon Rodgers is fine when his team have won and he can flash that Dulux White Gloss smile of his but we see the real man when they’ve drawn or lost. I also heard on the radio that Niall McGinn was in the crowd so perhaps Hibs are interested in him after all?
The players
Rocky – had no chance with either goal and had two or three excellent saves to deny Celtic
Whitty – I believe he’s struggling with a pelvic problem and it looked like it today as Sinclair ran him ragged on occasion
Efe – other than one blip I can’t recall Efe doing anything other than defend stoutly
Paul – much the same as Efe in that he defended well and kept both Edouard and later Dembele pretty quiet
Lewis – a couple of suspect clearances and beaten once by Forrest but otherwise was solid and the fact that Forrest was hooked speaks volumes to me
Boyler – very unlucky to see Gordon save with his legs in the first half, I thought he was fine but I’m not sure he warranted the sponsors’ man of the match award
McGeouch – Dylan never really got going today, until the last fifteen minutes or so
Marv – not one of his better games I felt the Celtic midfield and McGregor in particular gave him a hard time. I didn’t think his booking was fair either
SJM – worked his socks off in the first half and drove Hibs forward at every opportunity in the second. The fact that he managed to do all that and still come off best in his personal duel with Scott Brown leads me to awarding him my man of the match.
Barker – this laddie is so infuriating as he clearly has skill but doesn’t display it nearly enough. Was poor again defensively, losing Lustig on numerous occasions as Celtic attacked
Stokesy – last week I suggested he was lazy but today he worked really hard and tried his best to carry out the loan striker role. I wonder if he scores from free kicks in training because he sure misses loads during games
Oli – once again I feel this laddie has it all in terms of whether he makes it in the game. Took his goal really well, made a number of excellent runs and was so unlucky at the death not to make it 3-2
Slivka – worked hard without really standing out but at least helped curtail Lustig’s forays down the right
Daz – never gives the ball away, you know!
The Manager
I thought Neil took to long to make his changes and to go after the game but credit to him for changing both personnel and shape enough to earn us a draw
The referee
Can anyone explain to me why Lustig was not booked for a shocking challenge on McGinn early in the first half or why Boyata didn’t get a second yellow for that late foul on McGeouch? Beaton is a very poor referee but like many others in his profession, he’s bulletproof
The fans
An incredible turnout. Kudos to the Since1875 and Section 43 folk, for trying their hardest to drown out a very loud Celtic support. If my ears did not deceive me, around 3,500 Celtic fans will be missing from their next game because they’re all off to join the IRA.