Jonnyboy
19-12-2021, 06:08 PM
The (non-Covid) health issue that prevented me from attending the Dundee game in midweek having not cleared up meant I had to watch the match at home. It wasn’t an enjoyable experience as I witnessed Hibs being battered in terms of possession in the first half, offering me a brief moment of joy in a better second half before losing out to two hugely preventable goals.
Playing in all white, Hibs started with Murphy who replaced Cadden and although Doig was now available, Stevenson was given the nod at left back. Almost from the off, Hibs were on the back foot and an early challenge by Stevenson on Abada looked a yellow all the way, but John Beaton settled for a stern word of warning to the Hibs man.
Paul McGinn, watched from the stands by brother John, was finding Mikey Johnston quite a handful and the Celtic winger had the first real chance of the game, turning McGinn before firing in a shot that Porteous blocked. Moments later, it was Hanlon’s turn to block when Turnbull let fly after Rogic had set him up. A few weeks ago, Rogic bossed the Hibs midfield and so this time out, Joe Newell was given the chance of keeping him quiet. It didn’t always work as Newell tried manfully to stick to his task but found Rogic to be physically stronger and much more difficult to dispossess when he had the ball.
Celtic had Greg Taylor listed at left back but the defender was popping up in midfield and attack at times as Hibs struggled to subdue him. On the twenty minute mark, Juranovic saw an effort fly wide and a couple of minutes later, Cameron-Vickers hauled down Josh Campbell and Hanlon headed wide following Newell’s delivery. Soon back on the attack, Celtic should have scored when Starfelt headed wide from close range, after having given Porteous the slip as the ball came into the box.
Hibs were rarely seen as an attacking force, but Celtic’s plans looked to have taken a blow when Turnbull limped off with a hamstring injury. His replacement, Nir Bitton though, slotted in seamlessly. With ten minutes to go until the interval, Juranovic was booked for a foul on Boyle and then referee Beaton evened things up by booking Doyle-Hayes for a foul on Furuhashi. To be honest I thought they were both fouls but that neither of them was a booking.
That last ten minutes before the interval witnessed Hibs offering something back in terms of having Celtic defend for a change but, more often than not, the final pass was either missing or poorly executed. Kevin Nisbet then earned a yellow for a foul on Bitton but Juranovic fired aimlessly over the bar from the resultant free kick. By now I was wishing for the half time whistle as surely David Gray would tell his players in no uncertain fashion that they were letting themselves and the supporters down by being so passive.
Five minutes after the interval, a five minutes when Hibs looked like they intended to play with more positivity, Paul Hanlon met a corner from Martin Boyle and headed the ball into the net via Juranovic. The noise from the Hibs end was deafening but the joy would be short lived as straight from the kick off, McGregor picked out Furuhashi who took a fantastic first touch before slotting the ball past Macey at the keepers near post. I was utterly stunned at the way our central defenders simply went to sleep when any professional will tell you that you’re at your most vulnerable just after you’ve scored.
Celtic took a huge lift from that whilst Hibs looked shellshocked. Attempts by Taylor and Johnston, both set up by Rogic, were both blocked as was the next attempt, again by the tricky Johnston. On the hour mark, Starfelt once again skipped the attention of Porteous to head wide with the goal at his mercy. At the other end, Nisbet broke free in the box but his shot was saved by Hart and then Celtic raced to the other end with Johnston once again denied by a defensive block.
Around twenty minutes from the end, John Beaton decreed that Hanlon had fouled Abada just inside the Hibs half. It was a bread and butter challenge for a high ball and much the same as countless others in the game that Beaton had let go. Hibs defenders were furious and too busy barking at the referee which allowed Rogic to take a quick free kick. Porteous lost Furuhashi and the Japanese striker reached the ball as Macey advanced. The Celtic man then simply lifted the ball over the keeper and into the empty net to put his side 2-1 up. Complaints to Beaton were fruitless and earned McGinn a yellow card.
In response to going behind, David Gray called upon Scott Allan who replaced Josh Campbell. I’m not sure how that change went down in the Hibs end, but I was less than happy as I felt the hugely ineffective Murphy should have been hooked. Ironically, Scotty’s first contribution was to give away a free kick after fouling Starfelt.
Ten minutes from the end, Murphy was finally removed, and Doidge came into play. I’d been thinking he should have been on earlier because Starfelt really struggles against a physical opponent. The next change was to bring on Doig for Stevenson as David Gray recognised the need to use some pace down our left hand side. John Beaton was then at the centre of the action when, after Johnston had gone down and received treatment, he ignored the ref telling him to leave the pitch at the nearest point. Johnston was booked and then went off the long way anyway.
Hibs were pushing forward now and looking a bit vulnerable at the back as Rogic forced Macey into a save whilst at the other end, Starfelt went down in his own box with Doidge close by. TV replays showed the Celtic man dived as no contact was made and even though he was only a few yards away, Beaton gave a free kick to Celtic.
In the last minute of normal time, Hanlon flicked a crossed ball on to Nisbet and Kev powered a strong header towards goal only to see it coming back off a post. Hanlon, still getting back on his feet threw his right boot at the ball but skied it over the bar with Hart rooted to the spot. I thought that would be our last chance but deep in to added time Porteous laid a ball into the path of Newell who fired a low shot towards goal from the angle of the six yard box, which Hart saved but the ball then reached Porteous who clattered a shot towards the far post only to see it blocked by a defender.
I can’t let this report end without making mention of John Beaton’s selective vision. For me, there were numerous instances of this but the most blatant one was when, deep into the game, Porteous was clearly pushed over in the box by Starfelt. I thought it was a clear penalty and a couple of the pundits thought it was a penalty with the TV replays making it obvious that the referee, not for the first time, failed to award a penalty.
The players
Macey – Some horrific distribution from both dead ball and hand. I hope he’s disappointed at conceding the equaliser because quality goalkeepers don’t get beaten so easily at their near post.
McGinn – Paul had a torrid time of it against Mikey Johnston who, had his final pass been of better quality, could have had Celtic home and hosed by the interval.
Porteous – Ryan twice lost his man at a corner and twice that man, Starfelt, should have scored. He was also sleeping at the second goal but then, which Hibs defender wasn’t?
Hanlon – From hero to zero in the space of sixty seconds. Scores the goal through his determination to win the header but then loses the run of Furuhashi for the equaliser.
Stevenson – Given that Abada was rarely seen during the game I think that is testimony to Lewis denying him the chance to be effective. The wee guy did very little wrong and wins my man of the match award, again.
Doyle-Hayes – Limitless energy he did his utmost to deny Celtic room to create in midfield but for too often, he and Newell were outnumbered.
Newell – As I said earlier, it looked to me as if Joe’s brief was to prevent Rogic from dictating play. Sadly, he didn’t do that often enough for me.
Boyle – Martin showed up in short bursts of play, but I felt he suffered from having to work with poor to no supply of the ball.
Campbell – Another youngster with loads of energy I thought his role today wasn’t defined clearly enough. Yes, he was meant to support Nisbet when we were attacking but when Celtic had the ball, which they did for most of the first half, Josh was kinda caught in no-man’s land.
Murphy – Surely his worst performance in a Hibs jersey. Rarely caused any threat to the Celtic back line; was very slow in offering Lewis help when defending and when he did get on the ball his use of it was poor to say the least.
Nisbet – Totally isolated in the first half he did his best work at that time in helping to defend set pieces. In the second half he saw more of the ball, had a couple of decent efforts on goal and was so very unlucky with the late header that struck the post.
Allan – I love the guy, but he’s lost a yard or two and was unable to offer up any of his defence splitting passes.
Doig – Presumably Josh was brought on to offer fresh legs down our left hand side but there was little evidence of that sadly.
Doidge – Christian must be getting mighty frustrated at having fouls given against him when in fact no foul has occurred.
SDG – David, you’ve done a good job in trying circumstances, but I’d wager that even you must see we need new blood in the head coach’s tracksuit.
The referee – I often wince a bit when I read some posts on here about cheating officials and I rarely offer views on that, but I honestly believe that today, Beaton cheated us out of a stonewall penalty when we were chasing the game at 2-1 down.
Playing in all white, Hibs started with Murphy who replaced Cadden and although Doig was now available, Stevenson was given the nod at left back. Almost from the off, Hibs were on the back foot and an early challenge by Stevenson on Abada looked a yellow all the way, but John Beaton settled for a stern word of warning to the Hibs man.
Paul McGinn, watched from the stands by brother John, was finding Mikey Johnston quite a handful and the Celtic winger had the first real chance of the game, turning McGinn before firing in a shot that Porteous blocked. Moments later, it was Hanlon’s turn to block when Turnbull let fly after Rogic had set him up. A few weeks ago, Rogic bossed the Hibs midfield and so this time out, Joe Newell was given the chance of keeping him quiet. It didn’t always work as Newell tried manfully to stick to his task but found Rogic to be physically stronger and much more difficult to dispossess when he had the ball.
Celtic had Greg Taylor listed at left back but the defender was popping up in midfield and attack at times as Hibs struggled to subdue him. On the twenty minute mark, Juranovic saw an effort fly wide and a couple of minutes later, Cameron-Vickers hauled down Josh Campbell and Hanlon headed wide following Newell’s delivery. Soon back on the attack, Celtic should have scored when Starfelt headed wide from close range, after having given Porteous the slip as the ball came into the box.
Hibs were rarely seen as an attacking force, but Celtic’s plans looked to have taken a blow when Turnbull limped off with a hamstring injury. His replacement, Nir Bitton though, slotted in seamlessly. With ten minutes to go until the interval, Juranovic was booked for a foul on Boyle and then referee Beaton evened things up by booking Doyle-Hayes for a foul on Furuhashi. To be honest I thought they were both fouls but that neither of them was a booking.
That last ten minutes before the interval witnessed Hibs offering something back in terms of having Celtic defend for a change but, more often than not, the final pass was either missing or poorly executed. Kevin Nisbet then earned a yellow for a foul on Bitton but Juranovic fired aimlessly over the bar from the resultant free kick. By now I was wishing for the half time whistle as surely David Gray would tell his players in no uncertain fashion that they were letting themselves and the supporters down by being so passive.
Five minutes after the interval, a five minutes when Hibs looked like they intended to play with more positivity, Paul Hanlon met a corner from Martin Boyle and headed the ball into the net via Juranovic. The noise from the Hibs end was deafening but the joy would be short lived as straight from the kick off, McGregor picked out Furuhashi who took a fantastic first touch before slotting the ball past Macey at the keepers near post. I was utterly stunned at the way our central defenders simply went to sleep when any professional will tell you that you’re at your most vulnerable just after you’ve scored.
Celtic took a huge lift from that whilst Hibs looked shellshocked. Attempts by Taylor and Johnston, both set up by Rogic, were both blocked as was the next attempt, again by the tricky Johnston. On the hour mark, Starfelt once again skipped the attention of Porteous to head wide with the goal at his mercy. At the other end, Nisbet broke free in the box but his shot was saved by Hart and then Celtic raced to the other end with Johnston once again denied by a defensive block.
Around twenty minutes from the end, John Beaton decreed that Hanlon had fouled Abada just inside the Hibs half. It was a bread and butter challenge for a high ball and much the same as countless others in the game that Beaton had let go. Hibs defenders were furious and too busy barking at the referee which allowed Rogic to take a quick free kick. Porteous lost Furuhashi and the Japanese striker reached the ball as Macey advanced. The Celtic man then simply lifted the ball over the keeper and into the empty net to put his side 2-1 up. Complaints to Beaton were fruitless and earned McGinn a yellow card.
In response to going behind, David Gray called upon Scott Allan who replaced Josh Campbell. I’m not sure how that change went down in the Hibs end, but I was less than happy as I felt the hugely ineffective Murphy should have been hooked. Ironically, Scotty’s first contribution was to give away a free kick after fouling Starfelt.
Ten minutes from the end, Murphy was finally removed, and Doidge came into play. I’d been thinking he should have been on earlier because Starfelt really struggles against a physical opponent. The next change was to bring on Doig for Stevenson as David Gray recognised the need to use some pace down our left hand side. John Beaton was then at the centre of the action when, after Johnston had gone down and received treatment, he ignored the ref telling him to leave the pitch at the nearest point. Johnston was booked and then went off the long way anyway.
Hibs were pushing forward now and looking a bit vulnerable at the back as Rogic forced Macey into a save whilst at the other end, Starfelt went down in his own box with Doidge close by. TV replays showed the Celtic man dived as no contact was made and even though he was only a few yards away, Beaton gave a free kick to Celtic.
In the last minute of normal time, Hanlon flicked a crossed ball on to Nisbet and Kev powered a strong header towards goal only to see it coming back off a post. Hanlon, still getting back on his feet threw his right boot at the ball but skied it over the bar with Hart rooted to the spot. I thought that would be our last chance but deep in to added time Porteous laid a ball into the path of Newell who fired a low shot towards goal from the angle of the six yard box, which Hart saved but the ball then reached Porteous who clattered a shot towards the far post only to see it blocked by a defender.
I can’t let this report end without making mention of John Beaton’s selective vision. For me, there were numerous instances of this but the most blatant one was when, deep into the game, Porteous was clearly pushed over in the box by Starfelt. I thought it was a clear penalty and a couple of the pundits thought it was a penalty with the TV replays making it obvious that the referee, not for the first time, failed to award a penalty.
The players
Macey – Some horrific distribution from both dead ball and hand. I hope he’s disappointed at conceding the equaliser because quality goalkeepers don’t get beaten so easily at their near post.
McGinn – Paul had a torrid time of it against Mikey Johnston who, had his final pass been of better quality, could have had Celtic home and hosed by the interval.
Porteous – Ryan twice lost his man at a corner and twice that man, Starfelt, should have scored. He was also sleeping at the second goal but then, which Hibs defender wasn’t?
Hanlon – From hero to zero in the space of sixty seconds. Scores the goal through his determination to win the header but then loses the run of Furuhashi for the equaliser.
Stevenson – Given that Abada was rarely seen during the game I think that is testimony to Lewis denying him the chance to be effective. The wee guy did very little wrong and wins my man of the match award, again.
Doyle-Hayes – Limitless energy he did his utmost to deny Celtic room to create in midfield but for too often, he and Newell were outnumbered.
Newell – As I said earlier, it looked to me as if Joe’s brief was to prevent Rogic from dictating play. Sadly, he didn’t do that often enough for me.
Boyle – Martin showed up in short bursts of play, but I felt he suffered from having to work with poor to no supply of the ball.
Campbell – Another youngster with loads of energy I thought his role today wasn’t defined clearly enough. Yes, he was meant to support Nisbet when we were attacking but when Celtic had the ball, which they did for most of the first half, Josh was kinda caught in no-man’s land.
Murphy – Surely his worst performance in a Hibs jersey. Rarely caused any threat to the Celtic back line; was very slow in offering Lewis help when defending and when he did get on the ball his use of it was poor to say the least.
Nisbet – Totally isolated in the first half he did his best work at that time in helping to defend set pieces. In the second half he saw more of the ball, had a couple of decent efforts on goal and was so very unlucky with the late header that struck the post.
Allan – I love the guy, but he’s lost a yard or two and was unable to offer up any of his defence splitting passes.
Doig – Presumably Josh was brought on to offer fresh legs down our left hand side but there was little evidence of that sadly.
Doidge – Christian must be getting mighty frustrated at having fouls given against him when in fact no foul has occurred.
SDG – David, you’ve done a good job in trying circumstances, but I’d wager that even you must see we need new blood in the head coach’s tracksuit.
The referee – I often wince a bit when I read some posts on here about cheating officials and I rarely offer views on that, but I honestly believe that today, Beaton cheated us out of a stonewall penalty when we were chasing the game at 2-1 down.