This is how it feels (Celtic 11 01 21)
What with all the hullabaloo surrounding this game I’ve decided that’s for another day and that I’ll focus entirely on tonight’s game. Celtic had made a raft of changes, forced on them of course, but when you have a 29 man first team squad, losing 13 of them doesn’t quite hurt as much. For their part, Hibs had a few forced changes too with keeper Matt Macey making his debut, whilst Boyle was missing with an ankle knock, his place wide right going to Drey Wright. Stevenson and Mallan also dropped to the bench with Doig and Hallberg their replacements. Doidge also dropped to the bench with Murphy coming in to form part of a midfield five.
Hibs started the game well and in the first five minutes created three decent half chances for Murphy, Nisbet and Hanlon but none of those were converted. A few minutes later, a quite wonderful ball from Murphy set Nisbet free on the right. Kevin strode into the box but, I felt, rushed his effort a bit and Hazard saved easily. For their part, Celtic looked a bit disjointed but had a decent chance when Turnbull hit a low shot, but it didn’t really trouble Macey.
Good possession saw Hibs have lots of the ball but that final pass seemed to be lacking. For their part, Calum McGregor went charging through the middle before throwing himself onto the ground about twenty yards from goal. There was no contact from a Hibs player, but referee Steven McLean failed to punish the obvious simulation. Young Cameron Harper was next to try his luck, but his left footed drive crashed into the side netting. Moments later, Rogic let fly but Macey was equal to the challenge and saved comfortably.
Celtic were settling a bit now and enjoyed some possession, but they were pretty toothless up front. A coming together in midfield saw Soro booked for a clumsy charge on Gogic and as the Hibs players reacted it was amusing to see Gogic protecting the Celtic man by putting his arm around him.
With half time fast approaching, Matt Macey showed his ability between the sticks, saving first from Soro and then from Laxalt. Both saves needed him to be both alert and mobile, getting good hands on the double efforts. Right on the whistle, a lovely chip over the top by Turnbull saw McGregor deep in the Hibs box but the Celtic man made a hash of his contact with the ball which sailed harmlessly wide. The effort reminded me of Lewis Stevenson’s at Ibrox a few years ago but of course Lewis scored from his.
Talking of Lewis, the wee man appeared as a second half substitute after Doig had apparently suffered a tightening in his calf. This appearance clocked up 500 for Lewis and he went on to have a fine second half.
Celtic started the half on the front foot and created a couple of chances but neither Rogic nor McGregor troubled Macey. We were only five or six minutes into the half when Jack Ross replaced Wright with Doidge, Hibs reverting to a diamond, matching the set up of their hosts. A few minutes later Hibs were camped in the Celtic box but as Soro broke free he was clearly tripped by Hallberg who earned a booking in the process.
Just past the hour mark, a sublime pass from Newell found Hallberg free inside the Celtic box but the Hibs man couldn’t direct his shot past the advancing Conor Hazard. Seconds later, Stevenson picked out Newell at the angle of the Celtic box and Joe tried to steer an effort at goal, but it deflected off a defender for a corner. About five minutes later, both sides made changes with Henderson replacing Rogic and Mallan replacing the now injured Joe Newell.
The sides then exchanged chances with Johnston at one end and Nisbet at the other failing to beat the respective goalkeepers. With ten minutes left, Hibs replaced the tiring Hallberg with Stephen McGinn and sadly the Hibs man’s first contribution was to trip a Celtic man some twenty yards from goal. Macey set up his wall but a stunning effort from David Turnbull zipped up and over that wall and into the top corner with Macey unable to get across to make a save. It was a stunning free kick and only after I’d watched a couple of replays did I realise that only one Hibs player in the wall didn’t jump and the free kick went straight past where that member of the wall should have been jumping. Take nothing away from the finish though, it was a beauty.
At this point I was gutted and shouting at my TV that Hibs should just go for it and forget about defending. I’m claiming no credit for it but that’s exactly what Hibs done! Hazard’s goal was under siege and both Murphy and Doidge saw efforts saved by the keeper. Next, Mallan struck a fierce effort that deflected off Duffy before looping over Hazard but agonisingly over the bar too. Minutes later, Laxalt stupidly brought down Paul McGinn out wide on the Hibs right. From the resultant free kick, Stevie Mallan sent in a wicked delivery which Paul McGinn met to head the ball across the six yard box. Hazard missed it and Duffy sclaffed his clearance straight to a joyful Kevin Nisbet who steered a left foot effort high into the Celtic net. It was, in my opinion a deserved equaliser.
To their credit, both teams went for it, but Hazard kept Hibs out whilst Gogic brilliantly marshalled the troops at the other end. When the final whistle sounded, my overall reaction was one of disappointment, but I soon realised we had stopped the run of defeats, scored a goal and, most importantly, played a whole lot better than in our last two outings.
The players
Macey – A fine debut from the big fella with a few really decent saves. I particularly liked the way he dominated his box, and his handling was sound throughout.
McGinn P – After a couple of disappointing performances I felt Paul was back to his best tonight. Coped well against tricky wee strikers and was excellent going forward too, especially at the death when we needed those bodies up the park.
Porteous – Apart from one heart stopping moment, I thought Ryan defended really well and his passing was mostly good too.
Hanlon – Sadly for me, and I’m maybe being overly harsh on the lad, but he was the defender in the wall that didn’t jump. A good display spoiled for me by that one error.
Doig – Josh started the game really well making good use of width on the left. It was noticeable too that the normally threatening Frimpong spent most of the first half defending.
Wright – I just know he’ll be getting panned for his performance again and if you restrict your view to his attacking contribution, panning him is about right but I thought he defended really well and helped Paul McGinn who often faced two opponents.
Gogic – He’s had a lot of negative feedback of late, but I thought he was back to his best again tonight. He chased and harried from the first whistle to the last and pretty much negated any threat from McGregor.
Hallberg – Once again, Melker seemed on the periphery of things quite a lot and for a player of his apparent pedigree I thought he wasted two more that decent chances to score tonight.
Newell – Joe was on it tonight and battling for possession in a crowded midfield. A few cracking passes that deserved a better outcome from the recipient. His injury is concerning as it looked like he had maybe tweaked his groin.
Murphy – That ball to Nisbet in the first half was just sublime and Jamie’s overall performance showed me he’s getting back to full match fitness. One or two others were in the frame, but I’ve gone for Jamie as my man of the match.
Nisbet – His movement off the ball is first class but on too many occasions tonight that movement went unrewarded. I was pleased for the lad that he got his goal, and it was decent finish too.
Stevenson – As usual, Lewis gave his all. Yes, there were a couple of poor crosses but in comparison to those offered by Wright for example, at least he got a cross over.
Doidge – Although I don’t think he got as involved as he should have, he certainly gave Duffy and Welsh something new to worry about.
Mallan – I was praying for us to get a free kick roughly similar to Turnbull’s in terms of place on the pitch. It didn’t happen but his delivery that led to the goal was excellent as were a few of his corners.
McGinn S – Poor guy’s first contribution was to concede that free kick, but I have to say I think he had a point in claiming he had won the ball.
Jack Ross – Reckons we deserved something from the game, and I reckon that view is spot on.
Referee – Steven McLean would have trouble giving a clear and convincing argument as to why he twice failed to book McGregor for blatant simulation.
