Super‑sub Kelechi Iheanacho emerged as the decisive figure for Celtic when the Hoops overcame a reduced Hibernian side to draw level on points with league leaders Hearts. Iheanacho found the net in the 72nd minute, just 151 seconds after stepping onto the pitch, rescuing Martin O'Neill's men from what had looked like a sluggish performance that threatened to end in a disappointing draw.
Celtic had already enjoyed a numerical advantage for more than 50 minutes after Jamie McGrath was shown a red card in the 21st minute, but the advantage had not translated into a clear lead. If Celtic had failed to secure the win, the controversy surrounding Joe Newell's equaliser for Hibs would have intensified. In the build‑up to that goal, the ball appeared to strike Newell's hand, raising questions about the legality of the finish just minutes after Daizen Maeda opened the scoring in the 41st minute. However, the referee allowed the goal, and the match continued with both sides seeking a decisive breakthrough.
Celtic ultimately claimed all three points in a near‑empty Easter Road, moving into a tie with Hearts ahead of the latter's upcoming clash with Rangers, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports on Monday. Playing a day earlier than their title rivals gave O'Neill's squad a chance to set a benchmark for both Hearts and Rangers.
The game began cautiously, but the tempo increased dramatically when Newell launched a reckless challenge on Alistair Johnston. The referee initially issued a yellow card, but after a VAR review the decision was upgraded to a straight red, marking Hibs' fourth sending‑off in three games.
From that moment Celtic dominated possession, though they struggled to create clear-cut chances. The deadlock was finally broken when Maeda tapped the ball home from close range, giving the visitors a 1‑0 lead after the goal had originally been ruled out for off‑side. The Scottish Premiership table continued to shift as fans followed live updates and streamed highlights, while the league’s news and transfer rumours kept the conversation lively across social media platforms.
Just before halftime, drama unfolded again when Newell found the back of the net after Celtic failed to clear their defensive line. A lengthy VAR review followed, as the ball seemed to make contact with Newell's arm before the shot.
Despite the controversy, the goal stood, shocking the Celtic players in black and adding a further twist to an already tense encounter. The first half ended with the score at 2‑0 in Hibernian's favour, a result that could have become a major talking point in the title race had Celtic not found a winner in the second period.
O'Neill's side applied relentless pressure after the break, and their persistence paid off when Iheanacho slotted the ball past goalkeeper Jordan Smith, restoring parity and ultimately securing three vital points for Celtic. Following the match, Celtic’s points total rose to 73, matching Hearts and setting up a crucial showdown between Derek McInnes' Rangers and Hearts on Monday. A Rangers victory would compress the top three to a single point separation ahead of the season‑defining Old Firm clash next weekend, also to be aired on Sky Sports. In post‑match interviews, Celtic forward Kelechi Iheanacho expressed his satisfaction: "I'm really pleased.
I'm happy to make an impact today for my teammates and the club, so I'm really happy. I'm always ready, whether starting or coming on, and I just need to keep my head straight and finish well. Getting three points is crucial for us moving forward." Celtic manager Martin O'Neill reflected on the game’s ebb and flow: "We started brightly and created some good chances.
Then Hibs had a man sent off, and we felt comfortable. We conceded a poor goal just before half‑time, which made the ending tense.
Overall, the chances we created in the first half were fine, but Hibs fought hard right to the end, just as they did last week with nine men. We made it difficult for ourselves, but we got the result. If we had gone in ahead at half‑time, the situation would have been different – they might have had to change their plans. They scored, giving them something to cling to, but we didn't create enough chances to force the issue despite the possession we had." Regarding Daizen Maeda's injury, O'Neill added, "I think he's alright.
I desperately hope he's going to be okay." Hibernian manager David Gray also weighed in, defending the red card decision: "I defended other red cards in certain situations, but this one you just can't defend. It's a definite red card, not for trying to do the right thing. He's not trying to hurt anyone; it's not in his character, but it certainly cost us the game. The players gave everything, defending for their lives.
The goalkeeper didn't have any massive saves, credit to the defence and the effort. We earned the right to stay in the game, but we couldn't capitalise on it. It makes things difficult; we are again relying on other results. Our next focus is the game against Falkirk, where we didn't perform well last time, and we want to make amends." The match also featured reminders for fans to use the Chrome browser for an optimal video‑player experience, and promotional messages encouraging viewers to enter the Super 6 competition for a chance to win £250,000.
Overall, Celtic's hard‑earned victory not only kept them in contention for the title but also highlighted the fine margins that can decide a season, especially as the race tightens with only a handful of games remaining.