Celtic Overcome Hibernian Amidst Stormy Conditions, But Injury Concerns Linger
Celtic maintained their four-point lead atop the Scottish Premiership with a hard-fought victory over bottom-placed Hibernian, though a mixed performance and an injury to Alistair Johnston cast a shadow.
Celtic secured a crucial 2-1 away win against Hibernian at Easter Road, maintaining their grip on the top of the Scottish Premiership despite challenging weather conditions and an injury to defender Alistair Johnston.
The victory, hailed by manager Martin O'Neill as their best of the season, came amidst gale-force winds and heavy rain, which contributed to a scrappy and error-strewn match. Hibernian took an early lead in the third minute through Owen Elding, who capitalized on defensive lapses. However, Celtic quickly equalized within two minutes when Jason Kerr scored an own goal from a Benjamin Nygren corner.
Camilo Duran netted the decisive goal for Celtic just before halftime with a curling effort from the edge of the box. Despite the win, questions persist about Celtic's European form, contrasting sharply with their domestic dominance over all teams except rivals Rangers.
The match saw a concerning development for Celtic when Alistair Johnston, making his comeback from a hamstring injury sustained on August 9, was forced off after just 20 minutes with what appeared to be a recurrence of the problem. Johnston's history of injury relapses raises concerns about his durability.
Another point of concern for O'Neill is the form of striker Kasper Hogh. Restored to the starting lineup, Hogh endured another unproductive outing, failing to make an impact before being substituted. The forward has not scored for Celtic in two and a half months, and his confidence appears to be significantly shaken.
Hibernian, still searching for their first win under manager Marink Reedijk, were left to rue missed opportunities, including a chance from Thibault Klidje that went over the bar just before Celtic's go-ahead goal. The home side also saw a late surge, with Josh Mulligan's shot being blocked by Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Reedijk, who has now lost his first three matches as Hibernian boss, faces mounting pressure as his team sits at the bottom of the league. Their upcoming fixtures include a trip to St. Mirren and a Scottish Cup semi-final against Hearts, making their current run of form a significant concern.
The match kicked off despite Storm Ciaran's impact on the region, which had caused widespread disruption and official advice against unnecessary travel. Celtic's victory, achieved under difficult circumstances, keeps them four points clear of Rangers in the league standings.