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Trivia
- Celtic manager Martin O'Neill was full of plaudits for his side after this dramatic 3-2 win.
- Celtic snatched a victory against Hibs at Parkhead thanks to a last gasp Johan Mjallby header.
Review
Celtic could not have asked for a better start to the game when they took the lead after just one minute. Alan Thompson spotted Hartson unmarked on the corner of the six-yard box and picked out the big striker with a pin-point cross. The Welshman gratefully nodded his 21st goal of the season past Hibs keeper Daniel Andersson.
Celtic had a great chance to add to their lead after 12 minutes when Mjallby played a short pass to Shaun Maloney and he tried to squeeze the ball home from 12 yards, but pulled the effort just wide of the post instead.
Maloney made amends by setting up Hartson for his second goal of the day after 23 minutes. His corner was met at the near post by Hartson who bulleted a header past Andersson from close range.
Despite the setback, Hibs continued to push forward and they were rewarded seven minutes before the break when they pulled a goal back. Didier Agathe played a pass-back to Broto but the keeper fumbled the ball under pressure from McManus and the young striker rounded him before slotting home.
McManus pulled Hibs level with a superb curling shot from the edge of the box.
As the game entered the final 15 minutes, only the heroics of Hibs' goalkeeper Andersson prevented Hartson from clinching his hat-trick, and reclaiming Celtic's lead.
With seconds remaining Mjallby secured all three points when he met an Alan Thompson corner kick to head home the winner at the far post.
Teams
Celtic:-
Broto, Mjallby, Valgaeren, Crainey, Agathe, Lambert (Guppy 63), Lennon, Petrov (Sylla 81), Thompson, Hartson, Maloney.
Subs not used:- Marshall, McNamara, Varga.
Goals:- Hartson 1, 23, Mjallby 90.
Hibernian:-
Andersson, Smith, Fenwick, Townsley (Arpinon 76), James, Brebner, Jack, Doumbe, Murray, O'Connor (Riordan 84), McManus (O'Neil 72).
Subs not used:- Westwater, Paatelainen.
Goals:- McManus 37, 60.
Booked:- Fenwick.
Att:- 57,512
Ref:- W Young.
Articles
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Mjallby winner saves Celtic
BBC
Celtic 3-2 Hibernian
Have your say: BBC Scotland Fans Forum
Celtic snatched an undeserved victory against Hibs at Parkhead thanks to a last gasp Johan Mjallby header.
John Hartson fired Celtic into a two-goal lead but a Tam McManus double cancelled it out and Hibs spurned several chances to win the match.
But Mjallby's winner saved the Scottish Champions blushes and prevented them from falling any further behind leaders Rangers in the SPL title hunt.
Celtic could not have asked for a better start to the game when they took the lead after just one minute.
Alan Thompson spotted Hartson unmarked on the corner of the six-yard box and picked out the big striker with a pin-point cross.
The Welshman gratefully nodded his 21st goal of the season past Hibs keeper Daniel Andersson.
The Easter Road side thought they had levelled seven minutes later when McManus shrugged off Mjallby to pounce on a long ball into the area.
He nodded past Javier Sanchez Broto from just a few yards out but the assistant referee's flag was already raised for offside.
Celtic had a great chance to add to their lead after 12 minutes when Mjallby played a short pass to Shaun Maloney and he tried to squeeze the ball home from 12 yards, but pulled the effort just wide of the post instead.
Maloney made amends by setting up Hartson for his second goal of the day after 23 minutes.
His corner was met at the near post by Hartson who bulleted a header past Andersson from close range.
Despite the setback, Hibs continued to push forward and they were rewarded seven minutes before the break when they pulled a goal back.
Didier Agathe played a pass-back to Broto but the keeper fumbled the ball under pressure from McManus and the young striker rounded him before slotting home.
Celtic tried to respond quickly and Hartson could have grabbed his hat-trick a couple of minutes later but his header smacked off the crossbar under close marking from Ian Murray.
Hibs grew in confidence in the second half and Derek Townsley had a couple of decent chances to find the back of the net but Broto was equal to his efforts.
The Easter Road side were unlucky not to level after 49 minutes.
Craig James' corner kick had been cleared by Mjallby but the ball broke to Murray who unleashed an impressive drive only to be denied by Broto, who turned the effort past the post
But 10 minutes later McManus pulled Hibs level with a superb curling shot from the edge of the box.
As the game entered the final 15 minutes, only the heroics of Hibs' goalkeeper Andersson prevented Hartson from clinching his hat-trick, and reclaiming Celtic's lead.
Celtic continued to push forward in a desperate attempt to secure the three points but they found themselves frustrated by the Hibs defence.
But, with seconds remaining Mjallby secured all three points when he met an Alan Thompson corner kick to head home the winner at the far post.
Celtic: Broto, Mjallby, Valgaeren, Crainey, Agathe, Lambert (Guppy 63), Lennon, Petrov (Sylla 81), Thompson, Hartson, Maloney.
Subs Not Used: Marshall, McNamara, Varga.
Hibernian: Andersson, Smith, Fenwick, Townsley (Arpinon 76), James, Brebner, Jack, Doumbe, Murray, O'Connor (Riordan 84), McManus (O'Neil 72).
Subs Not Used: Westwater, Paatelainen.
Booked: Fenwick.
Attendance: 57,512.
Referee: W Young.
O'Neill praises Celtic resilience
BBC
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill was full of plaudits for his side after their dramatic 3-2 win over Hibernian on Sunday.
Johan Mjallby scored an injury-time winner to keep the Hoops on the heels of Rangers ahead of the Old Firm showdown at Parkhead on Saturday.
Celtic looked like they would have to settle for a draw after John Hartson's double was cancelled out by two goals from Tam McManus.
Such an outcome would have seen Rangers extend their lead at the top of the SPL table to eight points.
The players never cease to amaze me and that was absolutely fantastic
Celtic boss Martin O'Neill
But Celtic continued to battle right until the final whistle and they were rewarded when Mjallby nodded home to secure the win.
And O'Neill insists his side deserve full credit for their stamina three days after the Uefa Cup triumph over Stuttgart on Thursday.
O'Neill told BBC Scotland: "I never thought Hibs were ever out of the game, even at 2-0.
"The efforts of Thursday night will take their toll and, today, I know Bobby (Williamson) will have sent his side out very positively – even at two goals down.
"We gifted them a goal to get back into it and I knew the second half would be one of those matches.
"I've said this umpteen times but the players never cease to amaze me and that was absolutely fantastic.
"They will not relinquish the title easily and it was a great effort to get a winning goal.
I don't see how he could have been offside
But Hibs' boss Bobby Williamson reckons his side were unlucky not to take all three points when McManus was denied the chance of a hat-trick by a lineman's offside flag.
The youngster thought he had netted early in the game to cancel out Hartson's opener and Williamson claims his side were unfortunate not to be given the goal.
Mjallby winner saves Celtic
He said: "I'm shouting for a goal because he was challenging for the ball at the time and I don't see how he could have been offside.
"The ball was in the air for a long time, and I would have to see it again, and if the lineman has got it right then so be it but I don't see how that can be."