2006-03-12: Hibernian 1-2 Celtic, Premierleague

Match Pictures | Matches: 2005 – 2006 | 2005-2006 Pictures

Trivia

  • Maloney scored one and missed one from the spot, as he netted his 12th goal of the season.
  • Heavy snow in Glasgow causes problems with travel for Celtic fans. No snow in Edinburgh.
  • Celtic play in all black strip.

Review

The match got under way in front of a decent crowd, despite the terrible winter conditions that threatened the game, with an admirable turn-out from Celtic fans ensuring a roaring atmosphere.
And it was Celtic, without talismanic striker John Hartson because of a hamstring injury, who had the first chance of the match when his replacement Shunsuke Nakamura curled a free-kick narrowly wide. However, that merely preceded a sustained spell of pressure from Hibs, as they took control.
Chris Killen appeared to have given Hibs the lead until the intervention of the linesman's flag on seven minutes. Derek Riordan flicked the ball on and Killen lifted the ball home from 12 yards, only for the officials to rule him offside.
However, Hibs finally took the lead after 24 minutes when another weaving run from Sproule was brought to an end by Mark Wilson on the edge of the box and Riordan stepped up to curl the ball into the top right-hand corner.
Celtic shuffled their pack 10 minutes later, Stilian Petrov dropping into a more orthodox midfield role to combat Hibs' 4-5-1 formation. The change paid immediate dividends when Steven Whittaker was robbed in midfield by Roy Keane, the ball falling to Maloney, whose fine run clear was only stopped by Whittaker's scything tackle from behind. The full-back somehow escaped with a yellow card but Maloney picked himself up to fire home from the spot for an equaliser in the 36th minute.
All of a sudden, Celtic's passes were finding their targets, and Keane almost put them ahead before half-time, only for Simon Brown to save his well-hit drive from 12 yards.
The second half kicked off with a completely different feel to it and all of Hibernian's hard work was undone on the hour mark.
Nakamura's tame corner found Zurawski and the Pole flicked on to McManus, who celebrated signing a new deal with the Bhoys with a neat finish for his seventh goal of the season. And then, a minute later, Hibs were reduced to 10 men when home keeper Brown handled outside of the box with Zurawski racing clear, leaving referee Alan Freeland no choice but to give him a red card.
With the Bhoys looking to make their extra man count, Freeland handed them the golden opportunity to wrap up the victory when he gave them another penalty when Maloney was again felled by Whittaker (still no sign of a red card for him?). The decision appeared to be spot on but Maloney was denied a second when substitute keeper Zbigniew Malkowski flung himself to his left to palm away the winger's effort. The Pole also made fine saves from Petrov and then Zurawski in the closing stages to keep Hibs in it.

Teams

Hibernian:-
Simon Brown, Whittaker, Caldwell, Smith, Murphy, Stewart, Thomson, Glass (Fletcher 69), Sproule, Killen (Dalglish 74), Riordan (Malkowski 62).
Subs not used:- Hogg, Konde, McCluskey, Shields.
Goal:- Riordan 24.
Booked:- Whittaker, Thomson.
Sent Off:- Simon Brown (61).

Celtic:-
Boruc, Telfer, Balde, McManus, Wilson, Nakamura (Pearson 80), Lennon, Keane, Maloney, Petrov, Zurawski.
Subs not used:- Marshall, Dublin, Thompson, Varga, Lawson, Wallace.
Goals:- Maloney 36 pen, McManus 60

Att:- 16,985
Ref: A Freeland.

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Articles

Hibernian 1-2 Celtic

BBC
Maloney's goal was his 12th of the season for Celtic
Shaun Maloney scored one and missed one from the spot as Celtic recovered from a terrible start to stretch their lead at the top of the table to 15 points.

Hibernian took the lead through Derek Riordan's superb 25-yard free-kick.

However, Maloney levelled from the spot and Steven McManus netted the eventual winner with a neat finish on the hour.

A minute later Hibs goalkeeper Simon Brown was sent off but substitute keeper Zbigniew Malkowski saved a second Maloney penalty before the end.

The match got under way in front of a decent crowd, despite the terrible winter conditions that threatened the tie, with an admirable turn-out from Celtic fans ensuring a roaring atmosphere.

And it was Celtic, without talismanic striker John Hartson because of a hamstring injury, who had the first chance of the match when his replacement Shunsuke Nakamura curled a free-kick narrowly wide.

However, that merely preceded a sustained spell of pressure from the hosts as Hibernian took control.

Strachan hails Zurawski

Ivan Sproule, in particular, was in dangerous form but it was Chris Killen who appeared to have given Hibs the lead until the intervention of the linesman's flag on seven minutes.

Derek Riordan flicked the ball on and Killen lifted the ball home from 12 yards, only for the officials to dubiously rule him offside.

However, the hosts did finally take the lead after 24 minutes when another weaving run from Sproule was brought to an end by Mark Wilson on the edge of the box and Riordan stepped up to curl a pearler into the top right-hand corner.

It was no more than Hibernian deserved and Celtic finally shuffled their pack 10 minutes later, Stilian Petrov dropping into a more orthodox midfield role to combat the hosts' 4-5-1 formation.

The change paid immediate dividends when Steven Whittaker was robbed in midfield by Roy Keane, the ball falling to Maloney, whose fine run clear was only stopped by Whittaker's scything tackle from behind.

The full-back somehow escaped with a yellow card but Maloney picked himself up to fire home from the spot for a barely-deserved equaliser in the 36th minute.

Mowbray still after third spot

All of a sudden, the visitors' passing was finding its target and Keane almost put them ahead before half-time, only for Simon Brown to save his well-hit drive from 12 yards.

The second half kicked off with a completely different feel to it and all of Hibernian's hard work was undone on the hour mark.

With Celtic growing in confidence, Nakamura's tame corner found Zurawski and the Pole flicked on to McManus, who celebrated signing a new deal with the Bhoys with a neat finish for his seventh goal of the season.

And then, a minute later, Hibs were reduced to 10 men when home keeper Brown handled outside of the box with Zurawski racing clear, leaving referee Alan Freeland no choice but to give him a red card.

With the Bhoys looking to make their extra man count, Freeland handed them the golden opportunity to wrap up the victory when he gave them another penalty when Maloney was again felled by Whittaker.

The decision appeared to be spot on but Maloney was denied a second when substitute keeper Zbigniew Malkowski flung himself to his left to palm away the winger's effort.

The Pole also made fine saves from Petrov and then Zurawski in the closing stages to keep the hosts in it.

But, other than Steven Fletcher's failed attempt to prod in at the far post from Michael Stewart's cross-shot, Hibernian failed to trouble Celtic as the visitors held on for their 23rd win of the season.

Hibernian: Simon Brown, Whittaker, Caldwell, Smith, Murphy, Stewart, Thomson, Glass (Fletcher 69), Sproule, Killen (Dalglish 74), Riordan (Malkowski 62).
Subs Not Used: Hogg, Konde, McCluskey, Shields.

Sent Off: Simon Brown (61).

Booked: Whittaker, Thomson.

Goals: Riordan 24.

Celtic: Boruc, Telfer, Balde, McManus, Wilson, Nakamura (Pearson 80), Lennon, Keane, Maloney, Petrov, Zurawski.
Subs Not Used: Marshall, Dublin, Thompson, Varga, Lawson, Wallace.

Goals: Maloney 36 pen, McManus 60.

Att: 16,985

Ref: A Freeland (Scotland).

Strachan hails Zurawski after win

BBC
Strachan's side went 15 points clear at the top of the SPL with victory
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan paid tribute to striker Maciej Zurawski after the league leaders hit back from a goal down to beat Hibernian.

Although he did not get on the scoresheet, Strachan insisted the Pole was instrumental in his side's 2-1 win.

"Maciej hadn't seen his team-mates for the last few days because he had a virus but he arrived this morning and said he'd give it a go," said Strachan.

"He's got a huge heart. To turn up and play like that says a lot about him."

The Scot also played down concerns about the Easter Road pitch after the game went ahead, despite serious winter conditions in Edinburgh.

"We got down here early to check the surface and it was perfect so we went back and told the boys we were getting on with it," he added.

Hibs 1-2 Celtic

"We came down this morning in case we needed to change the team but we stuck to the team we picked on Saturday because the playing conditions were still good."

Striker Shaun Maloney refused to accept that the title was as good as won for the Bhoys.

"It's a big win for us so I think everyone will be happy after that but we need to keep winning and hopefully things will take care of themselves."

On the penalty miss, the winger added: "I was gutted but these things happen and I'll just have to make sure the next one goes in."