| Match Pictures | Matches: 1992 – 1993 | 1992-1993 Pictures |
Trivia
- Celtic published their accounts for the year ended 30/6/92. Operating loss of £962,800 compared to a profit of £1,268,000 in the year before. Chairman Kevin Kelly stated that costs would need to be kept in check. £4.6mill was spent on new players and contracts and £2.9mill was received in fees from transfers of players out of the club.
- Celtic were without McNally and Galloway, Gary Gillespie (stomach virus), Tommy Coyne (broken arm).
- Of the Hibs team, Pat McGinlay would sign for Celtic, as would Darren Jackson somewhat later. Ex-Celt Murdo MacLeod had returned to Hibs after 2 1/2 years in Germany with Borussia Dortmund.
Review
A win based on 2 first half goals from a restored Brian O'Neil but a poor second half performance saved only by Bonner's work in goal.
Teams
Hibernian (4-4-2):
Burridge; Miller, Farrell (Evans, 86), Beaumont, Mitchell; Weir, Findlay, McGinlay, MacLeod; Jackson, Wright
Non-Used Sub: McIntyre
Scorer: Jackson, 56
Celtic (4-3-3):
Bonner; Grant, Mowbray, Wdowczyk, Boyd; O'Neil, McStay, Collins; Creaney (Payton, 79), Nicholas (Vata, 69), Slater
Scorers: O'Neil, 13,16
Referee: W Young (Clarkston)
Attendance: 13,008
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Report
Two superb goals from Brian O'Neil were enough to ensure another happy away day for the Celts
They earned Liam Brady's team a 12th victory on opposition territory in 22 away games without defeat since November 15th last year.
But the Celts also had reason to be thankful that Pat Bonner was at huis best as Hibs ran the show in the second half.
The big Irish stopper pulled off a series of top class saves as the home side powered forward relentlessly in the second half.
Bonner was left helpless as Darren Jackson reduced the deficit in the 56th minute but he ensured that efforts from Jackson, Keith Wright and Pat McGinlay wouldn't deprive his side from victory.
Such pressure seemed unlikely as the Celts threatened to sweep Alex Miller's men aside in the first half.
O'Neil, his confidence boosted by his late winner against Falkirk a week earlier, made scoting look easy with his early double strike.
Gerry Creaney and Stuart Slater went close to adding further goals before the break and Brady's men could have gone in with the insurance.
Brady brought back Peter Grant at right back in place of Gary Gillespie so Dariusz Wdowczyk joined Tony Mowbray in central defense. Bonner made a good stop to deny Jackson, sent clear by McGinlay in the 12th minute but the Celts were soon in control.
Wyhen John Collins released O'Neil with a fine pass through the middle, the youngster found himself confronted by the advancing John Burridge.
O'Neil calmly took the ball past him and held off a challenge from Graham Mitchell.
Then he cooly chipped high into the net from 25yds despite Willie Miller's despairing attempt to head clear.
Three minutes later Wdowczyk's inswinging corner from the right was met by Billy Findlaybut his glancing header flew goalwards. Burridge was caught unawares and could only push the ball out. It dropped to O'Neil 8yds out and he showed admirable composure to lash the awkwardly bouncing ball high into the net.
A sweeping move set up by O'Neil and Collins in the 36th minute ended with Tom Boyd's early cross being accurately fired against the bar by Gerry Creaney.
Three minutes later Slater rounded Burridge wide on the right and rolled a shot goalwards but Farrell got back to clear.
When Weir put in Jackson through 10 minutes after the break Bonner stood up to the striker and saved well but he was given no chance by the striker a couple of minutes later.
Wright flicked on a Weir pass and Jackson drilled it home from a tight angle.
Bonner raced clear from his goal on the hour mark, hit the advancing Jackson and was relieved to see the ball ricochet wide.
Paul McStay blocked a close range shot from Wright before Bonner pulled off a superb save from McGinlay's shot from the edge of the area after Jackson and Wright had put the midfielder in.
Manager Interview
"We needsd a couple of good saves from Packie to get the result we wantedbut I felt we deserved it on our first half performance.
"We played very well than and might have been two further goals in front but for Creaney's shot coming off the crossbar after some marvellous football.
£2-0 can be a misleading scoreline because it looks convincing but a goalfrom the opposition gives them the impetus to have a real go at you.
"Hibs had nothing to lose. got the ball forward and got bodies forward in numbers.
"We had our backs to the wall at times but overrall I was happy with the result."
Brady wa particularly pleased with Brian O'Neil's scoring efforts and the youngster's all round form since returning to the top team.
"Brian had the problem all young players encounter at some time.
"He had come into the team and done really well.
"Much was expected of him when he started off this term in the side and he was probably a bit nervous because he knew that he had to maintain the high standard he had set for himself if he was to remain involved.
"His performances shaded a bit and I felt he needed a break so I left him out for a while.
"Now he's back in the team and doing really well.
"He has the height and strength do be a threat in the opposition area and I am delighted he is hitting the net regularly."