2019-09-28: Hibernian 1-1 Celtic, SP

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Review

(Haitch of KDS)
Thought Lennon got the team selection and subs wrong today. If he wants to start Ntcham then fine but play him instead of Brown or McGregor. If we play him in a number 10 position we significantly nullify both Forrest and Christie by moving them out of position. Don’t think any of the subs were correct either, Hayes is a worker but not for me a match winner. Thought either one of Rogic Moi or Sinclair would have been better options. Understood bringing Bayo on but not for Edouard, he wasn’t at his best but always capable of something and if a good chance fell to him you’d expect him to score it. Also felt we were over-relying on crosses despite them not working for us and we could have tried to be more intricate by bringing Rogic on and playing through them more.

Despite the above, if the ref does his job we win the game. Said to my mate in the pub after our goal the ref won’t give us anything else and was proven to be correct.

The Easter Road SPFL curse continues but I don’t feel as bad as I did the last few times we visited as unlike those days, we weren’t completely hopeless despite being lethargic and slightly below par.

Teams

Hibernian

• 28Maxwell
• 17James
• 18Jackson · Substituted for Whittaker at 32'minutes

· 4Hanlon
· 16StevensonBooked at 50mins
· 20Hallberg · Substituted forNewellat 89'minutes
· 6VelaBooked at 39mins
· 14Mallan
· 23AllanBooked at 71mins
· 19Middleton Substituted forHorganat 71'minutes

• 9Doidge

Substitutes

• 1Marciano
• 3Whittaker
• 7Horgan
• 11Newell
• 22Kamberi
• 32Shaw
• 33Murray

Goals

• Ajer (8' minutes og)

Celtic

• 67 Forster
• 13 Bauer Booked at 90mins
• 2 Jullien
• 35 Ajer Booked at 44mins
• 23 Bolingoli-Mbombo
• 8 Brown Booked at 48mins
• 42 McGregor Booked at 47mins
• 49 Forrest · Substituted for Sinclair at 84'minutes

• 21 NtchamBooked at 39mins · Substituted for Hayes at 60'minutes
• 17 Christie
• 22 Edouard Substituted for Bayo at 72'minutes

Substitutes

• 1 Gordon
• 10 Bayo
• 11 Sinclair
• 15 Hayes
• 18 Rogic
• 27 Elyounoussi
• 33 Elhamed

Goals

• Christie (24' minutes)

Referee: Kevin Clancy
Attendance: 18,339

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Stats

Home Team
Hibernian
Away Team
Celtic

Possession
Home53%
Away47%

Shots
Home3
Away20

Shots on Target
Home2
Away7

Corners
Home1
Away4

Fouls
Home13
Away14

Articles

Hibernian 1 – 1 Celtic: Paul Heckingbottom sent off, Olivier Ntcham lucky to stay on

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibernian/hibernian-1-1-celtic-paul-heckingbottom-sent-off-olivier-ntcham-lucky-to-stay-on-1-5013398
Moira Gordon

Published: 14:25
Updated: 22:38 Saturday 28 September 2019
It has been coming. Not Celtic losing their 100 per cent record or Hibs being cheered off the pitch by their own fans, although both those things did happen. More inevitable than that was the fact that match officials are again in the spotlight.

Celtic failed to conjure up a domestic victory for the first time this season as the teams fought out an ill-tempered 1-1 draw. Aggressive and committed, they shared eight bookings and the Hibs manager Paul Heckingbottom was sent to the stand.

The match ended in stalemate and it was honours even on the gripe count too, both sides left licking their wounds over incidents they claim would have given them the edge.

Celtic lamented two penalty decisions that did not go their way, when Ryan Christie was flattened by Lewis Stevenson in the 64th minute and then Moritz Bauer was clattered by Daryl Horgan ten minutes later. Hibs were furious at a free-kick that was awarded in the build-up to the Celtic equaliser and then the decision to let Olivier Ntcham off the hook after the visitors’ midfielder raised his hands to Josh Vela shortly before half-time as the ill feeling finally bubbled over.

There was also a case for Scott Brown’s dismissal after he lunged in on Scott Allan in the 55th minute, having picked up a booking minutes earlier. But referee Kevin Clancy ignored that uproar as well to fuel the sense of injustice felt around the stadium.

It was a weird old afternoon, though. From the minute Hibs stunned the away crowd behind Fraser Forster’s goal with a seventh-minute goal that ricocheted off Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer’s boot and crept past the keeper, there was little cut and dried.

If the finish was fortuitous, the build up to the goal had been decent. A great ball from centre half Adam Jackson picked out Allan, who played another delightful pass to Christian Doidge and from that moment on lady luck took control to give the home side the lead they needed to build on the midweek cup win and stave of any of the grumbles that have rained down on them from the stands in recent weeks.

The treble treble winners have won their last two cup ties at Easter Road but they have struggled on league business, and travelled to Edinburgh seeking their first league triumph since January 2014.

They wiped out the deficit in this one in the 22nd minute. Hibs had started on the front foot but Celtic gradually began to assert themselves and when play was halted while Glenn Middleton was pressing forward, for an earlier infringement on James Forrest, all hell broke loose.

The Hibs management rounded on fourth official Nick Walsh, who had reported the foul on the Scotland forward, and with Hibs players at sixes and sevens, unclear whether a drop ball or free-kick had been awarded, Celtic capitalised on the confusion and Ryan Christie rose to clinically send a looping header past Chris Maxwell for his 11th goal of the season.

The home side were aggrieved and the recriminations saw Heckingbottom dismissed.

A moment of controversy it could have been diluted had Celtic taken any of the countless chances they carved out for the remainder of the game but, going toe to toe, the home rearguard stood firm and Celtic were forced to lash at the efforts, with most flying high or wide.

Odsonne Edouard was one of those guilty of profligacy – he was also guilty of raising his hands and having connected with the chest, neck and face of Vela was fortunate he remained on the pitch long enough to be substituted.
Bayo celebrates.
Celtic boss compares young striker to Henrik Larsson, Rangers vow to ban pyro fans, Hearts star turned down big offers, Hibs won't curb defender – Scottish…

With their 100 per cent record at stake and the Europa league grudge match against Cluj looming, they kept pressing for the winner deep into stoppage time as manager Neil Lennon shuffled the pack, sending on the attacking threat of Jonny Hayes, Scott Sinclair and Vakoun Issaf Bayo. All of them had moments when they could have made a real difference but spurned them.

It left everyone looking for answers.

Celtic felt cheated of a win that would have stretched their winning streak. Hibs just felt cheated.

BBC

by Brian McLauchlin
BBC Scotland at Easter Road

• From the section Scottish Premiership

Hibs manager Paul Heckingbottom was sent to the stand after Ryan Christie's goal for Celtic
Hibernian boss Paul Heckingbottom was sent to the stand as his side held champions Celtic to a Scottish Premiership draw at Easter Road.
The Englishman kicked a water bottle after Ryan Christie levelled for the visitors, hitting an assistant referee.
Christie's goal followed Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer turning Christian Doidge's cross into his own net to give Hibs a dream start.
Celtic pressed heavily for a winner, but fell short in front of goal.
Hibs' point helps relieve some of the pressure on manager Heckingbottom, whose side had lost four of their previous five league games.
For Celtic, it brings to an end their 100% start to the domestic season.

Referee feels the heat in ferocious stalemate
When referee Kevin Clancy blew the opening whistle just after 12.30, there was something of a sedate atmosphere inside Easter Road. However, that was not to last for too long.
After just eight minutes the home fans erupted as their team took an early advantage. Wonderful play from centre-half Adam Jackson and midfield general Scott Allan set up Doidge in space in the right-hand side of the visitors box.
The striker had few options, but his cross into the danger area deflected off the ankle of Ajer and wrong-footed keeper Fraser Forster who had no chance.
Tackles were flying in all over the pitch and Clancy was having a fair job keeping his eyes on the game. The man in the middle then became the focal point of the home fans, players and management when Neil Lennon's side drew level in controversial circumstances.
James Forrest went to ground close to the half-way line under a challenge from Tom James. Referee Clancy initially looked to have seen the incident and allowed play to continue, only for fourth official Nick Walsh telling the official otherwise.
As the Hibs players stood expecting the ball to be played back to them, Celtic broke forward and duly equalised when Christie nodded home a Moritz Bauer cross.
Hibs boss Heckingbottom was outraged and even more so when shown a red card for kicking a water bottle that hit assistant referee Alan Mulvaney on the leg.
Tempers were running high and Olivier Ntcham can count himself fortunate to only receive a yellow for throwing an arm out at Josh Vela who was also booked for his part in the initial challenge.
Odsonne Edouard flashed a header just over and his replacement Vakoun Bayo should have at least found the target when creating space for himself just 12 yards from goal.
The huge Celtic support though must have known it was not to be their day when two strong claims for penalties were turned down. Ryan Christie was clipped by Lewis Stevenson but Clancy's decision was a corner and Bauer also appeared to be tripped inside the area but again no penalty awarded.

Man of the match – Scott Allan
For the visitors, Christie and Scott Brown put in their usual powerful 90 minutes shift but the man of the match award must go to a home player.
After what has been weeks of criticism aimed at the Hibs players, they showed they were no "soft touches" as their manager had claimed previously.
Paul Hanlon turned in one of his best performances of this campaign while Stevie Mallan again showed he is not just a player who likes a shot at goal.
But the award goes to a man shunned by Celtic and shown the door in the summer.
Scott Allan was a joy to watch and his incisive passing at times carved open the Celtic defence.
It is a mystery as to why he failed to make an impact at Celtic Park but on this form he will be a real force to reckon with.

HECK'S ANGER

Heckingbottom claims Ntcham deserved ‘three reds for three punches’ in Hibs-Celtic clash [-] SpoilerBy Derek McGregor
https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/ … ic-lennon/

RED-CARDED Paul Heckingbottom branded the moments which led to his shock dismissal as SHAMBOLIC and FARCICAL.
And the Hibs boss slammed ref Kevin Clancy for not also sending off Celtic midfielder Olivier Ntcham for a first half flare-up with Josh Vela which saw the livid Frenchman repeatedly raise his hands.

Heckingbottom accused Ntcham of throwing three PUNCHES.
The irate Hibees gaffer was sent to the stand by Clancy seconds after Ryan Christie’s 23rd minute leveller following an eighth minute Kristoffer Ajer OG.

Whistler Clancy stopped play for a free-kick on the advice of fourth official Nick Walsh while Hibs were attacking, with Celts winger James Forrest lying on the ground injured.
But there was confusion over Clancy’s decision – and from the free-kick the champions promptly went up the park and scored.
That sparked rage from Heckingbottom, kicking a water ball which HIT the leg of main stand linesman Alan Mulvanny before then darting across his technical area to point a finger at Walsh.
Clancy acted by showing him red. Ntcham, meanwhile, got off with a yellow card.

Heck said: “Listen refs have bad games, make bad decisions, and you know I don’t come up here and moan about that.
“Literally phase of play, good press, we win the ball, break then five seconds later it is called back for something the fourth official has seen.
“Then that is not transmitted to the players.
“Some of them think it is a drop ball and they’re getting the ball back or something.
“Others understand it is a free kick so it was a shambles. A farce, that bit of play.
“I didn’t know that the water bottle had happened, I think it hit the linesman, so I shouldn’t have done that.”
Asked what he said to fourth official Walsh, he responded: “There's a swear word in there. That's what I said. 'You f****g gave that.'"
On the Ntcham incident, Heckingbottom said: “He should have been sent off three times. For the three punches.

“That is the worst one and that is the biggest injustice.
“Refs get things wrong and we should have dealt with it after he gave the free kick.
“But that, everybody has been let down by that, EVERYONE.
“All the supporters, all the players, everyone connected with the club.
“Listen, there is an incident, a couple of arms thrown. He can claim he hasn’t seen it. Fine
“But the fact he is actually stood right there between the two players when the third one comes in on the end of Vela’s chin.
“So you tell me why it isn’t a sending off? Everyone makes mistakes, everyone has bad games.

“But there was something different about that. That wasn’t right, that.”
Celts boss Neil Lennon was concerned Ntcham could’ve gone.
He said: “We know you can’t lift your hands.
“It was a bit of a kerfuffle and I think common sense prevailed.
“But, we’ll have to have a quiet word with Olly about that.

“It’s not like him, to be fair.
“But he was probably very incensed about something.”
Meanwhile, on the game itself, Heckingbottom said: “The last two games we've looked like a team and playing with a fire in our belly.
“That's what we need more of between now and the end of the season.”
Hibs defender Adam Jackson was forced off after 31 minutes with concussion.