Listen to Sportsound commentary from Easter Road
Victory moves Celtic level on points with leaders Hearts, who host Rangers on Monday
McGrath sent off for dangerous tackle on Johnston - Hibs' fourth red card in three games
Maeda makes visitors' dominance count by slotting in low Johnston delivery
Newell pokes in leveller that stands despite midfielder seemingly using arm to control ball
Substitute Iheanacho nets winner with cool finish
Thanks for your company today.
Celtic did enough to see off 10-man Hibs at Easter Road.
Join us tomorrow for Hearts v Rangers and remember that's an unusual 17:30 kick-off.
Will Celtic fans be rooting for their big rivals in that one? It's been that kind of season. Brilliantly bonkers.
Image source, SNSFT: Hibernian 1-2 Celtic
Celtic have won four in a row in the league.
Hearts have three wins and a draw in their last four.
Rangers have three wins and a loss.
Tomorrow's game at Tynecastle is a huge contest. The visitors could be out of things if they lose.
FT: Hibernian 1-2 Celtic
You'll need to wait until 19:15 for highlights of today's game on BBC Scotland.
FT: Hibernian 1-2 Celtic
Kelechi Iheanacho made the difference for Celtic.
The striker has scored four goals in five games - all from the bench.
His arrival also allowed Daizen Maeda to play wide on the left, where he was dangerous.
Image source, SNSFT: Hibernian 1-2 Celtic
Hibernian head coach David Gray tells BBC Sportsound: "I thought Celtic started fast, as you would expect, but when you go down to 10 men after everything I spoke about before the game about giving us the best possible chance to win, it makes it extremely difficult.
"I can’t defend the red card. It’s not the player's character and there’s no intent there but it’s a red card because of where the contact is.
"I think the most important thing was to stay in the game. We’ve done that in the last three games now and you have to try and take the opportunities when they do come.
"We changed the shape at half time, which we might have done even without the goal because you want to try and stay in it as long as you can if the players give everything, which they do and they did today, putting their bodies on the line.
"You want to be in it for the last 10 minutes to have a go, and we did that. We had a real go at the end and had a big chance. When you get those chances you need to take them."
Image source, SNSFT: Hibernian 1-2 Celtic
John Collins
Former Hibs and Celtic midfielder on BBC Sportsound
Celtic keep grinding out results and if they can grind out another three it will be an incredible season, but there's a long way to go.
Hearts and Rangers will be fighting right to the death.
FT: Hibernian 1-2 Celtic
Celtic interim manager Martin O'Neill tells BBC Sportsound: "We’ve played some really decent stuff but we had to defend towards the end.
"Of course there was an anxiety before the (winning) goal but we got there. It’s natural there would be anxiety with our supporters and maybe with the manager too.
"We’ve just got to take each game on its merit. You can’t control anything else.
"What do I want for tomorrow [when Hearts face Rangers]? I genuinely don’t know. We’ve won today so there’s a bit of relief for 24 hours.
"Even if we win the three games left at this minute, it doesn’t guarantee winning the league. The margin of error is very small and it seems like I’ve been saying that for months. It is what it is."
Image source, SNSFT: Hibernian 1-2 Celtic
James McFadden
Former Scotland forward on Sky Sports
Fourth place is gone for Hibs. They need to focus on staying fifth.
FT: Hibernian 1-2 Celtic
"I can't defend it at all," says Hibs head coach David Gray of the red card for Jamie McGrath.
FT: Hibernian 1-2 Celtic
Hibs go to Falkirk next Saturday, with the sixth-placed Bairns just two points behind.
Celtic host Rangers on the following day.
FT: Hibernian 1-2 Celtic
Three defeats on the bounce for Hibs.
All with red cards.
Four players ordered off across three successive games is ridiculous. They had one early bath in the previous 54 league games!
Image source, SNSFT: Hibernian 1-2 Celtic
"It's crystal clear, the ball hits his arm and rolls down," says John Collins of the Hibs equaliser from Joe Newell.
Remember, the VAR explanation was "insufficient evidence to overrule the on-field decision."
A former player for both sides, Collins also thinks Celtic should have had a penalty for Josh Campbell's push on Benjamin Nygren when ushering the ball out of play.
FT: Hibernian 1-2 Celtic
"We made it really hard for ourselves," Martin O'Neill tells Sky Sports before referring to Kelechi Iheanacho as a "proper centre forward".
We'll have more from the Celtic interim manager soon.
FT Hibernian 1-2 Celtic
John Collins
Former Celtic and Hibs player on BBC Sportsound
Iheanacho has a good awareness of what's round about him. He can take it in and you can play one-twos off him but what he doesn't have is legs to start a game.
So the manager has a decision to make. Do you have him on the bench when games are usually won in the last 20 minutes?
I think he'll be a bench player used for the last minutes until the end of the season.
But there's every chance he could be a hero at the end of the season.
FT: Hibernian 1-2 Celtic
Hearts lead Celtic on goal difference, with Rangers four points behind those two.
Hearts host Rangers tomorrow. That's going to a massive game at Tynecastle.
Image source, SNSFT: Hibernian 1-2 Celtic
John Collins
Former Celtic and Hibs player on BBC Sportsound
Celtic never made enough clear-cut chances but you always felt they were going to get the second goal.
Hibs worked hard and got in their blocks and headers but they kept giving the ball to Celtic as if to say 'keep coming at us'. When they conceded again, they started playing again and got up the pitch making it nervous.
But it is a massive three points for Celtic and it puts the pressure on Hearts and Rangers for tomorrow.
FT: Hibernian 1-2 Celtic
Pat Bonner
Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound
Everybody connected with Celtic breathed a sigh of relief at the end. They made really hard work of it.
There was loads and loads of possession when Hibs went down to 10 men but they didn't create a lot.
Iheanacho came off the bench and he's a proven striker. The big problem for him is lasting a full game but what an impact he made. The goal was really, really good.
FT: Hibernian 1-2 Celtic
A concerning sight for Celtic fans as Daizen Maeda makes his way up the tunnel with a limp, a sock and boot in hand.
A big three points for the champions.
Celtic are now level on points with Hearts at the top of the table.
It wasn't pretty against the 10 men of Hibs, but Martin O'Neill's side got the job done.
Kelechi Iheanacho popped in the winning goal just moments after coming off the bench.
Image source, SNSHibernian 1-2 Celtic
Luke McCowan delays a Hibs free-kick, deep in the home half.
Can the hosts get the ball up the park?
Kelechi Iheanacho's fourth goal in five games secured Celtic's victory
At a glance
Hibs' McGrath sent off after 21 minutes
Maeda fires Celtic ahead, but Newell nets contentious equaliser before break
Iheanacho slots winner to move Celtic level with leaders Hearts
Celtic laboured to take advantage of Hibernian's fourth red card in three games before securing a victory that lifts them level on points with Heart of Midlothian at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Jamie McGrath was the latest Hibs sinner with a lunging challenge on Alastair Johnston after just 21 minutes.
The reigning champions looked set for an easy victory when Daizen Maeda scored his fourth goal in three games soon after.
But Joe Newell netted a controversial equaliser - where he seemed to control the ball with his hand - just before the break, only for Kelechi Iheanacho to secure the close-range winner.
It means Celtic only now trail Hearts on goal difference before the long-time leaders host Rangers, who are four points behind in third, on Monday.
Hibs, meanwhile, are left six points adrift of fourth-placed Motherwell and only two clear of Falkirk in the race for European qualification.
Aberdeen ready to move for Hibs' Boyle - gossip
What went wrong for relegated Livingston?
Hibs still looked shellshocked by their derby loss to Hearts in a lacklustre start during which Rocky Bushiri had to block a Benjamin Nygren shot and Maeda was put clear only to blast wastefully over.
Johnston was making his first start since picking up an injury in October and the Canada right-back was lucky not to suffer another as McGrath's outstretched foot connected above his ankle.
It had already been one-way traffic with Hibs at full stretch and it became a defence versus attack training exercise when a VAR check confirmed the Republic of Ireland midfielder's exit.
Celtic's pressure told when Johnston found Maeda with a low cross to sweep home from five yards. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but the decision was reversed following a VAR check.
Hibs had rarely been in the Celtic penalty box but struck back on the stroke of half-time in controversial circumstances.
Goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo's weak punch fell to Newell and the midfielder prodded home from 10 yards. It looked like the ball had come off the Englishman's arm, but the goal stood after VAR decided there was insufficient evidence to rule it out.
Celtic were struggling to create chances after the break, but substitute striker Iheanacho settled the game as he controlled a corner on his chest before a calm finish from five yards.
Striker Ante Suto, nevertheless, had a chance for a second shock equaliser two minutes from time, but the substitute fired into the side-netting.
The chat before the game was whether Hibs and their fans could contemplate a victory that might help city rivals Hearts to their first league title since 1960.
It could explain the empty seats dotted around Easter Road for what was a vital game for their own chances of European qualification.
The lack of atmosphere may have contributed to the home side's lacklustre start, but they also looked uncertain at the back in the absence through suspension of goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger and wing-back Felix Passlack from last week's derby defeat, along with centre-half Grant Hanley from the previous week's red card.
McGrath's moment of madness added to their woes, but even by then Celtic were on their way to an 85% domination of possession by half-time.
Defeat was probably no surprise considering Hibs have now failed to win any, and have lost nine, of the 13 league games when they have conceded the opening goal this season.
Since Hibs shocked Celtic 2-1 in Glasgow in February, David Gray's side have won just once in seven outings, losing their latest three, while Martin O'Neill's side have lost only once, winning nine of their 10 games, including their latest five.
Celtic's scorers were probably no surprise either, Maeda having rediscovered his scoring touch and now found the net on his latest three visits to Easter Road.
Iheanacho proved to be the super sub again, just as he had with his extra-time double in the Scottish Cup semi-final against St Mirren, as his fourth goal in five games perhaps handed Celtic the momentum in a seesaw, three-team title race.
Winning is everything at this stage of the season.
Gray 'can't defend' McGrath red card
Hibernian head coach David Gray: "It is a case of deja vu going down to 10 men. I thought Celtic started fast, as we expected, but then you find yourself down to 10 men and it makes it extremely difficult.
"It is a definite red card. I think the most important thing is to stay in the game and we have done that - and then take the opportunities when they come.
"They put the bodies on the line to give us the chance to have a go in the last 10 minutes and we had one big chance and didn't take it."
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill: "A man sent off for Hibs, they had a couple sent off last week, and you think 11 v 10, we should be reasonably comfortable.
"We lost a very poor goal from our viewpoint just before half time and it changes the complexion of the game - Hibs having something to hold on to and defend very strongly, as they did last week with nine men.
"Of course there was an anxiety before the goal, but we got there. What do I want for tomorrow [when Hearts face Rangers]? I genuinely don't know. We've won today, so there's a bit of relief for 24 hours."
O'Neill 'relieved' after win over 10-man Hibs
Hibs visit Falkirk on Saturday, 9 May (15:00 BST) before Celtic host city rivals Rangers the following day (12:00).
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 22 | 7 | 5 | 60 | 29 | 31 | 73 |
| |
| 35 | 23 | 4 | 8 | 64 | 37 | 27 | 73 |
| |
| 34 | 19 | 12 | 3 | 68 | 34 | 34 | 69 |
| |
| 35 | 15 | 12 | 8 | 55 | 32 | 23 | 57 |
| |
| 35 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 53 | 41 | 12 | 51 |
| |
| 35 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 47 | 51 | -4 | 49 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 48 | 57 | -9 | 43 |
| |
| 35 | 10 | 7 | 18 | 36 | 50 | -14 | 37 |
| |
| 35 | 9 | 9 | 17 | 35 | 56 | -21 | 36 |
| |
| 35 | 7 | 10 | 18 | 40 | 66 | -26 | 31 |
| |
| 35 | 7 | 9 | 19 | 27 | 51 | -24 | 30 |
| |
| 35 | 2 | 14 | 19 | 39 | 68 | -29 | 20 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | 21 | 7 | 5 | 58 | 28 | 30 | 70 |
| |
| 33 | 19 | 12 | 2 | 66 | 31 | 35 | 69 |
| |
| 33 | 21 | 4 | 8 | 59 | 35 | 24 | 67 |
| |
| 33 | 14 | 12 | 7 | 52 | 29 | 23 | 54 |
| |
| 33 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 51 | 37 | 14 | 51 |
| |
| 33 | 13 | 7 | 13 | 45 | 48 | -3 | 46 |
| |
| 33 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 45 | 54 | -9 | 40 |
| |
| 33 | 9 | 6 | 18 | 33 | 48 | -15 | 33 |
| |
| 33 | 8 | 9 | 16 | 34 | 53 | -19 | 33 |
| |
| 33 | 7 | 9 | 17 | 27 | 48 | -21 | 30 |
| |
| 33 | 6 | 10 | 17 | 37 | 65 | -28 | 28 |
| |
| 33 | 1 | 13 | 19 | 35 | 66 | -31 | 16 |
|
Manager:David Gray
Formation:3 - 4 - 1 - 2
Manager:Martin O'Neill
Formation:4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Scottish Premiership
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All competitions
All competitions
After their 2-1 win in February, Hibernian could earn back-to-back league victories over Celtic for the first time since September 2007 under John Collins.
Celtic have won three of their last four league visits to Hibernian (L1), as many as their previous 15 beforehand (W3 D8 L4).
Hibernian have lost both of their last two league games, but haven’t lost three in a row in the Scottish Premiership since October 2024.
Celtic’s run of three consecutive wins is the longest ongoing winning streak in the Scottish Premiership. Only from October to December have they had a longer league winning run this season (5) – when the fourth win was away to Hibernian under Martin O’Neill (2-1).
Hibernian have seen three players sent off in their last two league games, including two last time out against Hearts. It’s as many red cards as they’d received in their previous 59 Scottish Premiership matches combined.
