New signing Marc Libbra came off the bench to grab a late equaliser for Hibernian to give them - and Rangers - a glimmer of hope in the race for the Premier League title.

Johan Mjallby's first-half strike looked like giving Celtic the points and effectively the championship.

But, on his debut, the Frenchman grabbed a late equaliser to keep them 14 points behind Martin O'Neill's men while Rangers are now 13 points adrift with a game in hand.

But Hibernian manager Alex McLeish enhanced his reputation with his master stroke in handing the Frenchman his debut and he celebrated with a crucial goal.

Ironically, the visitors were the last team to hold Celtic at Parkhead last season - on April 22.

But with Russell Latapy and Mixu Paatelainen out, nobody gave them a chance of getting anything at Parkhead.

Celtic too were weakened with the absence the injured Joos Valgaeren and Bobby Petta, but they started brightly.

Former Hibs man Didier Agathe, whose every touch was greeted with jeers from the visiting fans, went close in the eighth minute when Alan Thompson found him on the edge of the box and the Frenchman blazed just wide of the post.

Celtic created another good chance three minutes later when Paul Lambert found Sutton in space on the left flank and the striker crossed for Petrov in the centre, but the Bulgarian's right-foot shot flew just wide of the mark.

A minute later and Hibernian goalkeeper Nick Colgan had to be alert to tip Sutton's header over from Alan Thompson's cross.

The visitors did show some promise on the break but Celtic appeared the most likely side to open the scoring.

And so it proved in the 23rd minute when Johan Mjallby became the unlikely man to grab the Celtic goal.

Henrik Larsson rose to head Thompson's corner towards the goal, but John O'Neil was on the goal-line to deny him, but his Swedish team-mate made no mistake to fire home from close range.

The home side should have extended their lead in the 34th minute when Larsson played Petrov through with a great defence-splitting pass, but with just Colgan to beat he fluffed his effort well wide of the post.

But two minutes later Celtic appeared lucky to escape a penalty decision when Vega blocked Brebner's over-head kick with what seemed to be his hand.

The visitors began to come more into the game and they gave Celtic a warning in the 37th minute as the home side were caught ball watching.

O'Neil found the overlapping run of Ulrik Laursen and Robert Douglas was forced to make a vital stop low to his right.

Celtic were caught out again three minutes before the break when David Zitelli played Laursen in again, but Mjallby this time made a telling tackle to deny him a shot on target.

Moments later and Vega attempted to chip Colgan after a determined run through the middle and the Hibernian keeper had to quickly back-pedal to save under his post.

The visitors grew in confidence in the second half, but despite all their hard work they were still unable to trouble Douglas in the Celtic goal.

Space opened up for Franck Sauzee to try his luck in the 50th minute, but Lennon blocked his first shot and Douglas had the easiest of saves to make from his second attempt.

But Hibernian were let off the hook in the 63rd minute when Petrov's cross was allowed to fly across the face of goal, but Vega was unable to reach it and Larsson could only fire into the crowd.

Two minutes later and the Hibernian defence were sliced open again when Petrov found Lambert, but the midfielder's cross eluded everybody and the visitors breathed a sigh of relief.

Hibernian defender Gary Smith became the first man to receive a yellow card in the 66th minute when he pulled down Sutton and the pressure was beginning to tell.

The visitors needed some spark from somewhere to hit back and McLeish brought on new signing Libbra for his debut in place of the hard-working Lehmann.

Larsson, however, almost doubled Celtic's lead in the 71st minute when he hit Lennon's pass on the volley and Colgan had to get down well to deny him.

The Swede was presented with another decent opportunity in the 76th minute when Sutton played him clean through, but Lovell made a vital challenge to thwart him and the former Chelsea striker then headed Petrov's corner over the crossbar from close range.

And in the 85th minute the home side paid for their missed chances when Libbra capitalised on some hesitancy in the Celtic defence to cooly slot the ball under Douglas from close range and give his side a share of the points.

Teams

Celtic: Douglas, Boyd, Mjallby, Vega, Agathe, Lambert (Moravcik 87), Lennon, Petrov, Thompson, Sutton, Larsson.

Subs Not Used: Gould, Johnson, Tebily, Crainey.

Booked: Lennon.

Goals: Mjallby 23.

Hibernian: Colgan, Sauzee (Murray 78), Fenwick, Gary Smith, Lovell, Brebner, Jack, O'Neil, Laursen, Lehmann (Libbra 71), Zitelli.

Subs Not Used: Franks, McManus, Bannerman.

Booked: Gary Smith, O'Neil, Fenwick.

Goals: Libbra 84.

Att: 60,063

Ref: S Dougal (Scotland).