Kenny Dalglish has made a dramatic impact in his short time at the Parkhead
helm but there is one Celtic trait which seems beyond repair and it cost them
badly again at Easter Road.
With Rangers held by St Johnstone at Ibrox here was Celtic's moment
to capitalise, but as so often in recent years they failed to punish their Old
Firm rivals.
Hibernian moved ahead through Pat McGinlay's 22nd-minute strike and after 63
minutes left Celtic reeling as Kenny Miller outlined his promise with a smartly
taken second.
Celtic, who lost keeper Dmitri Kharine on the half-hour through injury, needed
an emergency recovery act and were given hope by the prolific Mark Viduka 10
minutes later.
A frantic finish saw Celtic give everything, but crucial chances were missed,
not least an open goal by Morten Wieghorst, and history duly repeated itself for
the Glasgow club.
In 1996/97 Rangers lost at home to Hearts but Celtic were held at Kilmarnock,
last term another Rugby Park stalemate frustrated them after Dundee United
surprised the Ibrox outfit the day before.
As recently as last November, under John Barnes, Celtic lost 3-2 at Motherwell
a matter of hours after Rangers had been defeated 2-1 on home soil by Dundee.
Hibernian were without a league win since December 19 at Hearts, but were not
to be denied and Rangers' Scottish Premier League lead remains nine points ahead
of Wednesday's Old Firm derby.
Scottish record signing Eyal Berkovic made his first start under Dalglish's
temporary charge, the £5.75million summer signing from West Ham having been out
of favour.
His recall was prompted by a hamstring injury to Tommy Johnson, who claimed a
midweek hat-trick over Dundee, while Jonathan Gould, now off the transfer list,
was restored to the bench.
Brazilian international Rafael was also among the Celtic substitutes, while
Hibernian offered a belated debut to Martin McIntosh, hit by a stomach problem
since joining from Stockport.
Celtic created the game's first opening after seven minutes, Berkovic's quick
free kick finding Jackie McNamara who in turn set up Viduka for a shot pushed
away well by Nick Colgan.
Celtic's worst case scenario became a reality after 22 minutes when hesitant
defending, notably from keeper Kharine, saw Hibernian move ahead through a
former Parkhead player.
The visitors failed to clear a Derek Collins free kick allowing Mixu
Paatelainen to head back across goal and though Stuart Lovell was unable to
convert McGinlay was on hand to tap in.
Lovell had a shot deflected over on the half-hour which wrongfooted Kharine
causing him to twist badly in mid-air sustaining a freak injury which forced him
to be carried off.
That meant Gould, who looked to have ended his Celtic career when he demanded
a move after being left out of Dalglish's first game in charge at Dundee, was
suddenly back in the spotlight.
At the other end, Colgan needed to be alert to hold McNamara's drive but
Celtic were looking surprisingly short of ideas, though Wieghorst's glancing
header went close on 44 minutes.
In first-half injury time, Viduka's cross was missed entirely by Petrov but
ran kindly for Lubomir Moravcik only for the Slovakian to snatch at the chance
and blaze wide.
Dalglish made a telling switch at the break replacing Berkovic with striker
Mark Burchill joining Viduka in attack and Moravcik adopting the creative
midfield role.
That is bound to be read as a vote of no-confidence in the player bought by
deposed head coach John Barnes in the summer, but Viduka had looked isolated
before the interval.
After 53 minutes, Moravcik exchanged passes with McNamara before scuffing his
cross, but with the Hibernian defence confused, Wieghorst pounced on the loose
ball only to fire wastefully over.
Yet it was Hibernian who missed the next clear opportunity, Miller's shot
blocked but falling to Franck Sauzee who sent his volley wide and moments later
Viduka was inches away for Celtic.
Miller continued to worry Celtic, Mjallby hauling him back to be booked after
63 minutes, but the youngster was not to be denied as he scored from the
resulting free kick.
Sauzee drilled the ball into the middle where Gould did well to deny Dirk
Lehmann, but Miller was the first player to react and fired a powerful shot home
for 2-0.
Celtic were shaken but given a glimmer of hope after 73 minutes when, after
Burchill raced onto Mjallby's pass, he played in Viduka who kept his balance
adeptly to make it 2-1.
Gould was almost caught out by a stunning 35-yard free kick from Sauzee which
drifted just over, but now it was Celtic who were turning on the pressure as
time ebbed away.
Viduka burst clear on the right and as Colgan advanced he chose to be
unselfish and squared for Wieghorst only for the Dane to stumble in front of an
open goal and somehow put the ball wide.
Celtic seemed destined not to level when with five minutes remaining a
Moravcik corner fell to Stubbs whose powerful drive crashed against the
underside of the bar and away to safety.
In the 88th minute Tom Smith was on hand to deny the visitors heading away a
Viduka effort on the goalline, but at the finish it was Hibernian, and of course
Rangers, who were celebrating.
Teams:
Hibernian: Colgan, Collins, J. Hughes, McIntosh, Smith, Lovell,
Sauzee, McGinlay, Miller (Jean 89), Paatelainen, Lehmann.
Subs Not Used: Gottskalksson, Hartley, Brebner, Murray.
Booked: McGinlay.
Goals: McGinlay 22, Miller 63.
Celtic: Kharine (Gould 31), Mjallby, Stubbs, Boyd, McNamara,
Petrov, Berkovic (Burchill 46), Wieghorst, Mahe, Viduka,Moravcik.
Subs Not Used: Riseth, Blinker, Rafael.
Booked: Mjallby.
Goals: Viduka 73.
Att: 12,236
Ref: Jim McCluskey (Scotland).
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