MARTIN O’NEILL thought Easter Road yesterday was going to be the stage for his last hurrah as Celtic’s interim manager.
Didn’t quite turn out like that for the Irishman who was informed before kick-off not to make any arrangements for Wednesday night with every likelihood of an engagement in the east end of Glasgow.
As he had done in late October following Brendan Rodgers’ rapid departure, O’Neill was happy to once again accept the challenge of leading the champions in their Premiership encounter against Dundee at Parkhead.
The 73-year-old stand-in gaffer won the sixth of his seven games in charge with his players displaying refreshing verve and fight in the 2-1 victory over Hibs in the capital.
I MUST BE GOING – SEE YOU ON WEDNESDAY…Martin O’Neill waves to the Celtic fans after the champions’ 2-1 triumph over Hibs at Easter Road.
It was a far cry from the team’s previous performance in Edinburgh where they meekly surrendered 3-1 to Hearts at Tynecastle, Rodgers’ last outng as the club’s boss.
This time out, the Hoops got their sleeves rolled up and went toe to toe with dangerous opponents on their own stomping ground and carved out a 2-1 success with a two-goals-in-two-minutes salvo from Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels to give the team their third consecutive win on the road.
Eight days earlier, captain Callum McGregor fired the side to victory over St Mirren in Paisley with a breathtaking strike in stoppage-time and it was the turn of Yang Hyun-jun, Reo Hatate and Benjamin Nygren to share the spotlight – and the goals – with a welcoming 3-1 Europa League victory over Feyenoord in Rotterdam.
Three away successes, six goals claimed, six different goalscorers and the champions just two points adrift of leaders Hearts with a game in hand.
Is it any wonder the Hoops hierarchy do not appear to be in a rush to dispense with the services of O’Neill while they continue extended negotiations with Frenchman Wilfried Nancy?
Adopting a philosophical approach to the current situation, the veteran team chief reflected on the latest triumph and said: “You’re never comfortable in the game, but we were doing really fine and we had a great chance to maybe make it 3-0 just before half-time.
“If that had gone in, then there’s a lot of relief.”
LOUD AND PROUD…Celtic players acknowledge the fans at Easter Road.
O’Neill was making reference to a superb build-up from the visitors that saw McGregor and Maeda combine to present Marcelo Saracchi with an excellent opportunity, but, unfortunately, the on-loan left-back saw his rasping drive thump against the woodwork and ricochet to safety.
The comeback gaffer, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “We knew that Hibs were going to fight back. They got the penalty early on in the second-half and it was backs to the wall.
“But we’ve shown great resilience, especially after Thursday night, so I’ve got the utmost regard for the team.
“There’s a really good spirit within the dressing room.
“Of course, that comes from winning football matches, but there’s a great togetherness, as well.”
The encouraging all-for-one-and-one-for-all approach will be on display again in midweek when Dundee are the visitors.
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