MARTIN O’NEILL was overjoyed with Celtic’s crucial 2-1 triumph over Hibs at Easter Road – but he frowned as he admitted: “We made it really difficult for ourselves.”
The interim boss watched Daizen Maeda pass up two reasonable chances before the Japanese ace put the champions ahead in the 41st minute after a superb cross from comeback Bhoy Alistair Johnston.
However, that advantage was nullified after some suicidal defending by Liam Scales, Sebastian Tounekti and Benjamin Nygren presented the hosts a controversial equaliser in first-half stoppage-time.
The images clearly showed the ball striking the arm of Joe Newell before the midfielder lashed a close-range effort past the stranded Viljami Sinisalo.
THE OLD ONE-TWO…Daizen Maeda prepares to fire Celtic into the lead after Alistair Johnston’s excellent cross and (below) Kelechi Iheanacho strikes the winner.
Referee David Dickinson awarded the goal, VAR, with Don Robertson in front of the screens, reviewed the incident before stating the pictures were inclusive and the goal stood.
It was a head-scratching judgement, but the Hoops had to start again after the interval as they pursued the three points that would put them joint top of the Premiership alongside Hearts.
Kelechi Iheanacho, who had replaced Yang Hyun-jun moments earlier, thrashed in the winner in the 72nd minute following a Kieran Tierney corner-kick on the right.
The Nigerian is making a happy habit of providing points-clinching strikes as he dis on previous occasions against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park and Dundee at Dens Park.
A relieved O’Neill said: “It was a big result for us. I thought we started pretty strongly, we got good possession, we made a couple of really good chances, which we spurned, but we finally got in front.
“Overall, I’m naturally delighted to have won the game, that’s the most important thing, but we made it really difficult for ourselves, particularly in the second-half.
“We finally forced the goal – Iheanacho scored, which was delightful, and it wins the game for us.
“Sometimes it’s really difficult when you’re coming off the bench.
“He showed great composure because the ball took an age to come down and he still put it in the net as only he can do.
“We won on this occasion and now we are just going to get ourselves physically and mentally prepared for Sunday’s derby.”
Now O’Neill and the players can enjoy a well-deserved day off while title rivals Hearts and Danny Rohl’s Ibrox side meet at Tynecastle this evening.
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