[DavidMc]

Celtic v Hibernian
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 22nd December 07
Celtic Park, Glasgow

Final Score 1-1

Hibs began life without manager John Collins with a battling draw against out-of-sorts league leaders Celtic.

Hibs went in front when left-back David Murphy charged forward to exchange passes with Abdessalam Benjelloun and crashed in a shot via the crossbar.

Celtic poured forward in waves and finally hit back when Jiri Jarosik's tame volley crept in on 78 minutes.

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink saw a header hit the post in the closing stages but Celtic could not find a winner.

Celtic are now just three points ahead of Rangers, with the second-placed side having three games in hand.

Hibs were in front for a long spell but will be pleased with a point and a gritty display, punctuated with some free-flowing counter-attacking moves.

Celtic's Scott Brown was first to threaten against his former side, charging through a weak challenge from Guillaume Beuzelin and lashing in a swerving shot which Yves Ma-Kalambay did well to push away.

The visitors were looking very jittery at the back but Celtic could not take advantage and Hibs took the lead with a wonderful breakaway goal.

Murphy stormed past a number of opponents before slipping the ball to Benjelloun, who returned a pass for the galloping full-back on the edge of the penalty box, and the defender thrashed a shot in off the underside of the crossbar.

Hibs immediately grew in confidence and Merouane Zemmama tried his luck with a long-range lob that had Mark Brown back-pedalling furiously to save.

Benjelloun and Zemmama then linked with purpose to stretch the home defence but Stephen McManus made a vital sliding challenge as the former shaped to shoot.

Celtic lost their way in attack for a while but ended the first half on top, with Aiden McGeady going close with a 20-yard free-kick.

A blunder from Hibs skipper Rob Jones gave Brown a sight at goal after the restart but the busy midfielder dragged his angled shot wide of the target.

Hibs responded with a looping header from Brian Kerr that Brown had to tip away and the keeper made a brave save at the feet of Benjelloun following the resultant corner.

However, the team from Edinburgh were making a habit of giving the ball away too cheaply and Vennegoor of Hesselink went close with a shot and a header in quick succession.

A spell of intense Celtic pressure saw Chris Hogg throwing himself to block a goalbound drive from McManus, before Ma-kalambay parried a well-placed McGeady shot.

Celtic continued to press and eventually levelled when Jarosik's side-foot volley flew through a ruck of players and beat the diving Ma-kalambay, who looked well placed to save.

Celtic's top-scorer Scott McDonald had a quiet game but did brilliantly to turn two markers on the penalty spot, only to see his shot shave the outside of the post.

Hibs were reduced to 10 men for the final 10 minutes when Benjelloun had to go off injured, with all the substitutes already on.

And there was one final scare for Hibs when Vennegoor of Hesselink hit the base of the post with a header.



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Celtic: Mark Brown, Caldwell, Pressley (Riordan 79), McManus, Naylor, Scott Brown, Donati (Jarosik 64), Hartley, McGeady, McDonald, Vennegoor of Hesselink. Subs Not Used: McGovern, Conroy, Killen, Sno, O'Dea.

Booked: McManus.

Goal: Jarosik 78.

Hibernian: Ma-Kalambay, McCann, Hogg, Jones, Murphy (McCormack 72), Zemmama (Morais 66), Kerr, Beuzelin, Chisholm, Stevenson (O'Brien 66), Benjelloun. Subs Not Used: McNeil, Shiels, Donaldson, Noubissie.

Booked: Murphy.

Goal: Murphy 20.

Att: 58,016