Martin O’Neill Delivers Preferred Hearts Rangers Outcome After Seeing Off Hibs

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill admits a draw tomorrow between Hearts and Rangers is probably his preferred outcome between his two title challengers. The defending champions went level on points today with a 2-1 win at Easter Road over Hibernian. And now leaders Hearts and third placed Rangers battle it out to maintain their own title credentials. When asked about his preference of result, O’Neill said: “I really don’t know, I don’t know. “I suppose the one thing I look at is even if we won the rest of our games, we’re not guaranteed to win the league, because if hearts win all their games they have a better goal difference than us. “You’re not going to make those goals up. Today, with Hibs down to 10 men, had we have maybe gotten a second goal before they scored then it might’ve become a different issue. “So I genuinely don’t know. Maybe a draw?” Celtic had a man advantage for the majority of the game when Jamie McGrath was shown red for his challenge on a returning Alistair Johnston. O’Neill however believes his side looked better when it was 11 vs 11. “I think we actually played better when they had 11 men than we did when they had ten. “Hibs showed last week they were down to nine men and they fought so strongly, so I knew that was always going to be difficult. “Overall, it was just trying to get that second goal, we got it. “Then it’s a matter of trying to see the game from through. “Delighted to have won, just a nervy ending in a game we might’ve been our own worst enemies.” Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho played the role of super-sub once again, coming off the bench and scoring the all important second goal for Celtic. His manager believes he’s a great asset despite his fitness issues. “Iheanacho comes off the bench, scores again. I heard Alistair [Johnston] say it seemed as though it took five minutes before the ball came down to him! “But he put it in, and he’s done that for the last number of weeks for us. Dundee, and essentially he changes the game in extra-time in the semi-final [vs St. Mirren]. “I think with the injuries he’s had this season, at this minute, he hasn’t played a great deal of football. He has been a super impact player. “The fitness element is the most important thing. I think that you have to go prove that you’re fit – and the only way to prove it is on the field of play. What he has done for us has been terrific. “If the club were to keep him, then it’s really to do with a proper pre-season for him. I think that he would really benefit from that.” All eyes now shift to the mouthwatering fixture between Hearts and Rangers tomorrow, before Rangers travel to Celtic Park a week today.

McCann lauds “important” win but insists relegation scrap is far from over

Neil McCann has urged his side to stay grounded, despite moving out of the relegation playoff spot for the first time in 18 weeks, after a dominant home win against Dundee United. Saturday’s 3-0 victory sets up a tantalising encounter against rivals St Mirren next weekend. Speaking at full-time, the manager believes the result could prove a “big moment” for the entire club. “We’ve been stuck in the bottom two for such a long time. It feels nice that everyone can go and enjoy their weekend now, but there’s nothing done yet. We were right at it today, the last ten minutes we came away from ourselves, which I’ve just reminded the team that’s not what we are after, but to win a game of the size of it was today is so important.” “It’s such a brilliant result. It’s such a big day for the club that we’ve managed to get another win at home.” “The away form’s really important as well. We need to do a job away from home as well. We’ve got three games left and we’ll look to try and win all three of those. Findlay Curtis doubled Killie’s lead in the second half, continuing his fine form on loan from Rangers. With National boss Steve Clarke in attendance, it could help to earn another Scotland call-up before the World Cup. “Findlay Curtis has shown his versatility. He did more than fine. He did great against a really, really top player in Will Ferry, who’s been scoring goals and creating goals for Dundee United, so we knew we had to nullify him. A great finish and a top all-round performance.” Skipper Robbie Deas agreed on the impact of the youngster. “He comes in, he works so hard, and he fits in so well. He deserves everything he’s got. I’m delighted for him. “He’s got his [Scotland] call-up and his debut, but he knows himself that he still needs to work hard. You can see that today.” “He’s playing different positions. I don’t know how many positions he’s played today, but he’s more than capable of it. He’s a very level-headed guy. “I’m absolutely delighted for him, and I hope he keeps it up.” Kilmarnock return to action with three games in a hectic eight-day schedule. With an opportunity to move four clear of relegation, the motivation is crystal clear for McCann’s team.

Hibernian 1-2 Celtic: Celts Overcome Resilient Hibs to Keep Title Bid Alive

Celtic went level on points with Premiership leaders Hearts as they defeated a ten-men Hibs side 2-1 at Easter Road. Goals from Daizen Maeda and substitute Kelechi Iheanacho either side of a Joe Newell equaliser was what it took to get the job done, as Hibs open the door for Falkirk to overtake them in fifth following the Bairns’ win over Motherwell yesterday. Hearts have the chance to pull further ahead tomorrow once again, when they host Rangers at Tynecastle.  The Glasgow side had two early warning shots for their hosts with the first coming via their top scorer Benjamin Nygren in the 6th minute. Winger Yang squared it for the Swede inside the box, but Hibs’ defender Rocky Bushiri flung himself in front of it to keep it from going goal bound. Daizen Maeda threatened just two minutes later, when captain Callum McGregor played a neat ball over the top for the Japanese attacker to bring down. He evaded the offside trap, but his effort never troubled deputy goalkeeper Jordan Smith. VAR intervened just shy of 20 minutes into the match to provide Celtic a man advantage following a reckless tackle from midfielder Jamie McGrath on a returning Alistair Johnston. Referee David Dickinson initially showed the Irish International a yellow, but Don Robertson on VAR recommended the on-field review. It is the fourth red card the Edinburgh side have had in three games.  The title-chasers huffed and puffed and eventually found themselves in front just 4 minutes before half-time. Nygren slipped in Johnston inside the area, and he squared it for Maeda to tap in his 12th goal of the season. Douglas Ross initially had his flag up, but VAR replays confirmed there was no offside offence. Just when it looked like visitors had the chance to stamp their authority on the game, Hibs rocked them with an equaliser on the cusp of the half-time whistle. A set-play was awkwardly defended from and goalkeeper Vilijami Sinisalo’s clearance went as far as Hibee’s captain Joe Newell, who brought the scoring level. A lengthy VAR check ensued, with replays indicating it comes off the arm of the Englishman as he brings it down. However, the goal stood and proceedings were equalled at the interval. Two of Celtic’s substitutes linked-up to supply the Hoops with their first big chance of the second period with twenty minutes to play. Kelechi Iheancho’s chested pass to Luke McCowan allowed the former Dundee captain to play in Maeda for his second, but the 28-year-old got the control of the pass all wrong and fashioned an unfavourable angle for himself.  Yet only two minutes later, Iheanacho himself would be the man to pull Celtic ahead. The Nigerian brought the ball down from a flicked-on corner with bodies all around him, and fired it home much to the adulation of the travelling supporters in the stand behind the goal.  Ante Suto had a glaring opportunity to score Hibs’ second equaliser of the game with less than two minutes of the ninety remaining. The ball fell for the Australian at the back-post, but his volleyed effort hit the wrong side of the net.  David Gray’s men travel to Falkirk in a game they have to avoid defeat in to stay ahead of them in the league table with the gap being just two points between the teams now.  As for Celtic, they host rivals Rangers on Sunday, who will be either stoking a title fight of their own if they get a result tomorrow at Hearts, or will be out to dent their city adversaries own trophy defence if they lose most if not all ground they have in the race at Tynecastle tomorrow.  HIBERNIAN: Smith 6, Cadden 2 (Obita 46’ 2), Bushiri 7, Iredale 6 (Suto 81′ 1), O’Hora 5, Megwa 5, Chaiwa 4, McGrath 1, Newell 6 (Barlaser 73′ 1), Boyle 2 (Campbell 46’ 3), Elding 4 (Scarlett 81′ 1) CELTIC: Sinisalo 4, Johnston 6 (Forrest 64′), Trusty 5,  Scales 5, Tierney 6, McGregor 6, Engels 5, Nygren 4 (Ralston 77′ 1), Tounekti 3 (McCowan 64′), Maeda 7, Yang 5 (Iheanacho 69′ 5)