Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has hailed his side’s 2-1 victory at Easter Road their “best win of the season”.
The Champions found themselves 1-0 down early on thanks to a goal from Owen Elding, but Celtic were immediately level thanks to an own goal from Jason Kerr. Camilo Durán would have them 2-1 up going into the break, and a largely uneventful second-half meant Celtic secured their third consecutive win at Easter Road.
The result means Celtic retain their four point lead at the top over Rangers, and despite a spotty start to the season in all competitions, Celtic have almost always found a way to see matches out under O’Neill in the league.
In his post-match press conference, he said: “Well, the performance wasn’t fantastic, the conditions probably didn’t help, didn’t play great, but to me, I thought it was our best win of the season considering the circumstances.
“Coming here, it doesn’t matter where Hibs are placed in the league, it’s always been difficult. the conditions didn’t help, didn’t help either side. Then to come from a goal behind to win the game, and to get the block towards the end to see the three points through, I thought it was our best win of the season, seriously.”
The block O’Neill is referring to was made by Cameron Carter-Vickers in the closing stages, denying Josh Mulligan’s goal bound effort late on, rescuing two points for Celtic.
O’Neill also insisted that his players agree it’s their best win of the season, especially considering Celtic were “still in the bus when hits score”. The Celtic manager gave credit where it was due for Joe Newell’s quick-free-kick saying: “It’s a very, very good free-kick from their viewpoint, really clever.
“But we were just absolutely asleep for it.”
Hibs’ lead didn’t last long however as Callum McGregor forced Raphael Sallinger into a decent save immediately after, but it was Hibs’ Jason Kerr who equalised for Celtic, heading into his own net following a corner. O’Neill said: “We score pretty well immediately, which was great for us at the time because we (if) were allowed to dwell on it for 10 or 15 minutes with Hibs in the lead, you never know.
“Then Durán comes up with a wonderful goal to win the game. I didn’t think that at that stage.
“I’m seriously pleased with the win considering everything. ”
He then hammered home how difficult an away day Hibs is despite their league position and that the early goal may have been a symptom from a ‘European hangover’
“I just think coming here regardless of their position, I’ve been here many times before, I’ve never, ever had an easy game. Never been easy, there was no such thing.
“To recover from a goal behind considering the exertions on Thursday night, really pleased, and maybe that’s why I’m saying it’s their best one.”
Celtic fullback Alastair Johnston returned to action for the first time since August today, coming on in the second-half, but the Canadian’s comeback was short lived as he went off with an injury just 20 minutes later. O’Neill said: “He felt something at the top of his hamstring, a wee bit higher Tham before, which may be encouraging, I don’t know.
“He’s obviously disappointed there, 15, 20 minutes and you saw, even in that little period what he’s capable of doing both defensively and getting forward. It’ll be a big blow to him and a big blow to the club if it is a hamstring injury. it might be cramp, you genuinely don’t know.
“He’s a terrific footballer, a really terrific footballer and we’ve missed him during that time. Colby (Donovan) has done exceptionally well, exceptionally well. Better than anyone could’ve anticipated I must admit.
O’Neill was then asked to expand on Celtic’s right-back problems, with Johnston’s injury record, Dane Murray shifted to fullback late on as Anthony Ralston and Jordan Lotomba missed out today. He said: “In fairness to Lotomba, he hasn’t had a proper chance yet to start a game.
“Perhaps that might occur.
“And for Tony, Tony’s got a really big heart. He wants to be ready all the time, He trains like a Trojan in all honesty, and so yeah, I have no doubts that he can come back into the fold again.”
O’Neill was also asked about record signing Kasper Høgh after another game without finding the net, he said: “He’s a box player. I think the one that Callum Osmand slid across the box, I think a confident Kasper would be sliding that into the net, a wee bit like the second game of the season at Kilmarnock.
“Just a wee bit of lack of confidence at this minute.
“You have to fight through these things and you have to find yourself on the side. There’s a bit of competition for places, particularly if, really, as we’ve said this before, Durán’s best position is probably at centre-forward.”
He was also full of praise for Dane Murray, not only for filling in at right-back for the remainder of the match, but in regard to his recent run of games, he said: “He’s missed essentially two years with injury. He’s got all the potential in the world to be a really fine centre-back, he definitely has.”
When asked if Murray could find himself expecting a Scotland call-up soon, O’Neill’s response was simply “Why not?”
Celtic will continue their title charge on Wednesday night when they host Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership, before travelling to Falkirk on Sunday as O’Neill’s men missed out on the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals.
