Celtic labour to victory over 10-man Hibs to move joint top as gauntlet laid down to Hearts and Rangers

For a fourth time in three games, Hibs were left to rue more red card absurdity as the defending champions laboured to a narrow 2-1 victory that moves them joint top of the Premiership table ahead of Hearts’ blockbuster showdown with fellow title rivals Rangers on Monday.

Jamie McGrath was the latest sinner for Hibs after being ordered off for a needless lunging challenge with only 21 minutes on the clock. Celtic looked set to coast to three points when Daizen Maeda notched his fourth goal in three games soon after, but a controversial Joe Newell equaliser just before half-time handed the Edinburgh club a lifeline.

That was until Iheanacho stepped off the bench to pop up with the close-range winner after 72 minutes, which leaves the Hoops now only trailing long-time leaders Hearts on goal difference.

Anything less a win in the capital would have made it difficult for Martin O’Neill’s side in the title race with only three rounds of fixtures remaining. Alistair Johnston was handed a first start since October at right-back for the visitors after making his long-awaited return to action during the final 20 minutes of last weekend’s 3-1 victory over Falkirk.

Hibs - missing suspended trio Raphael Sallinger, Felix Passlack and Grant Hanley - made four alterations after passing up a chance to derail city rivals Hearts’ bid for a first league title in 66 years with defeat in the Edinburgh derby last week. Any notion of them lying down to Celtic was dismissed by David Gray pre-match as the battle to bring European football back to Easter Road for a second successive season remains in the melting pot.

Gray pointed out that his players remain fully motivated to catch fourth-placed Motherwell, who lost at Falkirk on Saturday. That task now seems thankless as they are left six points adrift of the Steelmen and looking over their shoulder with Falkirk now only two behind in the race for Euro qualification.

How Hibs vs Celtic unfolded

Hibs could take heart from their previous meetings against Celtic this season, most notably claiming four points on their two visits to Glasgow’s east end. That seemed to do little to rally the Hibs support ahead of this game with huge gaps of empty seats spotted in the home stands shortly before kick-off.

After a relatively tame opening, Hibs’ poor discipline of late reared its head again as they hit the self-destruct button. McGrath caught the returning Johnston late with a reckless sliding challenge, and after a VAR review and a quick visit to the pitch side monitor, referee David Dickinson brandished a straight red.

From then on, Celtic were in the ascendency and starting to turn the screw. They continued to enjoy the lion’s share of possession and their pressure told when Johnston’s low delivery was swept home from five yards by Maeda to round off a slick move, only for him to be flagged offside. Matter not, though, as VAR came to his rescue to reverse the on-field decision.

It was one-way traffic until right on the stroke of half-time when Hibs surprisingly levelled the contest, having struggled to conjure up much of note in the opposition’s half.

Captain Newell was presented with the chance to equaliser after goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo flapped at the ball as he attempted to punch Nick Cadden’s free-kick clear. It dropped kindly for Newell who turned home. A lengthy VAR checked ensued as Celtic claimed that an arm was used to control the ball, but it was deemed there was insufficient evidence of a handball to overturn the call.

Celtic went in at the break shell-shocked. O’Neill sought answers after hopes of a much-needed clean sheet evaporated. Hibs retreated with ten men after the break as the visitors laid siege on Jordan Smith’s goal.

There was plenty of endeavour on show, but little in the way of quality from last season’s champions as O’Neill summoned experienced striker Iheanacho, a man for the big moment, to replace Yang with 20 minutes left.

It proved a tactical masterstroke. Kieran Tierney’s corner from the right was flicked into Iheanacho’s path and the ex-Sevilla marksman controlled the ball on his chest before displaying tremendous composure to drill beyond Smith in a crowded penalty box.

O’Neill cut a more animated figure on the touchline in the closing stages. Aware of how important goal difference could become, the 74-year-old was urging his team on in pursuit of a third goal. It didn’t arrive but pressure had been successfully applied on both Hearts and Rangers as this engrossing three-way fight for the title nears a conclusion.