Strachan rues ‘ridiculous’ defeat

CELTIC MANAGER Gordon Strachan claimed Hibernian’s thrilling win over the Hoops at Easter Road was a “quite ridiculous” result after Artur Boruc’s two basic errors proved costly.

A largely impressive performance by last season’s champions went without reward, and a 3-0 win for Rangers over Aberdeen saw Strachan’s side usurped as SPL leaders. Polish goalkeeper Boruc failed to deal with Steven Fletcher’s tame early deflected strike, which went through his grasp on the way into the net.

Boruc then handed Hibernian victory four minutes from time as Dean Shiels compounded his misery following another error, when the goalkeeper fumbled a 20-yard shot from Merouane Zemmama.

Strachan refused to criticise the goalkeeper who has got his side out of jail in the past and was left scratching his head about how they managed to leave with no points despite being dominant for long spells.

He said: “The only thing I am not going away with is points. One would have been a bit of an injustice and not getting any is quite ridiculous.

“In the number of times we have been to Edinburgh against Hearts and Hibs, that is without doubt the best we have played.

“What I’m seeing at the moment is what I want. I want energy, I want flair and I want variation. Am I going away a disappointed man, yes because of the result. The performance was fantastic and everyone is scratching their heads. We should never have got beaten there.”

Aiden McGeady cancelled out Fletcher’s early opener but Hibernian regained their advantage four minutes prior to the interval through Thierry Gathuessi.

Gary Caldwell then brought Celtic level again with a powerful headed goal in the 66th minute.

However, Boruc’s afternoon went from bad to worse when Shiels notched the late winner.

Strachan added: “Things like that happen during a game and there is nothing you can do about it as a manager.

“Myself, as a manager, have to deal with a couple of mistakes.

“He does not come in after games for us and say, ‘How good am I?’, so I would not expect him to get too down on himself.”

Meanwhile, Hibernian manager John Collins breathed a sigh of relief after learning Steven Fletcher has not broken his leg after being stretchered off in the first half.

He was thrilled by the result but admitted Celtic had tested his side to their limit.

Collins said: “We changed things during the game because Celtic are so strong. They swamped us in our own half after 25 minutes. Celtic have got the best midfield for years, they are dynamic and all move the ball.”

HIBERNIAN: Kalambay, McCann (Zemmama 74), Hogg, Jones, Murphy, Gathuessi, Beuzelin, Kerr, Stevenson (Morais 30), Antoine-Curier, Fletcher (Shiels 20).

Subs Not Used: McNeil, O’Brien, Joneleit, Campbell.

CELTIC: Boruc, Perrier Doumbe, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Hartley, Scott Brown, Donati (Riordan 89), McGeady, Vennegoor of Hesselink, McDonald (Killen 67).

Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, Zurawski, Sno, O’Brien, O’Dea.

Referee: A Freeland (Scotland).