Celtic held at Easter Road

Hibernian 2 Celtic 2

Hibernian injected some much-needed life into the Bank of Scotland Premier League title race by ending the champions’ 100% record with a draw at Easter Road today.

After their Champions League defeat to Barcelona in midweek, Celtic were given another tough test by Tony Mowbray’s much-improved youngsters.

Martin O’Neill’s men twice came from behind with goals from Henri Camara and John Hartson after a Bobo Balde own goal and David Murphy strike had put Hibernian ahead.

Celtic had been threatening to have the title secured by Christmas as they were seven points clear of Rangers at the start of play.

But Hibernian showed the rest of Scotland the Glasgow giants were not untouchable on the domestic front and that there were two decent teams in Edinburgh.

The home side, however, found themselves under pressure straight away and Celtic should have been ahead after just two minutes.

John Hartson was allowed to get behind the Hibernian defence and reach Alan Thompson’s free-kick but he headed straight at Simon Brown from just six yards.

The Welshman was gifted another chance moments later when Gary Caldwell and Steven Whittaker got in each others’ way but he blazed over the crossbar.

Celtic continued to dominate with Brown saving two headers from Hartson in quick succession.

A bizarre mix-up at the other end between the Northern Irishman and teenage goalkeeper David Marshall almost gave Garry O’Connor a sight of goal but despite resolving the situation the game suddenly swung the way of the Edinburgh side.

The youngster was picking the ball out of his net in the ninth minute and there was nothing he could do to prevent the champions from going behind.

Whittaker swung a hopeful cross into the area and the ball flew off the foot of Balde and looped into the top corner of the net.

But the jubilation of the home crowd was dampened in the 10th minute with the sight of Brown being stretchered off with his left leg strapped up after a tackle from Thompson.

Mowbray responded by bringing on Steven Dobbie as the Scotland Under-21 starlet was carried down the tunnel in some distress.

Celtic were in all sorts of trouble as O’Connor headed David Murphy’s cross just past the far post before Riordan fired the striker’s cross into the fans behind the goal.

Hartson was a relieved man in the 23rd minute when Stephen Glass’ corner hit him and moved menacingly towards goal but Marshall was alert and saved low to his right post.

Thompson was then turned inside out by Dean Shiels near the goal line, and he had all the goal to aim at but smashed his left-foot shot into the side-netting.

But confusion reigned as Celtic clawed themselves back on level terms in the 33rd minute against the run of play.

The linesman flagged for offside as Juninho ran onto Guillaume Beuzelin’s slack back-pass and he centred for Henri Camara to power the ball past Brown from eight yards.

Referee Mike McCurry spoke to the linesman in question for over three minutes before pointing to the centre spot, which sparked belated celebrations from the visitors.

But that joy was short-lived as Murphy sprinted through the Celtic defence before coolly slotting the ball past Marshall and into the far corner of the net.

Balde tried to make up for his own goal just before the break but Riordan headed his effort off the line, but Celtic did level on the stroke of half-time.

Juninho crossed from the left and Hartson steered the ball home from just four yards.

Sutton seemed certain to put Celtic ahead for the first time in the game after Camara had raced away to the byline and picked him out in the centre but his touch flew wide.

Former Hibernian favourite Didier Agathe got the warm welcome he expected from the home fans when he was introduced to replace Sutton in the 58th minute.

Stanislav Varga squandered a glorious chance to put the champions ahead in the 70th minute.

Petrov picked him out in space in the box but he took his eye off the ball and his weak header went wide.

O’Neill responded straight away by replacing Juninho with Stephen Pearson, much to the annoyance of the Brazilian World Cup winner.

Camara looked Celtic’s biggest threat but after forcing his way through the defence he fired into the side-netting with his team-mates waiting for the cut-back.

Hibernian threatened in the 73rd minute when O’Connor whipped in a dangerous cross which Balde cleared with Riordan breathing down his neck.

Pearson should have done better in the 80th minute when he was played through on goal but he fired high over the top as the champions were forced to settle for a point.