O’Neill hopes for Hearts-Rangers draw as 'edgy' Celtic sneak past Hibs to continue title fight  

Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho scored the decisive goal in the 72nd minute after the Hibees – who had Jamie McGrath sent off – cancelled out Daizen Maeda’s 41st minute opener when Joe Newell scored.

ALL SMILES: Celtic's Callum McGregor (centre) applauds the fans following the William Hill Premiership match at Easter Road, Edinburgh. Picture date: Sunday May 3, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Martin O’Neill believes a draw between William Hill Premiership title rivals Hearts and Rangers would be the best result for Celtic after they kept themselves firmly in the three-horse race with a “very edgy” 2-1 victory away to 10-man Hibernian.

Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho scored the decisive goal in the 72nd minute after the Hibees – who had Jamie McGrath sent off in the 20th minute – cancelled out Daizen Maeda’s 41st minute opener when Joe Newell notched in first-half stoppage time.

The Hoops moved level on points with the table-topping Jambos – with an inferior goal difference – and four ahead of third-placed Gers. Those two teams play their game in hand against each other at Tynecastle on Monday evening – and both still have to visit Celtic Park.

“I will be watching it, I want to see what it’s like,” O’Neill said, musing over what outcome he would like to see in Edinburgh. “Even if we won the rest of the games, we’re not guaranteed to win the league, because if Hearts won all their games, they’ve got a better goal difference than us.

“Today, with Hibs down to 10 men, had we maybe got a second goal before they scored, then it might become a different issue (in terms of goal difference), but as it turns out, it was very edgy towards the end.

“So I genuinely don’t know. Maybe a draw. With a draw, at least people drop points.” O’Neill was philosophical about the contentious award of Hibs’ equaliser after the ball appeared to come off Newell’s arm before he scored, but said “I probably would have a different answer had we lost the game”.

The manager, who hailed “super impact player” Iheanacho, was frustrated that Celtic allowed themselves to be pushed right to the end despite playing 70 minutes against 10 men.

“We had to win today, it’s as simple as that,” he said. “I think we played better when they had 11 men than we did when they had 10. We got the second goal and then Hibs had nothing to lose.

“It would have been lovely if we’d got a third goal, but overall I’m delighted to have won. Just a nervy ending to a game that I think we might have been our own worst enemies in.” Hibs boss David Gray lamented the debilitating impact of having a player sent off in the opening 20 minutes for the third game running.

McGrath – dismissed for a reckless lunge on Alistair Johnston – was the fourth Hibs player to be shown a red card in the last three games as the Hibees hopes of reeling in fourth-placed Motherwell faded with a third straight loss.

“A lot of deja vu in terms of going down to 10 men again,” said Gray. “I thought Celtic started brightly, they played with real intensity, and then I can’t defend the decision for the red card.

“I don’t think there’s malice in it. It’s not intentional, but it’s a definite dangerous tackle, a definite red card.

“Again, I can’t criticise the players that remained on the pitch, because they gave absolutely everything.”