The champions had to battle past 10-men Hibs but put themselves in the mix for a thrilling finale
16:01, 03 May 2026Updated 17:47, 03 May 2026
Celtic’s Alistair Johnston celebrates as Daizen Maeda scores to make it 1-0
VILIJAMI SINISALO: Allowed to play as a sweeper keeper for much of his afternoon in Leith but came up short for the equaliser. He flapped at it before Joe Newell’s controversial strike hit the net. The Finland international tried to play at speed with the man advantage and was unexpectedly drawn back into proceedings as Hibs piled it on late. 6
ALISTAIR JOHNSTON: A transformative player who makes Celtic better when he is on the pitch. His insistence to mix his game up by going wide and then flooding the midfield had a telling impact. Johnston‘s assist for the opener was his rewards for a lung-bursting shift down the right. The Canada international rightly earned his breather and his form bodes well for the final push. 8
AUSTON TRUSTY: You know Celtic are dominant when the big American is having pot shots from the edge of the box. Owen Elding is a tireless runner but he didn’t get much out of Trusty and company. A threat in the opposition box, he will have been as frustrated as anyone with the inconsistent delivery on a day when set pieces weren’t in short supply. 6
LIAM SCALES: He collapsed with relief at the final whistle and the Irishman put his body on the line. Scales appeared to be actively speeding up his passing and that chimed with the visitors’ early intent. He had to defend well in the closing stages. 6
KIERAN TIERNEY: He wasn’t nearly the force Johnston was on the right but there were no major errors from the Scotland international. Sebastian Tounekti, for all his limitations, appears a style fit for the 28-year-old down the left, in the fact he likes to cut inside. But Tierney was subdued for long spells, despite a couple of neat crosses, before coming alive in the final exchanges. 7
ARNE ENGELS: The Belgian’s delivery is normally better than it was at Easter Road. His energy became a non-factor with the 10 men camped in their own half, and he wasn’t able to offer the goal threat which Martin O’Neill believes he possesses.
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill raises his fist to the Celtic fans at full-time
Too many passes were haywire and attempts at intricate final balls came up short but he finished with a flurry. 6
CALLUM MCGREGOR: The skipper’s game went up a level at Easter Road. He was tidy and tigerish in the tackle. McGregor was also willing to spin in behind and go beyond the ball, a trait which appears to coincide nicely with the return of Alistair Johnston to the starting XI. 7
BENJAMIN NYGREN: The Swede’s 20 goals are the obvious highlight but this was a game where he missed the chance to both add to his tally and stamp his authority on the contest. He finds a home in the half spaces, however, there were countless examples where he was dithering rather than destructive when it mattered most. He was replaced by Anthony Ralston in the closing exchanges. 6
YANG: Perhaps not the perfect foil for Johnston in the way Nicolas Kuhn was, however, the South Korean was more than a willing runner in-behind a wearied Hibs side. The 23-year-old adds a natural balance when he plays on the right wing and was dangerous during the first half. But when the extra sprinkling of quality was needed, he came up short. Yang remains an important player in the run-in. 6
DAIZEN MAEDA: An absolute livewire from start to finish. If he could consistently finish his chances then his price tag would appear limitless. But there’s no need to focus on the faults, the 28-year-old has revived his game and his impact in the final third offers a genuine threat to Premiership rivals. He looked on fire through the middle and near-unstoppable when moved into the left wing. 8
SEBASTIAN TOUNEKTI: The Tunisia international wasn’t perfect on arrival but at least he was daring. The 23-year-old appears bereft of confidence as he relies on the safe ball time after time. He was hooked for James Forrest in the 63rd minute, but his departure could have come long before it happened. The man who once appeared to be doing too much has been reduced to a passenger role. Worrying for both the short and long term. 5
LUKE MCCOWAN (Johnston, 64): The former Dundee man was visible and his probing passes forced Hibs into retreat. The former Dundee man showed a cool head in the closing stages to help run the clock down. 4
JAMES FORREST: (Tounekti, 64): He replaced Touenekti, forced Yang to flip wings and provided a consistent presence down the right for the final stages. 4
KELECHI IHEANCHO: (Yang, 70): His finish was ice cool and summed-up his perfect role in this team. A specialist made for the biggest moments. They call it a closer in baseball and that’s what the Nigeria international is. Potentially a season-defining goal. 7
ANTHONY RALSTON: (Nygren, 77): Bar a hairy backpass for Sinisalo, the Celtic utility man didn’t put a foot wrong. 4