Hibs ratings and report from Celtic defeat as Marink Reedijk slips to third straight defeat as manager

A narrow defeat, a hard-fought contest, brutal wind speeds and a centre-half drafted into play as the new Hibs No. 9 in emergency circumstances. If Marink Reedijk’s men can hardly claim to have turned a corner after a third successive loss under the new manager, they at least provided the Easter Road crowd with some entertainment in today’s 2-1 reversal against Celtic.

Ahead after two minutes thanks to Owen Elding, dragged back to 1-1 before five minutes had elapsed courtesy of an own goal, Hibs again contributed to their own downfall by gifting Celtic possession to score their go-ahead goal late in the first half. And Reedijk certainly had to improvise on a day when he lost top scorer Martin Boyle from the starting XI before kick-off, the manager pushing Grant Hanley up top for the closing eight minutes plus injury time.

That Hibs were applauded off the park at full-time says something about a changing mood among the supporter base. But Reedijk is now the first Hibs boss since Pat Fenlon to lose his first three games – and his team remain rooted to the foot of the Scottish Premiership, where you get no points for effort.

Officially the toughest opponents on the SPFL card, this game against Celtic did provide an opportunity of sorts for Hibs. If ever there was a chance for this group of players to show that the new gaffer’s plan could work in extreme circumstances, this was it.

Hibs had a decent record against Celtic, heading into this one, having beaten them on their own turf last season – and, in recent years at least, avoided the sort of heavy thumpings dished out to other challengers. The bar had been set.

The return of Jamie McGrath to the starting XI was an obvious bonus, with Azeem Abdulai the man to make way. No surprises there, at least. But there was a minor shock of sorts when Joe Newell was added to the line-up in place of Boyle, who reported for duty but called off ill about 45 minutes before kick-off.

Newell was not given the captain’s armband despite his promotion to the team, with Felix Passlack remaining as skipper. But the midfielder did play an influential role in Hibs taking the lead, first winning a header in midfield that indirectly led to a free-kick, then taking the set-piece almost instantly, playing Elding into the left side of the box.

The young Irishman’s low left-footed finish was impressive. And it all came from Newell’s quick thinking.

For the first time under Reedijk, with the wind at their backs and hope swelling in the hearts of supporters, Hibs had a lead. Something to hang onto. For a little under three minutes, as it turned out, Jason Kerr getting the final touch on a corner kick that didn’t appear to be heading particularly close to any Celtic player.

Raphael Sallinger, when he wasn’t having to fight to keep the ball still for goal kicks, pulled off a stunning point-blank stop from Kasper Hogh as Celtic looked to capitalise quickly on their equaliser. But, in truth, both teams struggled to create much in the face of gusting winds that either held the ball up or carried it miles out of play, depending on the mood of the storm.

If anything, Hibs looked slightly the more dangerous team heading towards the break, with Elding having a shot blocked after a superb Felix Passlack interception and driving run, just a minute before a heavy touch denied Josh Mulligan the chance to drive clean through the heart of the Celtic defence and test the keeper. Elding looked the sharpest threat on the park, for sure.

Just three minutes before half-time, a Jason Kerr free-kick from deep inside his own half seemed to bamboozle the Celtic defence, Thibault Klidje getting in with a good touch but dinking the ball over the bar. Within seconds, of course, Hibs had fallen behind, Camilo Duran capitalising on indecision at the edge of the box – fatal on a day when smashing the ball into the stratosphere was never a bad idea for defenders - to beat Sallinger with a screamer.

Playing into the wind in the second half seemed to help Hibs, in many ways, as they were able to hit channel balls and capitalise on Celtic’s lack of certainty at the back. Newell having a shot blocked after a floated free-kick landed at his feet inside the box was a case in point.

The decision to put Hanley on up front for the closing 10 minutes or so, including injury time, looked like it might be an inspired move from Reedijk. If nothing else, it got the home fans excited.

And the bit man’s presence certainly caused chaos in the Celtic defence; had Josh Mulligan’s left-footed shot from all of 15 yards not been blocked on the line, with Hanley drawing defenders like a magnet, the move would have been universally hailed as a master stroke. The same goes for substitute Rabbi Matondo’s right-footed shot just wide from the edge of the box.

Ifs and buts, maybes and possibilities. It’s become a recurring theme for Hibs. One that leaves them in very real danger at the wrong end of the table.

Here’s now Hibs rated: