SPL Saturday September 19th

Hibernian 2

Celtic 2

1:0 Balde 8 o.g.
1:1 Camara 33
2:1 Murphy 35
2:2 Hartson 44

Att: 13,500

MIB: Mike McCurry

Celtic:
Marshall Varga Balde Valgaeren Petrov Lennon Sutton Thompson Juninho Camara Hartson
subs
Agathe for Sutton 59
Pearson for Juninho 71

A pulsating first half in a great game for the neutrals -if there are any left out there.

Still licking the wounds of the Larsson reprise at Parkhead on Tuesday night, Celtic looked muddled and the Sieve looked as composed as a rotting corpse. It was no surprise that under a whirlwind onslaught from Hibs' young blades that the cut and thrust of the game proved too much for Bobo. With no danger looming from a Whitaker cross, Balde lamely stuck out a leg and sent the ball over Marshall into the net.

It may have been FIFA World Fair Play Day , but as far as Bobo was concerned this was International Charity Give Away Day.

The Celtic equaliser, courtesy of Camara, was shrouded in controversy. Despite a flag up for offside against the excellent Juninho, MIB Mike McCurry amazingly spotted the foot of Hibs' Beuzelin help deliver the ball to the Brazilian. The diminutive South American, looked chilled out while the Hibees' defence froze, leaving Camara to coolly slot the ball home.

Celtic, however, were far from frost-free. More sloppy play from Sutton and Petrov allowed Murphy to drive in and put Hibs ahead.

Celtic's response was to rally before half time, with Thompson and Juninho combining in a sublime move that gave Hartson a tap in to level on the stroke of half time.

The second half was all huff and puff, with both sides squandering chances. Pearson , in particular, missing a killer chance near the death.

While this was two points dropped - basically due to bad defending - the legacy of the Barca game overshadowed the match. Celtic will have to dust down the cobwebs of Europe a bit better than this if they are to maintain form in the league and not slip up against the Orcs.