Sunshine on Leith for a Gloomy Game

The big news in the starting line up for this game was the omission of Greek Striker Giakoumakis who had an illness, which is a shame after his recent form and hat trick heroics of last weekend. In would come Maeda to lead the attack with Abada and Jota in the wide areas.

The sun was streaming down on the Easter Road turf for this early kick off and the early signs were good when Abada picked up the ball on the right and found the overlapping Juranovic. The Croatian fired in a low cross to the feet of Rogic in the box but the the playmaker couldn't find the touch in a busy area to apply a finish, and was crowded out.

Ten minutes in and Hibs had a good break down the left with a forward ball to Nisbett. The big striker controlled and got a shot/cross into the danger area but Taylor blocked it and Carter Vickers cleared.

Abada missed by inches when Macey was pacey and raced out of his goal to try and thwart the little winger after a great diagonal ball from Jota. The keeper was slightly stranded but Abada steered it narrowly wide of the upright.

An Innocuous tackle on Nisbett by Starfelt saw the Scotland striker replaced on 23 minutes and the Swede picked up a booking for the challenge. Christion Doidge was his replacement in the striking role.

Good pressure on the right for a few minutes culminated when Juranovic found Hatate and the Japanese midfielder whipped in an early cross that looked tempting but it was esaliy taken by Macey in goal.

The pressure continued and Abada came close after good work from Jota but the little winger was inches away from connecting with the cross.

Porteous fouled Carter Vickers about 25 yards out and the free kick was hit by Juranovic. The wall did it's job and although it found it's way goalward, the deflection took all the pace out of the shot and Macey was able to gather on the second attempt.

Macey thwarted Maeda after the hitman was played in by Abada . The goalie made a a good interception with a leg to steer the ball away for a corner when it looked like Maeda may have just been getting round him for an attempt.

Celtic were really beginning to build a lot of pressure after a good start from the home team as the first half started to draw to an end. Could the pressure be turned into a goal?

A cynical foul by Stevenson on Abada gave a chance to hit a free kick before the end of the half. Juranovic hit it towards goal but it was touched over by Macey in the last action of the first 45.

Half Time : Hibernian 0 Celtic 0

Porteous nearly scored an own goal early in the second half when he deflected cross ball close to his own goal, but it went narrowly wide for a corner to Celtic.

Hibs were the first to get a shot on goal. Juranovic did well to close down Jasper who looked to be on a break with a good through ball. Hibs recycled well and Jasper hit a shot that looked like it may go in but was blocked by Christian Doidge.

Early second half lethargy in the pace of the game saw an early change with Rogic coming, to be replaced by Matt O'Riley. Celtic were immediately on the front foot and Callum McGregor had a long rage effort deflected off the back of Hatate and away to safety.

Mueller, fresh on to the pitch, fouled Jota on the left wing area. O'Riley's free kick was swung in but Kevin Clancy saw some infringement by Taylor in the box and the set play came to nothing.

Porteous was yellow carded for a foul on Abada who was bearing down on the Hibernian defence after a great touch from O'Riley set him on the attack. O'Riley hit the free kick through the wall but it was a tame effort that Macey easily accepted.

Stevenson was replaced by former Celt Scott Allan with 15 minutes of regulation time remaining. Celtic nearly took the lead when Taylor flashed a cross into the path of Abada. The little Israeli hit forward but it passed by Maeda who had strayed offside in front of the goalkeeper before O'Riley could try and convert the rebound.

Doig created a chance out of nothing by dribbling beautifully down the left wing and into the box before unleashing a shot that hit the side netting. A let off for sure, after a great run.

Bashiri was booked with 7 minutes remaining for a foul on Jota. Jota got a good ball in after beating Cadden on the left but Porteous cleared for a corner. It looked like the game might be heading to a draw as Celtic gave away a crazy corner after trying to play a free kick in the corner, and Hart allowed it to run over the line.

Six minutes of stoppage time would await at the end of this game for one of the sides to try and find a winner. With three minutes of injury time gone Celtic came close with a tempting ball in from the right that just evaded all the heads in the middle.

The last action of the game would come from a corner floated in invitingly. It was cleared to Hatate and his shot from 18 yards was blocked and the break of the ball couldn't be controlled for a second effort to come in. It ended in a stalemate and to be fair, neither team did enough to deserve a victory in the tie.

Celtic go four points clear of Newco Rangers , but the Ibrox side will face off with Motherwell later today with a chance to bring the deficit down to a single point in the title race.

Full Time : Hibernian 0 Celtic 0