FOLLOW THE IDAH
Irish ace Adam spot on with penalty double
IT was the signing that had Celtic fans shrugging their shoulders on deadline day.
But Adam Idah might just have justified his loan switch in one fell swoop – and got his gaffer right off the hook.
Brendan Rodgers has finally experienced victory at Easter Road at the fifth attempt.
But it took a couple of penalties from the borrowed Norwich City hit man–one in the first 10 minutes and the other with just three to go – to secure all three points and restore the Hoops’ lead at the top of the Premiership.
Yet there was no sugar- coating another display that should have alarm bells ringing at Parkhead.
And it was brutal on Hibs as Nick Montgomery looked set for a priceless point to ease some of the heat on him after the 3- 0 St Mirren stuffing.
Dylan Levitt’ s second-half l eveller had Celtic in a proper panic and it took a close look at VAR to spot Joe Newell’s trip on Kyogo Furuhashi to settle it.
But Hibs should take some heart. In contrast, Celtic can’t keep living dangerously as this.
The visitors needed a smart start – and they got one.
The penalty might have been up for debate but by the letter of the law referee Nick Walsh wasn’t left with much wriggle room.
Nectarios Triantis missed the ball and accidentally stuck the head on Alistair Johnston instead.
It wasn’t intentional but it was arguably dangerous, with t he Hoops defender left poleaxed and forced to depart the scene on a stretcher.
Idah was made to wait but the Irish hitman then showed a few of his team- mates how to score from the spot with an emphatic finish. The visitors got away with one midway through the opening half when Jordan Obita’s whipped low cross caused mayhem as the ball broke to Elie Youan.
The attacker looked set to burst the net but Li am Scales got just enough of his body in the way to divert over the top.
For all Celtic were hogging th e ball, def ensive vulnerability never seemed far away. And Hibs sensed it too – as they stuck back on the hour.
Newell curled the ball over, Will Fish got the header back to the end of the box and Levitt brilliantly steered into the bottom corner of the net.
Substitute Myziane Maolida nearly struck again seconds l at er when his overhead kick was blocked.
It was all a bit chaotic with Celtic pushing but wide open at the other end.
The champions almost got punished when Lewis Miller charged in at the back post before dragging wide of the target.
But right at the death there was more drama to get Celtic out of jail.