GREAT ESCAPE
Rodgers concedes Hibs gave Celtic biggest scare of unbeaten run as McGregor intervenes to save the day
BRENDAN RODGERS admitted that Hibernian served Celtic with the greatest fright of their unbeaten run yesterday after Callum McGregor’s double denied ex-Parkhead manager Neil Lennon a historic victory.
The domestic streak of success survived to a 58th match for Rodgers, following a 2-2 Celtic Park draw that also featured two sensational strikes from Scotland midfielder John McGinn.
McGregor’s equaliser on 80 minutes kept Celtic top of the Ladbrokes Premiership on goal difference from Aberdeen, who were 3-0 winners over St Johnstone.
That prompted the Parkhead manager to hail the point ‘a great result’ on the back of a testing run of away games on three different fronts at Dundee, Rangers and Anderlecht.
‘That’s the toughest test we’ve had domestically, there’s no question about that,’ said Rodgers. ‘So big credit to the Celtic players.
‘I thought that mentality and that strength of character really came through in the end to keep going and get that result.
‘We’ve played so many games, difficult games with travel and exertion. Then played against a Hibs team who were excellent, with that energy, pace in good areas, strength and power and a good week to prepare.
‘That shows how tough it is to go 58 games unbeaten. You can lose those types of games. We really had to dig deep and find a way to get a result.
‘Callum had two great finishes today, so I’m pleased with him, but the whole spirit of the team was very strong.’
Celtic believed they were robbed of the opportunity to convert a late winner. Referee Willie Collum denied the champions a penalty when Scott Sinclair was wrestled by Efe Ambrose before a Paul Hanlon handball.
‘We should have had a penalty, it looks clear,’ said Rodgers. ‘You work so hard to get back in the game. The player has his arms up and makes a clear block. Willie is only six yards away.
‘We needed a bit of something to go for us
but it wasn’t to be. I’m so pleased with that resilience.’
Rodgers praised Craig Gordon for a world-class stop on 65 minutes when he blocked Steven Whittaker’s tap-in from two yards out.
‘That save was unbelievable,’ said Rodgers. ‘He’s already gone for the first one and somehow he stays in the air. I spoke to Steven Whittaker, he looks as if he’s guided it in but that’s an absolutely top-drawer save.
‘It was so important. Craig celebrated it himself and there were 59,000 with him as well. It was remarkable and testament to his agility and concentration.’
Gordon had no answer to McGinn’s two goals from 20 yards out in the 53rd and 77th minutes, leading to a day of mixed emotions for the 22-year-old Hibs star.
‘We’re chuffed we’ve given such a good account of ourselves but, at the same time, we’ve shot ourselves in the foot a little bit,’ said McGinn.
‘Celtic have got that quality to muster a goal out of nothing and they managed to do that.
‘If Brendan Rodgers said that’s the toughest test they’ve had domestically then that’s a big compliment.
‘I don’t think we believed in ourselves in the first half as much as we did in the second half but we scored a couple of goals.’
McGinn shot himself right into the frame to start for Scotland — who are missing Scott Brown and Stuart Armstrong — against Slovakia on Thursday with his superb display.
‘It was in the back of my mind,’ he admitted. ‘There have been two big losses for us but we’ve got plenty of cover in the squad.
‘All I’ve got to do now is train well this week and put myself in the manager’s thoughts. I feel ready for it, if called upon.
‘The Scotland manager (Gordon Strachan) knows what I can do. I think he trusts me and I believe in myself, as well.
‘The number of times I’ve been there, I’ve managed to equip myself well, so it’s up to me to try to put myself in contention.’
For McGinn to excel at Celtic Park where his granddad Jack was club chairman for many years proved an emotion occasion.
And he could boast to brother Stephen, who scored on two separate occasions for St Mirren at Parkhead.
‘Coming here to play was a bit surreal at first, I had a season ticket for 15 years,’ he said. ‘It’s different when you’re playing against them because that goes to the back of your head as a player.
‘I just try to focus on doing a job for Hibs, a brilliant club that I love playing for and we had a great support up in the corner.
‘It’s good to match my brother’s two goals here — he’s always in my ear winding me up about that.
‘So it’s a special day. It would have just have been much more special had we won the game.
‘My Grandpa still comes to the games here and my mum was also over in the corner. My dad missed out because he went to Partick’s game to see my brother Paul.’
Lennon was proud of the way in which Hibs delivered their shock to the Celtic system.
‘I didn’t want to come here and park the bus and I didn’t want to come here and be gallant losers,’ said Lennon. ‘It’s always good to play Celtic after Champions League from my own experience.
‘Psychologically, they’ve had massive games of late. It can mentally and physically tire you, so we tried to take advantage of that and the players played marvellous football.’