The “Hampden Roar” may be legendary, but the silence at Celtic Park on Sunday was deafening. On a pivotal day in this remarkable SPFL season, Hibernian secured their first win at Parkhead since 2010, leaving Martin O’Neill’s title hopes hanging by a thread.
Coming just three days after a bruising 4-1 European defeat to Stuttgart, the Hoops looked weary and vulnerable. Despite a spirited second-half push, a moment of madness from Auston Trusty and a late Kai Andrews winner ensured Hibs walked away with a seismic 2-1 victory.
Passlack Punishes Sluggish Start
Celtic’s habit of starting slowly finally caught up with them. In the 24th minute, Felix Passlack rose to meet a superb Nicky Cadden cross, heading home his first goal for the Hibees. It marked the fourth time in five games that O’Neill’s side have conceded the opening goal.
The home side did find an equaliser before the break when the prolific Benjamin Nygren nodded in his 18th of the campaign. With news filtering through that Rangers were trailing at Livingston, the Parkhead crowd found their voice, scenting an opportunity to reclaim ground in the title race.
VAR Drama and Red Card Chaos
The momentum shifted permanently on the hour mark. Following a VAR review, defender Auston Trusty was shown a straight red card for lashing out at Jamie McGrath. Reduced to ten men and lacking defensive stability, Celtic began to creak.
With just minutes remaining, Ante Suto turned provider for Kai Andrews, who buried a sensational strike to seal Hibs’ first East End win in 23 attempts. The result leaves Celtic in third place, six points behind leaders Hearts and two behind Rangers.
“A Setback, That’s All” – O’Neill Defiant
Despite the result and the growing unrest in the stands, Martin O’Neill remained bullish after his first domestic defeat since returning to the dugout.
“It’s a setback, that’s all it is. We’re still in the race,” O’Neill told the media. “I thought we were absolutely terrific. The players put heart and soul into the game. No complaints on that side whatsoever.”
Hibs boss David Gray was understandably jubilant: “It’s been a long time coming. It shows we are capable if we go toe-to-toe, but it takes every man to be at their very best.”
🗣️ THE TITLE RACE: IS THE DREAM OVER FOR CELTIC?
With the Old Firm derby at Ibrox looming next Sunday, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
- Can Celtic recover from a 6-point gap with a game in hand?
- Was Auston Trusty’s red card the turning point for the season?
- Are Hearts now the genuine favourites for the title?
Have your say in the comments below! 👇🏴
Co-Founder of Fitba Focus and MMA UK. A lifelong Rangers fan and former player, he combines over a decade of sports media experience with a deep-seated passion for the Scottish game. From the Ibrox stands to the lower-league terraces, Frankie is dedicated to providing honest, fan-led analysis of the full Scottish pyramid.
