Martin O’Neill admitted Celtic were their ‘own worst enemies’ as they toiled to defeat ten-man Hibs at Easter Road.
The visitors had an extra man from the 21st minute after Jamie McGrath was sent off but needed a 72nd-minute strike from Kelechi Iheanacho to eke out a 2-1 win that puts them behind table-toppers Hearts only on goal difference.
Daizen Maeda had broken the deadlock before Hibs captain Joe Newell scored a contentious equaliser on half-time after appearing to control the ball with his arm.
While O’Neill was thrilled with the character shown by his players to grind out the victory, he admitted they made life harder than it should have been.
He said: ‘It would have been lovely if we’d got a third goal. It gives you something. But overall, delighted to have won.
‘Just a nervy ending in a game that I think we might have been our own worst enemies.
Celtic boss Martin O’Neill acknowledges the travelling support after a narrow win over Hibs
Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates scoring the winner with 18 minutes left at Easter Road
Defender Alastair Johnston is substituted after setting up a goal in his first start since October
‘I thought we started the game strongly, spurned a couple of really good chances, then we get the goal.
‘Their man was sent off as well too, so I thought a few things went in our favour. I think we actually played better when they had 11 men than we did when they had 10.
‘Hibs showed last week they were down to nine men [against Hearts] and they fought so strongly. So I knew that was going to be difficult. The goal just before half-time changed mindsets of both teams.
‘Hibs having something to hold on to, us then having to go and try and score again. I didn’t think we had any real clear-cut chances in the second half.’
O’Neill insisted he doesn’t know who he wants to win in tomorrow’s clash between their title rivals Hearts and Rangers at Tynecastle, where a loss for Danny Rohl’s side would all but end their hopes of being champions.
‘What do I want for tomorrow [when Hearts face Rangers]? I genuinely don’t know. We’ve won today, so there’s a bit of relief for 24 hours.’
O’Neill hailed the impact of super sub Iheanacho after the Nigerian came off the bench to net a crucial late winner.
The front man has missed much of the campaign through injury, with the Celtic boss using him sparingly in recent weeks since his return as he works his way back to full fitness.
‘We had to win today,’ said O’Neill. ‘It was really as simple as that.
‘I was trying to find a way to win it. Iheanacho comes off the bench, scores again.
‘It seemed as if it took about five minutes before the ball came down to him. But he put it in. And he’s done that for the last number of weeks for us.
‘You know, he scores [the winner] at Dundee [in April], and essentially, it changes the game. He scored in extra time in the [Scottish Cup] semi-final. And he’s gone on from there.
‘When I came here, my first spell, he was injured.
‘Then the second one, I think Wilfried [Nancy] put him into the team. I think he injured himself in the League Cup final [against St Mirren].
‘And so, at this minute, he hasn’t played a great deal of football. He has been a super impact player. I’m sure he’s desperate to start games, but we’ll see.
‘There is the danger that you don’t give him enough time to get on the pitch, because you could spend 10 minutes on him not getting into the game. So, that’s something that we’re trying our best with. And so far, it’s worked out for us at the minute.’
There was more than a hint of controversy around Newell’s leveller, with the ball seemingly striking the Hibs captain on the arm before he found the net.
And O’Neill admitted he would have been a whole lot unhappier with the decision at the final whistle had his side gone on to drop vital points.
‘I have the little monitor to the side, which Gavin Strachan sort of controls there,’ he said. ‘So I’m probably listening to what he’s saying as much as anything else.
‘I think Gavin thought it was pretty contentious, the equalising goal.
‘Naturally, I’m pretty biased now. Without even seeing it, of course, I agree with him.
‘The truth is, I probably would have a different opinion and a different answer to you had we lost the game.’
Defender Alistair Johnston made his first start for the club since October following a long-term injury, and capped a fine display with an assist for the opener.
‘His overall performance, I thought, was really good,’ said O’Neill.
‘I think he has been missed, obviously, during the course of the season.
‘They tell me that Alistair is a proper player. And from the bits that I’ve seen in the training that we’ve done, and in these games, you can see that. He’s been a major player for the club.’
