Hibernian put brake on leaders

Scottish Premier League/Hibernian - 2 Celtic - 2: Hibernian injected some much-needed life into the Scottish Premier League title race by ending the champions' 100 per cent record with a draw at Easter Road yesterday.

After their Champions League defeat to Barcelona in midweek, Celtic were given another tough test by Tony Mowbray's much-improved youngsters.

Martin O'Neill's men twice came from behind with goals from Henri Camara and John Hartson after a Bobo Balde own goal and a David Murphy strike had put Hibernian ahead.

Celtic had been threatening to have the title secured by Christmas as they were seven points clear of Rangers at the start of play. But Hibernian showed the rest of Scotland the Glasgow giants were not untouchable on the domestic front and that there were two decent teams in Edinburgh.

The home side, however, found themselves under pressure straight away and Celtic should have been ahead after just two minutes. Hartson was allowed to get behind the Hibernian defence and reach Alan Thompson's free-kick but he headed straight at Simon Brown from just six yards.

Celtic continued to dominate with Brown saving two headers from Hartson in quick succession.

But the game suddenly swung the way of the Edinburgh side and Celtic's teenage goalkeeper David Marshall was picking the ball out of his net in the ninth minute.

Steven Whittaker swung a hopeful cross into the area and the ball flew off the foot of Balde and looped into the top corner of the net.

But the jubilation of the home crowd was dampened in the 10th minute with the sight of Brown being stretchered off in some distress, his left leg strapped up after a tackle from Thompson.

Celtic were in all sorts of trouble as Garry O'Connor headed David Murphy's cross just past the far post.

Hartson was a relieved man in the 23rd minute when Stephen Glass's corner hit him and moved menacingly towards goal but Marshall was alert and saved low to his right post.

Confusion reigned as Celtic clawed themselves back on level terms in the 33rd minute against the run of play.

The linesman flagged for offside as Juninho ran onto Guillaume Beuzelin's slack back-pass and he centred for Camara to power the ball past Brown from eight yards.

Referee Mike McCurry spoke to the linesman for over three minutes before pointing to the centre spot, sparking belated celebrations from the visitors.

But that joy was short-lived as Murphy sprinted through the Celtic defence before coolly slotting the ball past Marshall and into the far corner of the net.

Celtic levelled on the stroke of half-time when Juninho crossed from the left and Hartson steered the ball home from four yards.

Stanislav Varga squandered a glorious chance to put the champions ahead in the 70th minute when his weak header went wide.

HIBERNIAN: Simon Brown, Whittaker, Caldwell, Murray, Murphy, Scott Brown (Dobbie 14), Beuzelin, Shiels (Shields 85), Glass, O'Connor, Riordan, Dobbie (Fletcher 82).

CELTIC: Marshall, Balde, Varga, Valgaeren, Petrov, Lennon, Juninho Paulista (Pearson 71), Thompson, Sutton (Agathe 59), Hartson, Camara.

Referee: M McCurry (Scotland).