Bhoys bounce back to grab draw

Hibernian 2 Celtic 2:Battling Celtic came from two goals down to rescue a point against Hibernian in a pulsating Bank of Scotland Premier League clash at Easter Road.

Goals from Ivan Sproule and Kevin Thomson had given the home side what looked like an unassailable lead against the champions.

However, in a remarkable turnaround, two goals in four minutes from substitutes Evander Sno and Aiden McGeady, who had replaced Maciej Zurawski and Shaun Maloney respectively, drew the visitors level.

The energetic Edinburgh side drew first blood in the 12th minute when they took a deserved lead with their first real chance of the game.

With the Celtic defence stretched, defender Stephen McManus appeared to handle the ball when Hibs striker Abdessalam Benjelloun tried to go past him in the Hoops area.

However, the appeals from the home fans turned to cheers when Sproule quickly hammered a right-footed shot from 12 yards out past Artur Boruc and into the roof of the net.

Hibs were on top and, in the 20th minute, after Celtic defender Bobo Balde had brought down Scott Brown 30 yards from goal to earn a booking, Benjelloun sent in a free-kick which Boruc saved with ease.

The first Celtic corner of the game did not arrive until the 25th minute, but midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura's woeful effort, which hit the side-netting, summed up the visitors' poor start to the match.

The nervy Celtic defence remained fragile and Balde's attempt at tackling Benjelloun at the edge of his own area allowed the Hibs striker to get a shot on goal.

But, fortunately for the Parkhead side, the ball flew a couple of yards over the bar.

However, aided by Hibs' reluctance to simply clear their lines under pressure, Celtic came back into the game.

And, in the 36th minute, Easter Road keeper Zbigniew Malkowski had to rush smartly from his line to foil Kenny Miller.

Zurawski was substituted at half-time, with Sno coming on and Jiri Jarosik moving up to help Kenny Miller.

Celtic responded positively and had the Easter Road defence stretched, although Maloney went down in the Hibs area rather easily in a vain attempt to win a spot-kick.

On the hour mark, McGeady replaced the anonymous Maloney as Celtic boss Gordon Strachan tried once more to reinvigorate his side.

But, in the 64th minute, the visitors found themselves further behind after a wonderful solo goal by Thomson.

The Hibs skipper picked the ball up 30 yards from goal and headed straight towards goal.

The Hoops defence parted with little resistance and the midfielder was through with only Boruc to beat, and his toe-poke from 10 yards went past the Polish keeper.

But, in the 70th minute, Celtic were back in contention with a goal which changed the whole face of the match.

Miller reached the by-line on the left and his cut-back made it through a clutch of players before arriving at Sno, who steered it into the net from the edge of the penalty area.

Incredibly, four minutes later, Celtic were level when McGeady drove home from 18 yards as the Hibs defence backtracked.

Then, in a counter-attack, McGeady set Miller up but Malkowski brilliantly blocked the Scotland striker's drive at the expense of a corner.

Celtic went all out for the winner but, in injury time, Hibs substitute Stephen Glass, who had come on for Guillaume Beuzelin, blasted over the bar from close range.