Celtic Fail to Secure Victory Despite Dominance, Sparks Fan Protests

The reigning champions, Celtic, missed key scoring opportunities, hit the crossbar multiple times, and had a goal disallowed for offside, leaving them two points behind Hearts in the Premiership standings. Despite their efforts, Celtic faced a resilient Hibs side mainly focused on organized defending, which frustrated Celtic’s attacking flow.

Manager Brendan Rodgers is now discussing football matters more openly, with recent internal accusations and unrest calming somewhat. However, the squad still shows signs of imbalance and lacks depth in critical positions, contributing to subpar performances and the ongoing frustration among supporters.

During the match, Kelechi Iheanacho, who played up front after an impressive Europa League appearance earlier in the week, hit the bar and was offside when he later scored. He was subsequently replaced by Benjamin Nygren as Celtic struggled to find the winner. Young striker Johnny Kenny was thrown into the match in a makeshift attack, showcasing squad deficiencies.

In the final moments, a header from Liam Scales was saved by Hibs goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger, but Celtic’s inability to convert chances kept the match goalless. As the game progressed, supporter chants demanding a change in club leadership grew louder, culminating in silent protests in the North Curve section lasting 12 minutes. Protest banners criticized the club’s board, including major shareholder Dermot Desmond.

The protest was largely peaceful, with spectators permitted to show support without singing, though away fans loudly questioned if the stadium was a “library.” The demonstration coincided with Celtic’s ongoing frustration over transfer window failures and uncertainty about the club’s future direction.

Looking ahead, Celtic faces a challenging fixture at Tynecastle next month and plans a 29-minute silence against Sporting Braga in the Europa League. Meanwhile, Hibs earned an important point before the upcoming Edinburgh derby, though their cautious approach limited their attacking threats.