Match ends, Hibernian 2, Celtic 1.
Celtic missed the chance to seal the Premiership title after defeat by a high-tempo, assertive Hibernian side.
They went into the game needing to win to secure their seventh consecutive title, but will have to wait to be confirmed champions.
Jamie Maclaren opened the scoring for Hibs in the first half and Vykintas Slivka headed in after the break.
Kristoffer Ajer cleared off Celtic's goal-line before Odsonne Edouard scored a late consolation.
The victory was Hibs' first over Celtic since December 2012, and the third time that Brendan Rodgers' side have lost in the league this season.
The visitors were overwhelmed at Easter Road, as the Hibs players swarmed all over the pitch to take command.
Everything before the game screamed "party", but from the second the match got under way it was clear Hibs had very different ideas.
Neil Lennon's side were everything that Rangers failed to be against the champions at Hampden in the Scottish Cup semi-final last weekend. They were full of fight. They were full of belief and they took the game to their visitors in a thoroughly entertaining game in the Leith sunshine.
Celtic by no means had an off day. Tom Rogic and Leigh Griffiths both had early efforts but Ofir Marciano in the Hibs goal, like the rest of his team-mates, looked very much in the mood and denied them.
Once again, the Hibs midfield was critical to all that was good about the home side. Central to that, like so often this season, was John McGinn.
Midway through the first half, he fought hard and won the ball, then fed it to Lewis Stevenson. The full-back scampered down the left before sweeping an exquisite delivery across the face of the goal for Maclaren to convert from close range. It was no more than the home side deserved and Celtic were completely rocked back on their heels.
Hibernian continued to dominate - with Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon having to move smartly to prevent Dedryck Boyata scoring an own goal then clutching a Danny Swanson volley - but after the interval Rodgers replaced midfielder Olivier Ntcham with winger Scott Sinclair, and the champions elect started to find more space.
Once again, Marciano was called into action and once again it was Rogic with the shot. The Australian international should have scored from eight yards, but the Hibs No 1 spread himself wide to block.
After weathering some Celtic pressure, though, the home side started to fight back and reassert their dominance.
Substitute Brandon Barker skipped and jinked his way through the Celtic midfield but his shot flew just wide. Minutes later, Maclaren did similar as Hibs once again poured forward in numbers. It was utterly enthralling.
Celtic tried everything as the prospect of a title party started to slip away, but as they pushed forward Hibs grabbed their second and effectively secured the win.
Winger Martin Boyle pushed the ball forward on the right and Florian Kamberi gathered, crossed and there was substitute Slivka to head home. It was another thing of beauty.
Edouard gave the visitors some hope with a consolation goal with three minutes remaining but despite a nervy finish, it was never going to be enough.
Celtic's title celebrations will have to wait and a mouth-watering Old Firm match awaits next weekend.
But at Easter Road it was all about a Hibs side who are pushing hard for second place. If they perform in the remainder of their games like they did in this one, Aberdeen and Rangers should be very concerned.
Line-ups
Hibernian
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Marciano
- 3Whittaker
- 25Ambrose
- 4Hanlon
- 16Stevenson
- 17Boyle
- 10McGeouch
- 7McGinnBooked at 76mins
- 11SwansonSubstituted forBarkerat 64'minutes
- 19MaclarenSubstituted forSlivkaat 73'minutes
- 22KamberiBooked at 81mins
Substitutes
- 8Slivka
- 20Barker
- 31Bell
- 33Murray
- 36Porteous
- 46Stirling
- 53Allan
Celtic
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Gordon
- 4Hendry
- 35Ajer
- 20Boyata
- 63TierneyBooked at 11mins
- 8BrownBooked at 71mins
- 21NtchamSubstituted forSinclairat 45'minutes
- 49ForrestSubstituted forRobertsat 70'minutes
- 18Rogic
- 42McGregor
- 9GriffithsSubstituted forEdouardat 65'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Simunovic
- 7Roberts
- 11Sinclair
- 22Edouard
- 29Bain
- 67Musonda
- 88Kouassi
- Referee:
- Steven McLean
- Attendance:
- 19,886
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home44%
- Away56%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away4
- Corners
- Home6
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Hibernian 2, Celtic 1.
Post update
Foul by Brandon Barker (Hibernian).
Post update
Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt missed. Florian Kamberi (Hibernian) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is high and wide to the left.
Post update
John McGinn (Hibernian) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic).
Goal!
Goal! Hibernian 2, Celtic 1. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
Post update
Corner, Hibernian. Conceded by Kristoffer Ajer.
Post update
Florian Kamberi (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jack Hendry (Celtic).
Booking
Florian Kamberi (Hibernian) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Florian Kamberi (Hibernian).
Post update
Jack Hendry (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Goal!
Goal! Hibernian 2, Celtic 0. Vykintas Slivka (Hibernian) header from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Florian Kamberi following a fast break.
Booking
John McGinn (Hibernian) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by John McGinn (Hibernian).
Post update
Foul by Steven Whittaker (Hibernian).
Post update
Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Comments
Join the conversation
After all the nonsense about the fixtures, next week’s Celtic Rangers match is a title decider after all. The phrases ‘piss up’ and ‘brewery’ come to mind.
GGTTH
I’m not a Hibs fan but know their history and how Celtic were subsequently formed.
The actual fact is none of them have ever actually seen a Scottish game ever , so are utterly clueless as to the standard of our game.
A one word message to them.
Iceland.
Hibs gave them plenty problems all game and deservedly won.
Means that Hibs increase their chances of finishing ahead of Rangers and that Celtic can win the title by beating Rangers at home next weekend...
Irony ain't lost on that guy. As a Scotsmen I would be embarrassed if another fellow Scots posted a comment like that.
What a bunch of wet mummies boys.