I noted Celtic Park's rare moment of Rangers harmony not lasting long and chief's demeanour says it all

Martin O’Neill’s post-match demeanour said it all. The Celtic manager was flat. No twinkle in the eye, no trademark jocularity in his voice. These are testing times for the 73-year-old and all at this embattled club.

The Northern Irishman had just witnessed his team lose 2-1 to Hibs, who prevailed in the east end of Glasgow for the first time in 16 years. The result is another to file under the highly damaging category for Celtic, who finish the weekend six points behind Hearts. While they have a game in hand over the league leaders, time is running out.

Third-placed Celtic were also unable to capitalise on Rangers above them dropping points at Livingston with their 2-2 draw. Finishing second is far from a certainty for the champions, never mind first, especially with a gruelling run of four away fixtures across three competitions coming up in the next fortnight.

Celtic suffered a damaging defeat by Hibs at Parkhead. | SNS Group

Trips to Stuttgart, Govan twice and Aberdeen await. Celtic’s cloak of invincibility has long been on a shoogly peg and this first league defeat under O’Neill across two stints this season had an air of inevitability about it.

Celtic’s last three domestic victories all required stoppage-time goals. That sort of run can only go on for so long and there was no late salvo here. No, that was reserved for a spirited Hibs team that pounced upon the opportunity presented to them when Celtic were reduced to ten men on 74 minutes.

The score was 1-1 when VAR Grant Irvine advised referee Matthew MacDermid to take a look at an incident before a Celtic corner, where Auston Trusty yanked hard at Jamie McGrath’s arm. The force used was enough for the officials to deem it violent conduct and the American defender was dismissed. Once the corner was taken, a quick check took place for a potential penalty when Jack Iredale grappled with Liam Scales. The call again went in Hibs’ favour.

The rest of the game was played largely in the visitors’ half but they were comfortable. Given Celtic’s brittleness at the back, a chance was always going to come and it arrived on 88 minutes. Two substitutes combined. Ante Suto laid the ball off to Kai Andrews on the edge of the 18-yard box and he guided it low past Celtic keeper Kasper Schmeichel.

Rare moment of unity dissipates

Celtic Park quickly emptied as some fans lobbed abuse at the directors’ box, in particular chief executive Michael Nicholson. Half-an-hour earlier, the crowd had got right behind the team when they learned Livingston had taken a two-goal lead over Rangers. They roared for another Celtic goal and it was a rare moment of unity amidst a season of disharmony. It didn’t last.

The early stages of the game suggested Hibs were here to play. They drew 0-0 here earlier in the season with a determined defensive effort but this time they carried more threat. Their opener on 24 minutes was a lovely goal, borne out of some brave midfield work from Miguel Chaiwa to start the attack. The ball was worked out to Nicky Cadden on the left and his trademark gorgeous delivery was headed in by the opposite full-back Felix Passlack.

Celtic prodded away for the rest of the first half and Hibs, as is their flaw so often, conceded right at the end of a half. Kieran Tierney’s cross was as delicious as Cadden’s and Benjamin Nygren guided the ball home for his 18th of the season.

The hosts pushed for a second before they were handicapped numerically, but too much of the build-up play lacked in real zest. Hibs defended stoutly, with striker Tomas Cvancara well marshalled by centre-half Rocky Bushiri. Goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger didn’t have a big save to make.

At the other end, O’Neill had kept faith with Schmeichel after some errors in recent weeks. He wasn’t overworked either. A draw would have been a fair reflection on proceedings but Hibs pounced upon their moment at the end and Danny Galbraith’s winner in January 2010 has finally been usurped. Sitting fifth, they are five points behind Motherwell in fourth and head coach David Gray has set his sights on toppling the Steelmen in the race for Europe.

Celtic also have those above them in their crosshairs, albeit wobbly ones. O’Neill stated - albeit rather unconvincingly - after this defeat that Celtic are still there fighting. That much is true. This title battle still has more rounds to come. The problem is that the champions’ punches don’t have the same force as before.