Hibs boss Shaun Maloney makes concession over Kevin Nisbet after defeat by Celtic

Hibs manager Shaun Maloney conceded that Kevin Nisbet’s third-minute, open-goal miss was “a big moment” in a 2-0 loss for his team at Celtic Park.

Hibs manager Shaun Maloney.

The forward knocking the ball against the post from only a couple of yards was quickly followed by Daizen Maeda claiming a debut strike for the home side, and Maloney recognised the pivotal nature of those contrasting fortunes for the two front men.

However, on a night when Hibs became the first team domestically to upsurp Celtic for possession across 90 minutes, Maloney said that Hibs sticking at it despite being two-own midway through the first period meant he could be “anything but really proud” of his players. With Nisbet given his backing.

“That was a big moment,” he said of the Scotland international’s early aberration. “And sometimes in these games, those are the fine margins which have an impact. But I can’t say too much about Kevin because he’s been excellent since I’ve been here. He was probably the difference for us against Dundee United.

Hibs striker Kevin Nisbet had a glaring miss early in the game against Celtic.

“In those moments sometimes strikers take them and sometimes they don’t. I’m pretty sure in the next game against Cove [Rangers in the Scottish Cup on Thursday] he’ll be in exactly the same position and he has the quality to take it.”

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