Hibernian 1-2 Celtic: Have your saypublished at 15:04 BST 3 May
15:04 BST 3 May
Celtic laboured to take advantage of Hibernian's fourth red card in three games before securing a victory that lifts them level on points with Heart of Midlothian at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Hibernian 1-2 Celtic: What the manager saidpublished at 14:39 BST 3 May
14:39 BST 3 May
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Celtic boss Martin O'Neill told BBC Sportsound: "I thought we started really brightly with a couple of good chances but we couldn't take them. We got a goal in front and there was a man sent off so you think we should be really comfortable.
"We conceded a really poor goal just before half time and it changes the complexion of the game with Hibs having something to hold on to and they defended very well.
"Iheanacho comes off the bench and wins the game for us, in a game you thought we would be comfortable but it was an edgy ending.
"We've played some really decent stuff but we had to defend towards the end. Of course there was an anxiety before the goal but we got there. It's natural there would be anxiety with our supporters and maybe with the manager too.
"We've just got to take each game on its merit. You can't control anything else."
Celtic now sit just below league leaders Hearts on goal difference before the Tynecastle side face Rangers at home on Monday evening.
The Celtic manager said he would be watching the game but says the most important thing from his side is that Celtic have won their game.
"What do I want for tomorrow? I genuinely don't know. We've won today so there's a bit of relief for 24 hours.
"Even if we win the three games at this minute, it doesn't guarantee winning the league. The margin of error is very small and it seems like I've been saying that for months. It is what it is."
Celtic keen on defender Campbell - gossippublished at 08:40 BST 3 May
08:40 BST 3 May
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Celtic have registered an interest in 24-year-old West Bromwich Albion and United States defender George Campbell. (Celts Are Here), external
Celtic have fallen behind in the race to sign 22-year-old midfielder Issa Doumbia as some Premier League clubs are interested, while Serie A clubs are likely to follow, in the 22-year-old who Venezia value at £12m. (Football Insider), external
Former Celtic midfielder Massimo Donati is on the shortlist to take charge of former European champions Steaua Bucharest. (Scottish Sun), external
Celtic winger Tounekti 'excited' by 'funny' title racepublished at 13:27 BST 2 May
13:27 BST 2 May
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Winger Sebastian Tounekti is urging Celtic to "be at their best" for the final four games of this season's "funny" title race.
Celtic are three points behind league leaders Hearts and one above Rangers who head to Tynecastle on Monday evening and Tounekti has been enjoying being part of a proper title fight.
"It's crazy," the 23-year-old said.
"I think you have the expectation when you come to Celtic that maybe it's always going to be like a two-horse race between us and Rangers, but Hearts have been really good for this whole year, so it's funny to be in, it's quite exciting also.
"For us, it's all about us and trying to take it per match and trying to improve in every game."
Celtic are away to Hibs on Sunday and would go level on points with the league leaders before their game on Monday night.
"We know that if we do our best and when we are at our best, then we have a big chance to go the whole way," Tounekti added.
"I think everybody is impressed, you can say whatever you want, but they have been doing really good through the whole season, so credit to them.
"We just have to focus on ourselves. We want to improve and, of course, we want to win it and we have to start on Sunday and win that game."
Hibernian v Celtic: Team newspublished at 12:42 BST 2 May
12:42 BST 2 May
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Hibernian trio Grant Hanley, Raphael Sallinger and Felix Passlack are suspended, while Rudi Molotnikov (ankle) and Munashe Garananga (hamstring) are still out. Josh Mulligan has a chance of being involved after an ankle injury.
Martin O'Neill has no new injuries. Jota (knee), Colby Donovan (hamstring), Julian Araujo (thigh), Kasper Schmeichel (shoulder) and Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles) remain out.
Surgery looms for Celtic players - gossippublished at 10:25 BST 2 May
10:25 BST 2 May
Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, 39, may require three further operations after having undergone initial surgery on his damaged shoulder. (Sun), external
Meanwhile, Celtic's long-term injured defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, 28, has resumed training but on-loan Borussia Monchengladbach forward Tomas Cvancara's season could be over because of the 25-year-old's groin strain that may require minor surgery. (Record), external
And Celtic forward Callum Osmand, 20, is not quite ready for a first-team return but has featured for the B team. (Glasgow Times), external
Hibernian head coach David Gray is sure of full support from the home fans when second-placed Celtic visit Easter Road on Sunday, after suggestions Hibs fans would prefer Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts not to win the league. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external
Rangers are unhappy the SPFL have backed Celtic in the clubs' ticketing row over next Sunday's derby match at Celtic Park, with the Ibrox club faced with the decision whether or not to take up an allocation on condition the Union Bears supporters group do not attend. (Record), external
O'Neill will be 'glued' to Hearts v Rangerspublished at 18:30 BST 1 May
18:30 BST 1 May
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Celtic manager Martin O'Neill admits he will be "glued" to Hearts v Rangers on Monday night.
The Parkhead club are the first of the top three to play this weekend when they travel to Easter Road on Sunday where a win would move them joint on points with Hearts.
If Rangers then win in Gorgie, the trio of title challengers would only be separated by one point with three matches remaining.
And O'Neill, whose team still have to host Rangers and Hearts, will be keeping a close eye on proceedings at Tynecastle.
"I know that some managers say, oh well don't bother, they'll go for a walk or do something," he said.
"No, I'm glued to it. Don't you worry, I'll be there. If you're asking who I'm cheering on, I have no idea. Don't even ask, I have no idea.
"It depends on how we do, if we don't win the game [on Sunday] that becomes a different thought process, but at the end of it all of course I'll be watching because we have to play those teams."
O'Neill praised his side's response since the 2-0 defeat at Dundee United, which has been followed by three successive league victories and an extra-time win over St Mirren to set up a Scottish Cup final against Neil Lennon's Dunfermline.
Referring to the Tannadice defeat, he said: "I thought it was a big three points dropped. I didn't feel we were out of it at that stage. I just didn't because I thought there were twists and turns, as it's been proved.
"It put us under enormous pressure to come and win our games, which we've done since that.
"There's still a distance to go but we've fought back, we got the late goal, [Kelechi] Iheanacho at Dens Park, which was big, and we followed it up by beating St Mirren and Falkirk.
"So we're winning some matches. We've got a lot of work to do but we're still there fighting for the chance."
'Hibs players will be focused on beating Celtic again'published at 15:51 BST 1 May
15:51 BST 1 May
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Image caption,
Hibs won 2-1 at Parkhead in February
Scott Allan knows a Hearts title win is the "worst nightmare" of Hibs fans - but insists David Gray's players will have no thoughts of taking it easy against Celtic on Sunday.
A win for Celtic at Easter Road would move them level on points with Hibs' Edinburgh rivals Hearts at the top.
Hibs still have their own targets to chase, with Motherwell six points clear in fourth, which is the final guaranteed European spot.
Former midfielder Allan, who played for Hibs and Celtic, told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast: "I know a lot of Hibs fans from Edinburgh who would be quite happy if their team maybe don't win on Sunday, which is incredible.
"For a Hibs fan, their worst nightmare is Hearts winning the league. There's no getting away from that.
"When you're a player of a club, you just don't have that mindset. So they'll be going out feeling they can get a win and they've shown they can beat Celtic.
"They obviously won at Parkhead, they made it hard at Easter Road. Historically, over the last few years it has been a difficult place for Celtic to go.
"I think Hibs have some some really good players within their squad. Felix Passlack will be a big miss. He's been excellent since he came in in January.
"But it's a game David Gray and his players will think, 'If we can get three points and if something could happen in our favour when Falkirk face Motherwell, then we will edge closer [to fourth spot] again.'
"And then they play each other on the last game of the season, that could end up being an incredible game if Hibs manage to close that gap."
O'Neill on Easter Road trip, Maeda form & title fightpublished at 15:04 BST 1 May
15:04 BST 1 May
Charlotte Cohen BBC Sport Scotland
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Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has been speaking to the media as his side prepare for Sunday's trip to Hibernian.
Here are the main points:
There are no fresh injury concerns and Alistair Johnston, who made his comeback off the bench last weekend, has "done a week's work too, so that's encouraging". O'Neill later told Sky Sports that Cameron Carter-Vickers "joined in training" but is still a "distance" from playing.
O'Neill stresses Sunday's trip to Easter Road is "a really, really big game" for his side and "a really difficult task".
While O'Neill "understands that maybe some Hibs fans wouldn't want Hearts to win the league" he insists "that won't cross over to their team selection or the players".
He adds: "I'm quite sure here it would be something similar for some Celtic fans who might not want their closest rivals to win."
Celtic play first of the top three this weekend but O'Neill stresses it is "only an advantage if you win".
The 74-year-old admits he will be "glued" to the Hearts v Rangers game on Monday night and says: "If you're asking who I'm cheering on, I have no idea. Depending on how we do, I might."
Asked if he'd be cheering third-place Rangers on, O'Neill says: "I might not go that far."
Looking back on the defeat at Dundee United, O'Neill says it was a "big setback, but I didn't think it was fatal" and is pleased his side have won all their games since.
On the title race: "We've got a lot of work to do but we're still there fighting for the chance."
Daizen Maeda's return to form is "very encouraging for us" and O'Neill admits: "I don't think we would have the ability to carry two players well below their form in games. You might have been able to have done it August, September, but not now."
On the away ticket dispute between Celtic and Rangers for the upcoming derby at Parkhead, O'Neill was reluctant to comment because "the decision has not been made yet".
Halliday says Celtic now title favouritespublished at 11:49 BST 1 May
11:49 BST 1 May
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Are Celtic now favourites for the Scottish Premiership title?
Former Rangers and Hearts midfielder Andy Halliday seems to think so despite having all but written them off last week.
Martin O'Neill's side were third in the Premiership heading into the split, one point behind Rangers and three adrift of Hearts.
But after last weekend's win over Falkirk and Rangers' defeat to Motherwell, Celtic leapfrogged Rangers to go second, still three points off the leaders.
If Celtic win at Hibs on Sunday and Rangers beat Hearts on Monday, the Parkhead club would be joint on points with Derek McInnes' side with a home game against the Jambos still to come.
"And the main improvement that's come from Celtic has been off the ball. I think their energy and their intensity to press at the top end of the pitch is making it really difficult for opposition players.
"I must admit having watched the game in the Sportsound studio last weekend, I do think the fans made a difference at Celtic Park.
"I don't know if it's just this stage of the season, in a really tight title race, but I think that transferred on to the pitch with Celtic playing with a different type of energy.
"Last week when I was sitting on the podcast on Friday morning I had Celtic third favourites. I probably have them favourites now. That's just how much it can easily change within this league this year."
'Still nice to win it at 74' - O'Neill is Premiership manager of monthpublished at 17:35 BST 30 April
17:35 BST 30 April
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Martin O'Neill feels Celtic have momentum for the "monumental" remaining games after their winning run landed him the Premiership manager of the month award.
The Northern Irishman guided Celtic to three league wins from three - against Dundee, St Mirren and Falkirk - in April.
Celtic also reached their fourth consecutive Scottish Cup final, beating St Mirren 6-2 after extra time.
With four league matches left, second-place Celtic head to face Hibs on Sunday three points behind long-time Premiership leaders Hearts, who host Rangers on Monday.
"Coming back from the international break and we had just lost at Tannadice against Dundee United, then you just have to win the games coming back," said O'Neill.
"So reset, or mindset or whatever it was, we got the late goal at Dundee and we've gone on from then.
"It's great, it's just nice to still be in the hunt at this stage. At this minute we are on a decent run, we're getting results at this moment and the team are just gelling."
O'Neill senses more unity at the club after fans put protests against the board aside and ultras group the Green Brigade were recently allowed back in the stadium after a six-month ban.
"Even the welcome we got when the bus pulled in before kick-off [against Falkirk last week] was terrific," he said. "That's not been around for some time. The support we got was magnificent, absolutely magnificent.
"They stayed with us. It was lovely to get that feeling at Celtic Park, it took me back years and years and years.
"It's massive, absolutely massive. When I came here the second spell in January, a bit of mayhem around and I thought, the players won't mind, they can play through this.
"But the difference here between then and now, with the crowd behind us, you can actually feel it within the dressing room, the players are up for it. It's like anything else, encouragement rather than discouragement is a massive boost to us."
O'Neill is manager of the month for the second time this season, having won the award in November during his first interim spell.
"Even at 74 years of age, it's still actually nice to get it," he said.
"But this is for work by the players and the coaches and I have seriously played a little part in the proceedings – but not as much as I should be in getting this award."
No way Hibs will lie down to Celtic, says Newellpublished at 15:50 BST 30 April
15:50 BST 30 April
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Captain Joe Newell has dismissed any notion Hibs will "lie down" to Celtic on Sunday.
A draw or victory for David Gray's side at Easter Road would help the title bid of Edinburgh rivals Hearts, who hold a three-point lead over Celtic with four games remaining.
Some Hibs fans would prefer their side to lose - but Newell is adamant there will be no easing off as they try to catch Motherwell in fourth.
"I completely get it," Newell said.
"The fact we're having the conversation shows there's obviously feelings like that, but you can only control what you can control.
"We're a group of professional athletes. We fight with each other over five-a-sides in training, so if you think we're going to lie down in front of thousands of people, in front of the Sky cameras, you're wrong.
"We'll be doing our utmost to win the game of football, it's as simple as that.
"Obviously, you see and hear things [from supporters], but the message throughout is obvious. Straight away, I can assure you there's no thinking of that.
"You play for this club, you're expected to do as well as you can. We've got our own targets that we haven't achieved yet and we need to, so in that respect, it's straightforward."
Hibs v Celtic: Pick of the statspublished at 11:33 BST 30 April
11:33 BST 30 April
After their 2-1 win in February, Hibernian could earn back-to-back league victories over Celtic for the first time since September 2007 under John Collins.
Celtic have won three of their past four league visits to Hibernian (L1), as many as their previous 15 beforehand (WAZ3 D8 L4).
Hibs have suffered back-to-back league defeats, but haven't lost three in a row in the Scottish Premiership since October 2024.
Celtic's run of three consecutive wins is the longest ongoing winning streak in the Premiership. Only from October to December have the Parkhead club had a longer league winning run this season (5) – when the fourth victory was away to Hibs (2-1) during Martin O'Neill's first interim spell.
Hibs have had three players sent off in their past two league games, including two against Hearts last weekend. It's as many red cards as they'd received in their previous 59 Scottish Premiership matches combined.
Motherwell's Just addresses Celtic transfer speculation - gossippublished at 09:44 BST 30 April
09:44 BST 30 April
Motherwell's Elijah Just has addressed speculation linking him with a move to Celtic, saying saying he doesn't "want to hear about anything" until he is finished playing in the World Cup with New Zealand this summer. (The Celtic Way), external
O'Neill's experience vital for Celtic title charge - Vegapublished at 15:10 BST 29 April
15:10 BST 29 April
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Former Celtic defender Ramon Vega thinks the stability that Martin O'Neill brings to the club will be vital if they are to lift the Premiership trophy.
Vega joined Celtic on loan from Tottenham in December 2000 during O'Neill's first spell in charge of the club and made 18 appearances during his brief spell.
And the 54-year-old thinks his former manager's experience will be crucial if Celtic want to win this season's Premiership title.
The Parkhead club are three points behind leaders Hearts and one ahead of Rangers heading into the final four games of the season.
"It's always important to have experience like Martin O'Neill's," Vega told the BBC's Sacked in the Morning.
"He gives stability to the club to start with, he is familiar to the fans as well. Some of the best experiences they have ever had have been with Martin O'Neill. I would say he's a legend of the club.
"It was a good shout to keep him while they are looking for a permanent solution, but also they need to look into how they want to be in the future, in terms of the players they have to bring in.
"But Martin O'Neill brings that stability in, without a doubt. He's respected all around, he's done an extremely good job for the club.
"To bring such credibility back into the club, but also the stability, there is no doubt that it was a good move and could be crucial for winning the league."
Celtic continue to rely on old guard - but for how long?published at 11:05 BST 29 April
11:05 BST 29 April
Kheredine Idessane BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
That Celtic could still win two trophies in this most jaw-droppingly turbulent campaign is quite remarkable.
It speaks to the managerial skills of interim boss Martin O'Neill but also to a key core of go-to players who have had precious little help from those recruited, supposedly, to help them.
James Forrest will be 35 this summer and has just signed yet another contract extension with his boyhood heroes. He may well hang up his boots in 2027, having never played for anyone else.
Captain Callum McGregor's minutes are being meticulously managed. The clear implication being Celtic can't possibly do without their main man, even if he's not fully fit.
He'll be 33 soon, has had some injury problems this season and yet has still made over 50 appearances this term.
Special mention, too, to Kieran Tierney, who seems to have put his myriad injury problems at other clubs behind him and has delivered in defence and attack.
Japan forward Daizen Maeda has three goals in his past two games. An extra yard of pace restored to someone who was already frighteningly quick. Leading the Celtic press in a way he hasn't since his remarkable player of the year season last term.
Forrest, McGregor, Tierney and Maeda - men Celtic have relied heavily on for much of their success in recent years.
Two other good servants, Liam Scales and Luke McCowan, were also rewarded recently with extended contracts. Scales was signed in 2021; McCowan three summers later. All are delivering for the club, some more than others.
Where, though, are this season's new recruits? The players signed, some of them, for relatively eye-watering amounts who were supposed to help ease the burden?
About £10m spent on wingers Sebastian Tounekti and Michel-Ange Balikwisha, supposedly to take over from Forrest and Yang Hyun-jun in the absence of the injured Jota.
Tounekti has scored two Premiership goals since his arrival, at least he has played. The same can't be said of Balikwisha, who has contributed hardly anything at all since a forgettable derby debut at Rangers at the end of August.
The less said about the acquisitions of Shin Yamada and Hayato Inamura, the better. For fairness and balance, Benjamin Nygren, Marcelo Saracchi and Julian Araujo (before injury ended his season) are proof recruitment wasn't wholly disastrous.
What though of the January arrivals? Where are Tomas Cvancara, Junior Adamu and Joel Mvuka? Nowhere near the starting line-up at present, any of them.
The latter has only made two brief, wholly unimpressive Scottish Cup cameos. Zero contribution to the fraught race for the league title.
From Adamu's six appearances, only three were starts. Of those, he only reappeared for the second half once. His late equaliser against Dundee, however, did keep Celtic in the Scottish Cup.
Cvancara made a good initial impression before fading fast. He'll be remembered for the cool penalty that sent Rangers crashing out of the Scottish Cup at Ibrox but hasn't even made the last two matchday squads.
Despite all of this, Celtic are five games away from a league and cup double. Martin O'Neill has had no option but to turn back to the old faithful. The key question now is how long can they continue to deliver?
Celtic are lining up a permanent move for Marcelo Saracchi but a deal for the 28-year-old left-back on loan from Boca Juniors is on ice until a new manager is appointed. (The Herald - subscription required), external
Celtic winger James Forrest insists he's still dreaming of a World Cup call-up for Scotland, with the 34-year-old saying he would never closed the door on adding to his 39 caps. (Daily Record - subscription required), external