Celtic held after blowing lead

GLASGOW: Celtic let a two-goal lead slip as Hibernian came from behind to claim a 2-2 draw in a thrilling encounter at Easter Road on Sunday.

Scott Sinclair’s double in four second half minutes appeared to have the Scottish champions cruising to another league victory. However, former Celtic player Efe Ambrose’s deflected shot gave Hibs hope in the 76th minute before Oli Shaw sent the home fans wild with an equaliser three minutes later.

Celtic’s 68-match unbeaten run almost came to an end in stoppage-time as Shaw’s shot was cleared off the line by Mikel Lustig to ensure a result that replicates the scoreline the last time the teams met in the league at Celtic Park in September.

The result means Celtic’s lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership has been cut to five points following rival Rangers’ 2-1 win against Ross County on Saturday.

After their disappointing defeat to Anderlecht in midweek, Celtic started the game with a point to prove and it took a perfectly-timed sliding challenge from Lewis Stevenson to nick the ball off the feet of Callum McGregor as he got in behind the Hibs defence early on.

Paul Hanlon then bravely blocked a rocket shot from Olivier Ntcham with his head before James Forrest should have given Celtic the lead.

A horrendous misplaced pass from Dylan McGeouch across his own 18-yard line was intercepted by his former Celtic teammate who raced in on goal, but the winger somehow put his shot wide of the post with only the keeper to beat.