Relief for Celtic... now does O'Neill want Rangers to win?

Image source, SNSImage caption,

Kelechi Iheanacho came off the bench to score the winner against Hibs

ByClive LindsayBBC Sport Scotland

Published19 minutes ago

As Martin O'Neill stressed again, there is "little margin for error" in this unprecedented three-team race for the Scottish Premiership title - and his Celtic side continue to make fewer of them than their rivals in recent weeks.

The reigning champions made heavy weather of overcoming a Hibernian side who suffered a fourth red card in three games after only 21 minutes at Easter Road on Sunday.

But, having gradually eaten into Hearts' title lead, Celtic's 2-1 win means the long-time pacesetters are only now ahead on goal difference.

With Rangers four points adrift of them both, the pressure is on Celtic's city rivals - as well as their hosts - at Tynecastle on Monday.

But does that mean Celtic are in the unusual situation of wanting their bitter Glasgow rivals to win?

'Maybe a draw' would suit O'Neill

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Figure caption,

O'Neill 'relieved' after win over 10-man Hibs

A win for Hearts would all but end Rangers' title hopes as they would be seven points adrift of Derek McInnes' side with only three games remaining.

However, it would also restore Hearts' three-point lead, with Celtic having still to host both their title rivals.

It is no surprise O'Neill will be watching Monday's game, but what kind of result would suit him best?

"What do I want for tomorrow? I genuinely don't know," Celtic's interim manager said.

He later conceded: "Even if we won the rest of the games, we're not guaranteed to win the league, because, if Hearts won all their games, they've got a better goal difference than us.

"So maybe a draw. With a draw, at least people drop points."

O'Neill was just happy to put the pressure back on their rivals after admitting "it was very edgy towards the end" at Easter Road.

"We've won today, so there's a bit of relief for 24 hours," he said.

"The margin of error is very small and it seems like I've been saying that for months.

"We've played some really decent stuff, but we had to defend towards the end."

Daizen Maeda put Celtic ahead shortly after Jamie McGrath's red card, but Joe Newell's reply shortly before the break gave fifth-place Hibs hope until Kelechi Iheanacho "comes off the bench and wins the game for us".

Iheanacho a 'super impact player'

It is not the first time Nigeria international Iheanacho has come to Celtic's rescue in recent weeks.

The former Manchester City and Leicester City striker has only made eight starts since signing on transfer deadline day in September.

The 29-year-old still looks short of full fitness, but has now scored four times in his past five of 12 games off the bench.

Two of those came in extra time as Celtic progressed to the Scottish Cup final at St Mirren's expense, while the others were league winners in Dundee and Edinburgh.

No wonder O'Neill described him as a "super impact player", the latest coming after he controlled a corner on his chest before delivering a clinical finish.

Former Celtic midfielder John Collins described it as a "tremendous bit of composure in a packed box with bodies all around him".

"Iheanacho has a good awareness of what's round about him," he said. "He can take it in and you can play one-twos off him, but what he doesn't have is legs to start a game.

"So the manager has a decision to make. Do you have him on the bench when games are usually won in the last 20 minutes?

"I think he'll be a bench player used for the last minutes until the end of the season. But there's every chance he could be a hero at the end of the season."

Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner also praised Iheahacho for his recent impact but doubts he will ever get back to the levels of fitness required to be a regular starter.

However, might O'Neill be forced to turn to the Nigerian given Maeda, who has sprung to life himself with four goals in his latest three outings, ended the game limping off holding his boot?

There is no definitive news yet about the extent of the Japan forward's injury. However, O'Neill said he "desperately hoping he will be okay" before next Sunday's final, potentially crucial, Old Firm derby of the season.

'Sigh of relief' as pressure switches to Tynecastle

Celtic scorer Daizen Maeda and the Scottish Premiership table

Image source, SNS

Goals from Iheanacho and Maeda have not only taken Celtic to the Scottish Cup final but inspired a run of five straight wins and one defeat in 11 outings.

It makes Celtic the form team in the Premiership at just the right time their 15 points from their latest six games being two more than their two title rivals.

"There's tension, but Celtic keep grinding out results and, if they can grind out another three, it will be an incredible season," Collins said. "But there's a long way to go - Hearts and Rangers will be fighting right to the death.

"Celtic never made enough clear-cut chances against Hibs, but you always felt they were going to get the second goal and it is a massive three points and it puts the pressure on Hearts and Rangers for tomorrow."

Bonner stressed the fine line Celtic trod at Easter Road.

"Everybody connected with Celtic breathed a sigh of relief at the end," he said. "They made really hard work of it.

"It took a really good bit of play from Iheanacho to get the goal. Otherwise, they were in trouble and that would have been disaster for them - imagine Celtic dropping points to a Hibs side down to 10 men and having taken the lead.

"Now they are in a completely different space."