Celtic 0-0 Hibernian: Kelechi Iheanacho goal disallowed as Hoops replaced at Scottish Premiership by Hearts

  /  autty

Kelechi Iheanacho hit the bar and had a goal disallowed as Hibs held Celtic to a goalless draw to let Hearts move top of the Scottish Premiership.

The Hoops fans were silent for the opening 12 minutes at Parkhead in another protest against the board but that did not stop the team dominating from kick-off.

Iheanacho hit the bar on his first start for the club, with Marcelo Saracchi also denied by the woodwork in the first half.

The forward thought he had opened the scoring in the 65th minute but a VAR check confirmed he was offside as the boos began at Parkhead.

The hosts continued to push, but some brilliant stops from Ralph Sallinger saw Hibs continue their unbeaten start in the league as Brendan Rodgers' side drop two points below Hearts after six games.

Can Celtic find attacking solution?

The game was further evidence that Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is still looking for a settled formula up front.

He started Daizen Maeda in an unfamiliar right-wing role after the Japan international struggled at centre-forward in Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Red Star Belgrade. His half-time replacement in Serbia, Iheanacho, was handed a start following his Europa League goal while Sebastian Tounekti also started on his home debut.

Hibernian head coach David Gray brought Grant Hanley and Jack Iredale into his back three following a fourth game without victory as Rocky Bushiri missed out for personal reasons.

The home ultras ended their protest with a chant of "all Celtic fans against the board" but their team took longer to get going despite enjoying more of the ball.

Hibs enjoyed a decent spell of territory before Celtic created the best chance of the first half on the counter-attack, 20 minutes in. Maeda squared first time following Luke McCowan's diagonal ball and Iheanacho flashed a shot off the bar.

The striker soon curled high and wide from a half-chance after Arne Engels won possession before Saracchi hit the top of the bar from a difficult angle.

Celtic continued to create chances. Maeda was denied by a Raphael Sallinger save and a Hanley block and the goalkeeper palmed away long-range strikes from Callum McGregor and Iheanacho.

Hibs brought on Josh Campbell after losing Jamie McGrath to what looked like a shoulder injury, and they twice threatened in the closing stages of the half. Martin Boyle forced a save on the break before Warren O'Hora scooped the ball over the bar from close range following a set piece.

Engels and Iheanacho passed up good chances in the opening stages of the second half before the latter was inches away from connecting with Saracchi's driven ball across the goalmouth. The striker then managed to convert a similar ball from Tounekti but was flagged offside.

That was Iheanacho's final act and the introduction of James Forrest midway through the half saw Maeda briefly move into a central role before being replaced by Johnny Kenny. Michel-Ange Balikwisha came on for Tounekti to make it an all-new frontline.

Sallinger produced a good stop from substitute Paulo Bernardo's powerful strike and the Hibs goalkeeper saved his best for the final minute of stoppage-time as he dived to claw away Kenny's header.

What's coming up in the Scottish Premiership?

Related: Celtic FC Hearts Hibernian
Download All Football for more comments