Celtic versus Hibernian Preview

Early speedboat chasers from Edinburgh take a six-match winless run to the home of the champions. What could go wrong?

Moving to two matches a week does place a considerable strain on time when you are committed to the data capture slog I sentence myself to. Whilst you’re playing the world’s smallest violin, accept my apologies for missing out on what I hope will be a regular opposition spotlight feature on the weekly Extra Time podcast.

Especially when considering the opponent in question, David Gray’s rather fascinating Hibernian side.

Season So Far

The Edinburgh club endured, ultimately, a disappointing Autumn campaign trying to qualify for the UEFA Europa League and then the Conference League. In that sense, they are no different from nearly all clubs in Scotland outside the two Glasgow giants in falling at the qualification hurdle.

And it was classic Hibee stylee in that solid away performances were undone by spectacular ”Hibsing” it at home – shorthand for bolloxing it up from a promising position.

A credible draw away to data darlings FC Midtjylland was followed by a last-minute losing goal to set up a shot at the third UEFA level competition.

A 2-0 win in Belgrade (yip, can be done) gave way to an agonising 2-3 loss to ten-man Partizan, but Hibernian saw it out with a 100th-minute Chris Cadden goal.

Despite losing 1-2 at home to Legia Warsaw in the play-off round, they went 3-1 up in Poland before being dragged into extra time in the third minute of added time and then losing to an extra-time goal. You couldn’t script it.

At home, a series of draws, very much the feature of this SPFL campaign, were punctuated by a 2-1 win at Dundee. Unbeaten but already six points off the Celts and Bloomin’ Hearts.

The League Cup exit to The Rangers was meek but had the bonus of gaining under-fire box Russell Martin a few days’ grace.

Performances trumped outcomes overall, but the last two outings away at Ibrox and then Falkirk on Tuesday night saw slightly worrying dips in that too.

So, what to make?