Celtic came from behind to win 3-1 against Hibs in an action-packed Premiership battle at Parkhead.
There was a huge blow early doors amid a wave of home pressure, as Reo Hatate trudged off injured with a suspected hamstring issue. Lee Johnson's visitors weren't without their headaches too as Ellie Youan was sent off for a quickfire double booking, with Jota and Kyogo denied superbly by veteran goalkeeper David Marshall. Josh Campbell gave the reduced visitors a shock lead from the spot after a Carl Starfelt foul was spotted by VAR, but Jota responded after the break with his own penalty, and Oh put them ahead late on to maintain a nine-point gap in first place, while Sead Haksabanovic put the cherry on the cake with a third.
If Celtic weren't dominating the ball before the Frenchman's dismissal, they certainly were afterwards and it looked to becoming a case of when not if Ange Postecoglou's side would find a route to goal. But the 10 men were presented a huge chance to get ahead after VAR deemed Starfelt to have fouled Paul Hanlon in the box. Campbell did the honours and put Hibs into a winning position with boos ringing out from the home crowd. Their team have built up a temperament for patience but there was little time for that from punters as they headed down the tunnel a goal down.
It was the third league game in a row they've found themselves in such a position and powers of recovery were needed again. One penalty shout was waved away shortly after the interval but referee Steven McLean didn't hesitate to give Celtic a chance from 12 yards after Hanlon hauled down Carter-Vickers.
Jota put it away and it was what the hosts needed to put themselves in the ascendency. Tiredness was always going to be a factor with how long they were playing a man light, with the likes of Liel Abada and Oh coming on to stretch them further.
Kyogo was eager to add to his league tally but his shot was scooped off the line as fans began to kick-off celebrations, Lewis Stevenson cutting them short with a last-ditch clearance. There was no stopping Oh from netting his third Hoops goal and certainly his most important when crashing in a header off David Turnbull's cross.
Pressure had been mounting but Hibs are left gutted that all their efforts ultimately proved in vein as Celtic pressure paid off, with Haksabanovic curling one in during stoppage time to put this beyond doubt. Another penalty almost beckoned for the home team but VAR again intervened after Liel Abada went tumbling down under a Marshall challenge, McLean overturning his initial decision but it didn't matter to the ultimate outcome. Here's three talking points from Parkhead.
Midfield medics
It's certainly getting lighter in the Parkhead engine room. Already they were missing Tomoki Iwata and Aaron Mooy through injury, with Hatate's injury a sight nobody wanted to see with so many important matches on the horizon.
He's been an integral part of Angeball, linking midfield to attack and chipping in with his own contributions to the goal tally. It was all pretty quick when it came to when he went down and when the technician was subbed off, so a problem unable to be shaken.
The international break will provide a period of time to assess what damage has been done. But with a title run-in to come, losing two of your three starting midfielders of late on top of one of your deputies also being side-lined is far from ideal.
Decisions in the crosshairs
It's been a talking point in many games this season and again, decision by the official took up plenty of talking points. Firstly was Youan's dismissal, as he picked up a second booking for tangling with Cameron Carter-Vickers.
The pair appeared to get tangled up in an aerial duel but it was enough of an offence to see McLean dish out the red card. Then Starfelt was in the mix with Hanlon and while not picking up initially, McLean saw enough to say the Swede had grappled his defensive foe to the deck.
Replays seemed to suggest Youan was harshly dealt with it and it prompted confusion in the Hibs technical area. But a long-throw causes problems for Celtic and there was no doubt over the shirt pull from Starfelt, with the foul by the man brought down for the first conversion in Jota's goal giving him little food for thought either. VAR again was called for to spare Marshall from giving away a penalty, although he and his teammates' furious appeals were ultimately given credit.
Calling the cavalry
Kyogo was unable to bring a goal to his game in this one but it wasn't for the lack of trying. The elder statesmen of Hibs ensured he wouldn't continue a hot streak of late but fortunatley for Postecoglou and co, one of his winter signings came up trumps as Seven Nation Army came with a twist in Glasgow's east end.
He's netted in the dying embers of thrashings against St Mirren to get his confidence going but this is where he really showed he can be an effective Angeball foot soldier. He showed instinct to net at a vital moment and ensure no points were dropped in this relentless pursuit of the treble.
Giorgos Giakoumakis had made a name for himself before his winter exit with such displays in a short amount of time. Oh has shown he can fill the void left by the Greek star and stars like Haksabanovic have the capability to deliver big too.
