08.02.2024 00:02 h

Idah penalties salavage Celtic win at Hibs

Adam Idah netted two penalties on his first Celtic start as a stoppage-time VAR decision earned the Scottish champions a 2-1 win at Hibernian on Wednesday.

The pressure was on Brendan Rodgers' men after Rangers moved level on points at the top of the Scottish Premiership with victory over Aberdeen on Tuesday.

Idah joined on loan from Norwich on deadline day of the January window less than a week ago and netted his first Celtic goal on 10 minutes after Alistair Johnston was wiped out inside the area.

Hibs have now failed to win in seven league games, but the home side rattled Celtic after the break.

Dylan Levitt's volleyed equaliser on the hour mark set up a pulsating finish in which Hibs had the better chances to go in front.

But Rodgers finally secured his first victory as Celtic boss in five attempts when VAR intervened after Kyogo Furuhashi was taken out by Joe Newell inside the box.

Idah kept his head to send David Marshall the wrong way once more and make himself an instant hero.

However, there were more worrying signs for Rodgers in his side's performance with a rampant Rangers smelling blood in the title race.

"Winning was never going make us champions tonight, but with 14 games to go it's very important you get the victories," said the former Liverpool manager.

"Second half we didn't play great. Hibs deserve credit, they pressed on to the game. Too many times we played backwards.

"But the team showed the mentality of champions."

Celtic move three points clear at the top of the table, but Rangers have a game in hand.

Hearts maintained their eight-point lead in third as Lawrence Shankland's 50th goal for the club earned a 1-0 win at St. Johnstone.

Kilmarnock remain in fourth after striking late through Marley Watkins to beat bottom-of-the-table Livingston 1-0.

St. Mirren boosted their chances of an all-important top-six finish with a 2-0 win over Dundee who are now nine points behind in sixth, level on points with seventh-placed Hibs.