Celtic 0-0 Hibernian: Hoops held as protests intensify at Parkhead

Celtic’s bid to defend their Scottish Premiership title stalled as Hibernian frustrated the champions with a disciplined, defensive display in a 0-0 draw at Parkhead on Saturday. The result kept Hibernian’s stubborn rearguard intact and left Celtic two points behind Hearts at the head of the table after another night when the home support left with questions rather than answers. Celtic twice struck the bar and had a goal disallowed for offside, a sequence that underscored how the hosts controlled long stretches but could not convert pressure into a winner.

Celtic controlled possession for long periods and created several chances, though their final touch often betrayed them. Daizen Maeda started on the right with Seb Tounekti out on the left, then shifted through the middle after 21 minutes as Brendan Rodgers shuffled his attacking setups. The clearest early opportunity came when Maeda delivered a cross for Kelechi Iheanacho, whose header beat Hibs goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger but was chalked off for offside just after the hour mark. Iheanacho’s movement and willingness to take up central positions pointed to a plan that, in the end, lacked a finisher's culmination. Moments earlier Maeda had tested Sallinger on the near post, and the Japanese forward would later drift through other positions as Celtic sought a cutting edge.

Maeda’s header late in the first half, from a Liam Scales cross, was tipped onto the crossbar by Sallinger as Celtic pressed for a breakthrough. The forward’s movement, combined with Iván Ilic’s late arrivals in the box, suggested a plan built on quick transitions and crosses, but the finishing touch was lacking. Nygren, who replaced Maeda with about 16 minutes left, offered a different dynamic, yet the combination play that had produced earlier opportunities failed to mature into a decisive goal. Johnny Kenny’s cameo up front as the game wound down offered little in the way of a late winner, and Celtic’s attacking options were stretched as the match wore on.

Hibs, by contrast, were content to defend in compact lines and deny space in behind. The visitors rarely threatened beyond a sporadic break, and their best hope arrived late in the half when Warren O’Hora ran in from a flick-on, only to miscue his effort after Dan Barlaser’s free-kick found him in space near the six-yard box. The ball looped over the crossbar and landed on the roof of the net, a moment that crystallised Hibs’ approach: defend deep, counter when possible, and rely on moments of misfortune for Celtic to swing the balance their way.

As the stadium’s atmosphere turned from cautious hope to simmering frustration, Celtic’s protests beyond the pitch grew louder. The Ultras’ section in the North Curve staged a silent protest for the opening 12 minutes, unveiling a banner that read “Your Silence Is Deafening” and holding up additional artwork calling for the heads of major shareholder Dermot Desmond, chief executive Michael Nicholson, chairman Peter Lawwell and finance chief Chris McKay. While the crowd offered encouragement to the team on the field, the mood around the boardroom remained tense. The protest was notably silent—no songs, just banners and a disciplined demonstration—consistent with the commitment to a peaceful show of discontent that has characterized the club’s recent gatherings.

The timing of the protest carried a broader implication: it coincided with questions surrounding Celtic’s transfer window and long-term strategy, a subplot that has overshadowed on-field results for much of the season. Desmond, who was far from Glasgow at the Ryder Cup in New York, appeared publicly distant from the day-to-day pressures in the stands, while fans made clear their desire for answers about the club’s direction long after the final whistle. The organizers indicated that the next act would come with a planned 29 minutes of silence for Thursday’s Europa League clash against Sporting Braga, further embedding the sense that the club’s fortunes are being read through the prism of governance as much as football.

The game’s outcome keeps Celtic in the chasing pack rather than at the summit, a status that many supporters fear will intensify scrutiny of the board and management. Rodgers has attempted to steer his squad back to football after a tumultuous transfer window, and there was relief in some circles that the off-field melodrama had cooled somewhat. Yet the match itself offered evidence that Celtic still lack balance and depth in key positions, a theme that has defined much of the season’s narrative and will continue to be a focal point as the fixtures pile up.

Looking ahead, Celtic must quickly recalibrate as they prepare for the Edinburgh derby against Hearts, with Tynecastle hosting the next test at the end of next month. Beyond domestic duties, the club faces Europa League action in a high-profile tie against Braga, a match the club’s supporters and management will treat as a proxy for the broader questions surrounding the squad’s make-up and the board’s strategy. The latest 0-0 result provides scant comfort but adds context to a season already crowded with subplots, protests, and a demanding timetable that shows no sign of easing anytime soon.