Hibernian 0
xG 0.1
Celtic 0
xG 1.27
Pre-match probabilities were Hibernian 12%, Celtic 66% and the draw 22%.
There were constant themes in this game.
Bad - again our performance drops off on 60-75 minutes in regards to touches (80) and possession (49%).
Good - again Joe Hart and Cameron Carter-Vickers didn't concede a goal in the last 20 minutes of the game. They haven't conceded a league goal this season in the last 20 minutes. This is a very positive sign coming into the run in.
Season to date we are averaging 121 touches in the 60-75 minute period and this is our lowest of any 15 minute period.
Also looking at actual goals scored we have scored 6 goals and conceded 6 goals in this period compared to 75-90 minutes where it is 11 goals scored and 1 conceded. (That goal conceded was during the first game of the season at Tynecastle in which Hart and Carter-Vickers were not playing).
What happened in the Pittodrie dressing room at half time? Celtic were 2-0 up at half time after another very good first half that followed a great performance away to Motherwell and the blowing away of Rangers in the Derby game.
Next came the second half at Pittodrie, Raith Rovers, Dundee at home, the two Bodo-Glimt games and then this game against Hibernian where performances have not been at the same level.
47% of the game was played in the middle third which was the second most of the season (48% v St Johnstone at home was the most) with the average for the season at 40%.
Celtic had only 6 shots in the box and this was the joint second lowest with Rangers at Ibrox. (Aberdeen in Oct was lowest on 5 shots in the box).
Celtic lined up with;
- Hart
- Juranovic, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt and Taylor
- Rogic, McGregor and Hatate
- Abada, Maeda and Jota
Surprisingly Ange only made one substitution O'Riley for Rogic.
So far this season Ange has used 88% of his opportunity to use subs. 92% of the opportunity when it was up to 3 subs allowed and 83% since 5 subs have been allowed.
Therefore to make only 1 substitution for the first time this season and only 20% of the opportunity to substitute when the players looked more lethargic than any other game was a bit strange.
Rogic had only 10 accurate passes and he seems to be off the boil recently and that is affecting the team at the moment. That is the lowest amount of accurate passes from any starting midfielder this season.
Abada had the most xG at 0.88 and Taylor had the most xA at 0.27. Maeda had 0 shots at goal and he is still adjusting to the role and his team-mates.
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Tony@CelticTrends.com