It’s the question every Celtic fan has been debating since the full-time whistle at Parkhead on Sunday, who was to blame for Hibernian’s late winner?
Was it Auston Trusty for his Celtic Park red card? Was it Martin O’Neill’s tactics? Or was it simply the board’s failure to properly get transfer business done in the summer and January.
So when we posted the video of the Hibs winner at Celtic Park, we asked the fans who was the person responsible for the defeat.
What caused Hibs’ winner against Celtic? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/7HVWWFwLFN
— Born (C)eltic (@born_celtic) February 23, 2026
And the response was viral.
Viral video of Hibs goal has the Celtic scattergun out
Losing at Parkhead is rare enough, but the way Hibs snatched that late winner has left a bitter taste for Celtic supporters. With almost 200,000 views and over 100 replies, the Hoops fans have given their take on the defeat.
While some are looking for a scapegoat, the truth is a cocktail of errors that just shouldn’t happen at this level. Peter Lawwell was first to cop it.
What caused Hibs’ winner against Celtic? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/7HVWWFwLFN
— Born (C)eltic (@born_celtic) February 23, 2026
Back to the football and @SeanLee84 has an idea, “Risk averse passing, Forrest a bit headless pressing, standard ball into the box problem we’ve had all year nobody attacks the ball and everyone is stood watching waiting for something to happen.”
Bang on. @Rallyjackie also said, “Too many taking the easy way out with the pass backwards or sideways. Also not enough bursting a gut to make themselves available to receive this pass.”
The next Celtic fan had a 10-point checklist:
1. Players inability to take a positive touch, every one of their touches only allowed them to go one way.
— Kai Fuentes (@Kai_Fuentes_) February 23, 2026
2. Passes having to be played backwards due to that touch.
3. Depressingly slow tempo/zero desire or urgency to attack
4. Players up front not trying to link play
5.…
Kasper Schmeichel at fault for Celtic defeat?
The video clearly shows a lack of communication. We were caught cold on the counter, and for a team of our experience, that’s criminal.
When you’re pushing for a winner yourself, you cannot leave the back door hanging wide open. But it appears that Kasper Schmeichel had his part to play.
Kasper kicking the ball out of play, Celtic had possession and kasper kicks it out of play when not even under pressure
— Ciaran Mc Varnock™ (@ciaranmcvarnock) February 23, 2026
No everyone blames Kasper as @67_mitchie said, “Easy to pointer finger at the goalie because his pass went astray maeda nearly wins the ball back.
“What people forget is the we are down to 10 men and Hibs are pressing for the win have a look at the defending. It’s easy to blame the goalie we still had 4 at the back ffs.”
Back to the goalkeeper and @slim1874 said, “Schmeichel and people say he’s like his dad? Pfft! No even his shadow even towards the end of his career.”
The strange Callum McGregor narrative
Celtic captain Callum McGregor appear to be copping a bit of heat as fans point the finger at, well, the pointer.
Id say Cal Mac being far too focused on the ball and leaving that man free on the edge of the box.
— keithr5808 (@keithr58088) February 23, 2026
He isnt helping Celtic at the moment.
@bode699 was thinking the same with this, “Passing the ball backwards McGregor killing any attacking flow.”
@5reynolds said, “Watch McGregor in this build up, don’t know the man is behind him, follows the ball, then when the ball is laid back to the man he should be marking.
“He’s nowhere near close enough. not to mention Kasper poor distribution again!”
CALMAC. Loses his man, does not tackle. Bottles it and turns his back, impacts the keepers line of sight in a congested box.
— Rhys McCole 🏴 (@RhysMccole) February 23, 2026
Calmac is also nowhere near the Hibs player that receives the ball at the halfway line. For me he was lazy, and never picked anyone up, hoping others…
VAR not given a single Celtic thought
It wasn’t just one player. It was a collective failure to manage the game’s dying embers. What was interesting is that the officials were not mentioned at all for the defeat.
No one is interested in blaming the officials as Celtic fans looked inwards and offered no excuses.
Celtic fans looked at the team and found many issues with Hibs’ winner with many praising the visitors for their hard pressing.
As for Martin O’Neill, he has a task ahead of him preparing the team for Stuttgart and Rangers.
Two games many Celtic supporters may well watch from behind their sofas.
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Celtic fans are debating this right now in The Jungle 🍀
Opinions are split. Some fans see it one way, others see it very differently.
The conversation is already live in The Jungle — the Born Celtic forum where proper football arguments happen without algorithms deciding who gets heard.
