CELTIC secured what could be a massive three points as they saw-off Hibs at Easter Road.
But there was a rather awkward moment after the game involving two Hoops stars.
Hibs enjoyed a strong start to the game but an error from goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger gifted Celtic a 27th minute opener that Daizen Maeda scored.
Barely a minute later, Arne Engels made it 2-0 and it looked as good as game over.
There wasn’t much more to come from Celtic as Hibs once again got the upper hand in the game.
A Martin Boyle penalty halved the deficit on 56 minutes but David Gray’s men couldn’t find a leveller.
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Celtic saw out a 2-1 victory that moves them to within just two points of league leaders Hearts with a game in hand.
The spot kick that got Hibs back into it was awarded after a VAR review.
Liam Scales was ruled to have handled the ball in the box and despite plenty of debate surrounding the decision, the Celtic man admitted after the game that he WAS expecting the penalty to be given against him.
Defender Scales was on post-match TV interview duty alongside captain Callum McGregor to go over the game.
And after being quizzed by Sky Sports reporter about the game, there was one last thing to be done.
That was to hand over the award to the man of the match.
Of course, the usual way this goes is that one player hands the man of the match award to the other.
And that is certainly what both McGregor and Scales expected.
So it’s fair to say they were rather surprised to discover that was NOT the case.
A rather awkward and amusing exchange then unfolded.
Speaking to McGregor, Shanley said: “I’ve got another job for you, can I hand over this award, the William Hill Premiership player of the match…”
At this point, McGregor turns to Scales and begins to shake his teammate’s hand, assuming of course that he’s about to hand the award over to the centre-back stood next to him.
Shanley, however, finishes his sentence with: “…to Daizen Maeda please.”
McGregor simply exclaims “oh” before bursting into laughter.
Scales then rather awkwardly responds: “Oh. Cheers.”
Sky man Shanley can then he heard saying: “Sorry!”
Still seeing the funny side, McGregor added: “I was thinking how has he got a handball and still got man of the match!”
Both players then walk away, no doubt to hand the award over to Maeda!
The game at Easter Road was expected to be Martin O’Neill‘s final match in interim charge.
However, the legendary Celtic boss confirmed both before and after the game that he expects to once again be in the dugout on Wednesday when the Hoops host Dundee at Celtic Park.
Wilfried Nancy is eventually expected to be appointed as the permanent successor to Brendan Rodgers in the Parkhead hotseat.
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