Hibernian last night recorded a famous victory when they came from behind to defeat Celtic at Parkhead. The hosts went in front after only four minutes through Fortune but Hibernian were level before the break thanks to on-form striker Anthony Stokes. And with Celtic pressing hard for a winner in the closing minutes they were hit with a classic sucker-punch when the visitors burst forward and Danny Galbraith grabbed his first goal for the club.

Unsurprisingly John Hughes kept faith with the same starting line-up that were so convincing against Hamilton Academical at the weekend. It was Celtic that got the action underway and the home side immediately set off on the attack, Smith was alert to the early threat and gathered a Fortune flick on before Samaras could pounce.

The Celtic supporters however did not have long to wait until their side had their noses in front - the opening goal came after only 4 minutes when a McGeady corner was headed into the net off the underside of the crossbar by Marc-Antoine Fortune. It was just the start that John Hughes and his men had hoped to avoid, and if Hibernian were to take anything they would have to do it the hard way by coming from behind. Celtic kept up their early pressure with McGeady and Samaras shooting wide form good opportunities on the edge of the Hibernian penalty area.

Hibernian were toiling at times to get out of their own half and it took a brave block from Hogg to keep out an effort from Fortune after the ball broke loose to the striker when Samaras' initial shot had been blocked. Celtic striker Fortune was heavily involved in the action in the opening stages and the powerful front man was twice more on the end of McGeady crosses on 16 minutes but unable to guide them on target.

It was against the run of play when Hibernian were almost level on 23 minutes, the first time the visitors had really launched any sort of pressure on the Celtic defence - referee Brines waved play on after a foul by O'Dea on Nish and Stokes hit a powerful first time effort from distance that Boruc did well to hold. The Easter Road men appeared to take confidence from that effort and in the minutes that followed they bombarded the Celtic goal - and were rewarded.

Before then however it took a stunning save from Boruc to prevent Thompson from heading into his own net after the Celtic defender attempted to cut out Hogg's cut back from Riordan's free kick. From the resulting corner Hibernian equalised when Anthony Stokes headed Riordan's cross beyond Boruc for his tenth goal in just eight games and fourteenth of the season. Celtic were rocking and Hibernian were going for the kill. First Riordan attempted a shot from 25 yards that fizzed through the air but was ultimately saved comfortably by Boruc before a run and shot from Stokes flashed just past the post. The groans around Celtic Park from the home supporters were being drowned out by the small band of spectators in the corner from Edinburgh, - the Hibernian fans once more giving their heroes fantastic backing.

With half time approaching Celtic were awarded a free kick within shooting distance after Hogg tripped McGeady, the resulting cross into the penalty area was eventually bundled into the net by O'Dea but referee Brines had spotted a push by Samaras on Smith and the home celebrations were cut short. The official further angered the Celtic supporters by showing the yellow card to Samaras seconds later when the striker was late in a challenge on the goalkeeper - but the Greek could have few complaints with the decision.

That was the final action of an engrossing first half with Hibernian thoroughly deserving to be back on level terms following a disastrous start to the game. After weathering the early storm John Hughes' men fought back bravely, dominating for large parts of the half and at the half time interval he will no doubt be asking his side for more of the same in the second period.

Half Time: Celtic 1 Hibernian 1

There were no changes at the interval from either manager and it was Hibernian - kitted out in their all black third kit - that got the action underway once more. Just as they had done in the first half, Celtic came flying out of the traps early and they carved out a great chance in the opening seconds when Fortune slipped the ball through to the unmarked McGeady, however the winger hesitated long enough to allow Hanlon to apply pressure and that was enough to put him off as he sent his short inches wide of the front post.

Tony Mowbray's men had an even better chance moments later when McGeady's cross to the back post was volleyed across goal by McGinn and it appeared that Samaras was left with the simplest of tasks to sweep the loose ball into the net, but the striker to completely miss-hit and the chance was gone. Celtic kept up their pressure and after Rankin mis-cued a headed clearance, McGeady pounced but his curling effort towards the back post was kept out by a great save from Smith, the goalkeeper diving full-length to push the ball around his post with his fingertips. Not long after a cross from Samaras into the middle saw McGinn get goal-side of Hanlon and Hogg but Smith was once more perfectly placed - this time producing a point blank save to thwart the forward, with the rebound striking the Celtic man and going wide.

McGinn was replaced by Yeung as Tony Mowbray attempted to turn his side's pressure into something tangible, and they were given a great shooting opportunity when they were award a free kick on the edge of the Hibernian penalty area. Defender Hanlon was shown a yellow card for his foul on Samaras but Zhi disappointing the home support with the set piece - hitting it straight into the defensive wall. Both teams made changes with McGinn withdrawn for Yeung by Celtic and John Hughes making a double substitution by replacing Riordan and Nish with youngsters Stevenson and Galbraith. Hibernian were having to play on the counter attack and following a long ball downfield from Smith, Stokes got in behind Thompson on the left, but the striker's attempted lob over Boruc was well off target.

Celtic should have gone in front when Caddis' cross from the left was inch perfect height for Samaras to head into the net, but with Smith stranded the striker somehow managed to head the ball over the bar from an unchallenged position. That proved to be the miss-firing Greek's final contribution to the game and he was immediately replaced by debutant Rasmusen. Tony Mowbray's final change saw McCourt replace Zhi as Celtic put Hibernian under intense pressure, winning corner after corner. From one of those set pieces McCourt picked out O'Dea in the packed penalty area - but the defender was left with his head in his hands after knocking the ball wide.

Hibernian midfielder Miller was running the show and relieving the pressure on his defence, and he had a good shout for a penalty kick when he knocked the ball through the legs of O'Dea before being pushed to the ground. Unfortunately from a Hibernian point of view referee Brines saw nothing wrong with the challenge and promptly gave McBride a yellow card for an earlier incident. The game was becoming more and more stretched as it progressed and after Wotherspoon's foul on McCourt, Yeung picked out Fortune with the free kick but the Celtic target-man was wide with his effort. At the other end Hibernian defender Chris Hogg has his team's best chance of the second period when the ball landed at his feet from Galbraith's corner; however the skipper sent his half volley wide from 8 yards.

There were just 2 minutes of time to be added on and in the first of those minutes Hibernian burst forward after a long ball down field by Hogg, Stokes raced on to it but found his way blocked by hopped jerseys. He knocked the ball back to Rankin and he in turn fed the ball to the unmarked Danny Galbraith who made no mistake when he drilled a left foot shot across goal and into the far corner of the net for his first goal for the club.

Understandably the celebrations from both players and supporters were wild with Galbraith picking up a yellow card for his contribution. There was next to no time for Celtic to haul themselves level as Hibernian held onto to claim a famous victory with former Celt, Liam Miller, inspirational in the middle of the park.

Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Samaras, Fortune, McGinn, Crosas, Zhi, Thompson, McGeady, O'Dea, Caddis. Subs: Zaluska, Hooiveid, McGowan, Rasmusen, McCourt, Yeung, Naylor.

Hibernian: Smith, Hogg, Murray, Wotherspoon, Hanlon, Miller, McBride, Rankin, Riordan, Nish, Stokes. Subs: Ma-Kalambay, Cregg, McCormack, Stevenson, Benjelloun, McCann, Galbraith.

Report: Richard Payne