New signing Marc Libbra came off the bench to grab a late equaliser for Hibernian to give them - and Rangers - a glimmer of hope in the race for the Premier League title in Scotland.

Johan Mjallby's first-half strike had looked like giving Celtic the points and effectively the championship. But, on his debut, the Frenchman struck to keep them 14 points behind Martin O'Neill's men.

The result takes Hibs to within a point of second-placed Rangers, although they have played one extra game.

Man of the match Alan Thompson admitted he was disappointed Celtic's 100 per cent home record had finally ended. "It's disappointing to lose a goal in the manner we did," he told Sky Sports. "I think we defended quite well in general and the lad possibly got a lucky bounce before he took his goal.

"But they came here and played some good stuff and in the end a draw is probably a fair result."

Celtic were without the injured Joos Valgaeren and Bobby Petta, but they started brightly. Former Hibs man Didier Agathe, whose every touch was greeted with jeers from the visiting fans, went close in the eighth minute when Alan Thompson found him on the edge of the box and the Frenchman blazed just wide of the post.

Celtic created another good chance three minutes later when Paul Lambert found Sutton in space on the left flank and the striker crossed for Petrov in the centre, but the Bulgarian's rightfoot shot flew just wide.

The visitors did show some promise on the break but Celtic appeared the most likely to open the scoring. And so it proved in the 23rd minute when Mjallby pounced. Henrik Larsson rose to head Thompson's corner towards the goal, but John O'Neil was on the goal-line to deny him, but his Swedish team-mate fired home from close range.

The home side should have extended their lead in the 34th minute when Larsson played Petrov through with a great defence-splitting pass, but with just Colgan to beat he fluffed his effort well wide of the post.

But two minutes later Celtic appeared lucky to escape a penalty decision when Vega blocked Brebner's over-head kick with what seemed to be his hand.

The visitors began to come more into the game and they gave Celtic a warning in the 37th minute as the home side were caught ball watching. O'Neil found the overlapping run of Ulrik Laursen and Robert Douglas was forced to make a vital stop low to his right.

Celtic were caught out again three minutes before the break when David Zitelli played Laursen in again, but Mjallby this time made a telling tackle to deny him a shot on target.

The visitors grew in confidence in the second half, but despite all their hard work they were still unable to trouble Douglas in the Celtic goal. Space opened up for Franck Sauzee to try his luck in the 50th minute, but Lennon blocked his first shot and Douglas had the easiest of saves to make from his second attempt.

Hibernian defender Gary Smith was booked in the 66th minute when he pulled down Sutton and the pressure was telling. The visitors needed some spark from somewhere and McLeish brought on Libbra for the hard-working Lehmann.

Larsson, however, almost doubled Celtic's lead in the 71st minute when he hit Lennon's pass on the volley and Colgan had to get down well. The Swede was presented with another decent opportunity in the 76th minute when Sutton played him clean through, but Lovell made a vital challenge and the former Chelsea striker then headed Petrov's corner over the crossbar from close range.

And in the 85th minute the home side paid for their missed chances when Libbra capitalised on some hesitancy in the Celtic defence to cooly slot the ball under Douglas from close range.

CELTIC: Douglas, Boyd, Mjallby, Vega, Agathe, Lambert (Moravcik 87), Lennon, Petrov, Thompson, Sutton, Larsson. Subs Not Used: Gould, Johnson, Tebily, Crainey. Booked: Lennon. Goal: Mjallby 23.

HIBERNIAN: Colgan, Sauzee (Murray 78), Fenwick, Gary Smith, Lovell, Brebner, Jack, O'Neil, Laursen, Lehmann (Libbra 71), Zitelli. Subs Not Used: Franks, McManus, Bannerman. Booked: Gary Smith, O'Neil, Fenwick. Goal: Libbra 84.

Referee: S Dougal (Scotland).