Celtic 1 Hibernian 1: Celtic substitute Jiri Jarosik rescued a point for the champions in a fraught afternoon against managerless Hibernian but it was still not enough to keep the Parkhead fans happy.

The Hoops were shocked in the 20th minute when David Murphy played a one-two with Abdessalam Benjelloun before crashing a shot from the edge of the box past Mark Brown and in off the crossbar.

Jarosik, who replaced Massimo Donati in the second half, grabbed the equaliser with 12 minutes remaining when he slotted home from 12 yards out following a goalmouth scramble.

However, the result favoured second-placed Rangers, who are three points behind leaders Celtic with three games in hand, their first against Aberdeen at Pittodrie tomorrow.

Manager John Collins had quit Easter Road on Thursday but it had little affect on the Leith club as they turned in a fine performance, both in attack and defence.

The game began with all the odds in Celtic's favour but by half-time the Parkhead natives were restless as they trailed to Murphy's goal.

The traumatic few days endured by the Leith club after Collins quit, and their relatively poor recent form, did not bode well for the visitors.

Before three minutes had elapsed, Celtic winger Aiden McGeady skinned Kevin McCann on the left and crossed for Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink to head over from 10 yards out.

It was no whirlwind start by Celtic but, in the seventh minute, midfielder Scott Brown unleashed a drive from 30 yards which Yves Makalamby pushed round the post for the corner, Hibs surviving that set-piece with ease.

In the 20th minute, in their first real attack of the game, the visitors took the lead with a quite wonderful goal from Murphy, ironically a Celtic target.

The left-back bolted forward through a ragged looking Celtic back four, played a neat one-two with Benjelloun, and then rattled a drive from the edge of the box in off the crossbar, leaving Parkhead keeper Brown clawing at air.

The home fans' initial shock soon turned to anger and they watched in some disbelief moments later as Merouane Zemmama tried an outrageous 40-yard shot which had Brown scrambling back to his line to save.

On the half-hour mark, the visitors broke quickly, with Zemmama setting up Benjelloun inside the Celtic penalty area but the Hibs striker hesitated in getting a shot in and his effort was blocked.

Hibs looked the classier and more relaxed outfit and, in the 36th minute, after Brown had fouled Benjelloun 25 yards from goal, Zemmama hit the side-netting with his curled free-kick.

In the 40th minute, after Hibs captain Rob Jones had tangled with Vennegoor of Hesselink 20 yards from goal, McGeady drove his free-kick a yard over the bar.

Hibs' defending had become a little desperate by the time referee Mike McCurry blew for half-time.

Within seconds of the restart, Scott Brown had skewed an angled drive inches past the far post.

At the other end, Brown did well to tip Brian Kerr's looping header from 14 yards over the bar after Murphy had provided the cross for the unmarked Hibees' midfielder.

Celtic kept up the pressure, Vennegoor of Hesselink fizzing a low drive from 25 yards just past Makalamby's right-hand post before heading a Paul Hartley corner wide.

As the heat intensified inside the Hibs box, Chris Hogg threw himself to block a goalbound drive from Celtic skipper Stephen McManus, before Makalamby parried a well-placed McGeady shot before gladly scooping up the loose ball.

In the 64th minute, Jarosik replaced Donati as Celtic tried another avenue to a goal.

And in the 78th minute, Jarosik grabbed the equaliser the home side's pressure merited.

After Vennegoor of Hesselink nodded down a McManus header following a Brown corner, the former Chelsea player calmly placed the ball past Makalamby and in to the corner of the net from around 12 yards out.

Hibs, who had used all three substitutes, were reduced to 10 men when Benjelloun was stretchered away after falling awkwardly.

With two minutes remaining, Vennegoor of Hesselink head-flicked a McGeady shot off the post with Makalamby beaten but the visitors held on through five minutes of added time for a welcome point.

But it was Rangers who were the biggest winners on the day.