RYAN CHRISTIE didn’t see his rare headed goal at Easter Road — because his eyes were SHUT.
The on-form Celtic attacker darted into the box to meet Moritz Bauer’s cross with perfect timing.
But Christie — far more accustomed to netting with his feet — insisted he rose for the ball far more in hope than expectation.
Regardless, the outcome was an impressive connection to beat Hibs No1 Chris Maxwell with the ball soaring into the top far corner for Christie’s 11th goal of the season.
But he also felt he was robbed of a potential second goal after ref Kevin Clancy chose to ignore strong penalty claims for a 63rd minute Lewis Stevenson challenge on him.
Of his 23rd-minute goal, a smiling Christie said: “I hope I get more of them. It was a case of close your eyes, let it hit you and hope it goes in.”
On the penalty incident, Christie said: “I’ve seen it back and I think it is a stonewall penalty.
“It is frustrating because, at that point, we were very much on top in the match.
“I think it is probably because I got a cross away that the referee didn’t give it.
“They seem to just try to play on, but, for me, it is a definite penalty. I think everyone can see that.
“I thought the later Bauer one was very similar.
“It reminded me that we got one against us at Pittodrie last season when Emilio Izaguirre slid in on Niall McGinn.
“I can tell you for sure that it would be given as a free-kick if it was outside the box. All it comes down to is that it is a late foul and it is doesn’t matter whether it is inside or outside the box.
“What happens afterwards is a penalty. It is frustrating not to get either of them.”
Christie conceded Celtic were nowhere near their best form.
He said: “We proably weren’t at our best because we didn’t win the game but I definitely think we deserved to win.
“I think we are a better team than Hibs by far — but they got a slice of luck with the first goal.
“I don’t think we started well, but, from every minute onwards, we completely dominated them.
“It was maybe just a lack of composure or conviction in the final third. That is down to me and some of the others.”
Celtic stood up to some meaty challenges and dished out a few of their own. But they now haven’t posted a league victory in Leith for more than five years.
Christie said: “I think we have always had that steel in the team, especially coming to places like Easter Road.
“You have to stand up to that and earn the right to play.
“We were aware of the stat about our record here going into the game and were desperate to put it right, so it is frustrating not to do that.
“We just need to take our chances. We are still unbeaten domestically and it is not like our heads are down.”
Now for Celtic it’s Cluj at home on Thursday night in the Europa League — and Christie’s desperate for revenge after their Champions League qualifying exit to the Romanians. He added: “I think everyone can’t wait for that game to come around.
“We want to set the record straight in a way — especially with it being the first home European tie.
“Everyone is desperate to go out and prove a point.”
Celts boss Neil Lennon — who revealed on-loan Austrian right-back Bauer could be a doubt for the Euro tie with a fresh ankle knock — wasn’t too harsh on his players after they dropped points for the first time this campaign.
He said: “I thought we dominated the game although we looked a little bit flat in the final third on occasion. The subs gave us a real good burst of energy for the last 20 minutes and laid siege to Hibs’ goal.
“But our finishing let us down.
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“We need to take the luck element out of it. Hibs got the luck with the goal but we had a good reaction after that and scored a good equaliser. It was a good performance and I’m not going to criticise the players. We’ve had a tremendous start to the season.
“I’m not frustrated, we’re not going to win every game and we’re not going to blow teams away in every game.
“We did the dark side of the game when we had to, that’s in the rules of the game. Just a couple of players who have been absolutely brilliant weren’t quite at their best today and that’s fine.
“I thought we defended well.
“I don’t think Fraser had a lot to do, maybe one save from Mallan in the first half. Their goal took a huge deflection.
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“I’m not going to criticise.
“Their desire, their physicality today, the quality of their play in the main was still very good.”
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