MIKAEL Lustig believes Celtic’s 1-0 defeat by Hibernian at Easter Road on Saturday was a blip and looks forward to proving that against Motherwell on Wednesday.
The Clydesdale Bank Premier League champions dominated possession after going behind in eight minutes to Hibees’ on-loan striker Leigh Griffiths’ 14th goal of the season.
However, it proved to be frustrating afternoon for Neil Lennon’s men as they failed to find a way past a resolute Hibernian defence.
Lustig, though, can point to the fact the Hoops remain six points clear of Inverness at the top of the SPL table with a game in hand, still in both domestic cup competitions and with a Champions League last-16 clash with Italian giants Juventus next year to relish.
The Sweden full-back wants Celtic to start off 2013 by returning to winning ways against the Steelmen at Parkhead.
He said: “We are a big team in Scotland and of course we want to win every game but if we lose a game, we are still the same players who have done very well this season so far.
“So hopefully we can play a good game against Motherwell, score some goals and get back on track.
“I think we were the better team against Hibs but that’s football and if you don’t score it is hard to win.
“But we are Celtic players and we don’t like to lose, we always want to win. We always think we should score goals.”
After just four points from their previous seven games, Hibs skipper James McPake was delighted to finish the year off with a home win against a side he believes remain title certainties.
The Easter Road defender hopes to take the confidence from the victory over Celtic into the Edinburgh derby against Hearts at Tynecastle on January 3.
He said: “We needed points. It wasn’t about getting the scalp of Celtic, it was about three points, especially at home because we had let the form slip a bit. I think we handled Celtic quite well. I think we created the better chances.”
“Any team will have a go when they are 1-0 down, but we were big and strong and as a team we defended brilliantly so there are a lot of positives.”
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