BRENDAN Rodgers said it would have been a “crime” had his Celtic side lost their unbeaten domestic run against Hibernian yesterday.

It looked like the Ladbrokes Premiership leaders were on course for a comfortable win at Easter Road when Scott Sinclair scored twice in four minutes after the break.

However, Hibs replied with two goals in three minutes from former Celtic defender Efe Ambrose and substitute Oli Shaw, and Mikael Lustig cleared a shot from the latter off the line in a thrilling last few minutes when either side could have won.

Rodgers said after the 2-2 draw that stretched Celtic’s unbeaten run to 68 matches: “That was the craziest thing about it as you could actually lose the game – and to lose the game would have been a crime.

“We were 2-0 up going into the last 15-16 minutes and we should have been probably four or five up.

“They didn’t really have anything against us. There was one chance in the first half when Martin Boyle got down the right and got a shot away but apart from that, we had great comfort in the game as a team and at 2-0 up with 15 minutes to go, it looked as though we could go on and get more goals.

“In football, 2-0 is the most dangerous scoreline you can have as at 2-1 – from them being not in the game really – they have that momentum and they can be free and there is no pressure, they can just run and play. On reflection, I was really happy with a lot of the game, how we played, our composure, as it’s a tough place to come and play.

“They are a tough team. I thought we were much the better side but without getting the result.”

Asked about the contest between Scott Brown and fellow Scotland midfielder John McGinn, which provided an enthralling sub-plot, Rodgers backed his captain to the hilt. “There is no contest,” he said. “Scott Brown was the exceptional midfield player on the pitch.

“I think John McGinn is a good player, good drive, good energy but Scott Brown is the exceptional midfield player in Scotland and he has shown that not just in Scotland but in the Champions League. [McGinn] will have a way to go before he would be at that level.”

Hibs manager Neil Lennon – who admitted his interest in signing former Aberdeen player Niall McGinn, who is back from a stint with Gwangju in South Korea and who watched from the stands as a guest – was at odds with his fellow Northern Irishman’s assessment.

“I totally disagree with that,” said the former Celtic manager, although admitted it “would have been for- tunate” had Hibs snatched the win. “I thought McGinn was superb, phys-ically, his football was good.

“I don’t remember Broony dominating the game and in the last 20 minutes John got stronger when we put him back in his natural position. I thought he was magnificent. Maybe Brendan sees it differently from me. I thought McGinn was a cut above today.”