Mixu Paatelainen's side failed to win a Uefa Cup spot

Hibernian manager Mixu Paatelainen bemoaned his side's lack of a cutting edge after defeat to Celtic ended his side's Uefa Cup qualification hopes.

"I felt we passed the ball decently, but Celtic are a good team and any mistake you get punished," he said.

"We never really took care of our ball in the final third.

"I felt we were a little bit blunt in front of goal - that's where you must be at you best in order to win matches. Today we didn't do that."

Hibs can no longer catch third-placed Motherwell, who visit Easter Road on the final day of the season.

And Paatelainen will have to be content with a European venture into the Intertoto Cup at the beginning of next season.

Hibs did put the home side under some pressure with Celtic keeper Artur Boruc making saves to deny Steven Fletcher, Guillame Beuzelin and Clayton Donaldson.

"All credit to Boruc and the whole Celtic defence, they defended well," added the Hibs boss.

"We are disappointed that we didn't qualify for the Uefa Cup, but when I arrived in January I felt that Motherwell and Dundee United were too far ahead of us.

"Credit to the boys, they fought tremendously hard, but unfortuately we were a little bit short."