Larsson comes up trumps to deny Hearts

THEY like to play the numbers game at Parkhead these days and, after another late show from Martin O’Neill’s side last night, the most vital statistic of all is pointing to another championship party in Glasgow’s East End before Easter.

Celtic now require a maximum of nine wins from their remaining 13 games to clinch back-to-back titles for the first time in 20 years after Henrik Larsson’s double in the final ten minutes consigned a valiant Hearts side to defeat.

For a long time, it looked as if Craig Levein’s team would become the first in 13 attempts to prise an SPL point from Parkhead this season as they defended doggedly and offered no little threat of their own when circumstances allowed.

O’Neill admitted: “Hearts were very positive, it was a much better game because of it and we had to earn the win.”

But in the end, the visitors had to bow like many before them to the predatory Larsson, who has now scored 12 goals in his last eight games against Hearts. The Magnificent Seven theme boomed around the stadium twice as he claimed his 22nd and 23rd goals of what some people bizarrely believe has been a substandard season for the Swede. Yeah, right.

Hearts manager Craig Levein said: “In the points expected column, this fixture has a zero for us, and we achieved that. I’m thrilled at the way the team are working just now and I’m disappointed for them.

“I thought we had done enough to merit a point, no more than that, but you can never afford to think like that at Parkhead or Ibrox.”

The Hearts line-up, on paper at least, promised a more adventurous approach than they had offered on their previous visit this season back in August when Levein’s defensive tactics earned severe criticism as well as a 2-0 defeat.

Ricardo Fuller was prominent as they tried to force the play in the opening stages, the in-form Jamaican forcing a corner which the Celtic defence were relieved to scramble clear.

Hearts keeper Antti Niemi, back after a month out injured, showed he was far from rusty by sparing the blushes of skipper Steven Pressley. He had lost possession to Alan Thompson, and the Finn had to claw away the Englishman’s low shot.

It was end-to-end stuff and Johan Mjallby had to look lively to clear over his own bar from a yard out as Gary Wales waited to pounce on a Fuller cross. From the resulting corner kick, Hearts threatened again and this time Celtic were relieved to see a netbound shot from Thomas Flogel blocked unwittingly by Pressley.

Celtic did not take long to reassert themselves with Larsson, having delighted the Hearts fans with a comedy fresh air swipe at the ball, soon posing more serious questions.

The Swede was denied by another fine Niemi save then directed a header from a Jackie McNamara cross just over.

Bobby Petta, recalled to the Celtic starting line-up along with Bobo Balde and Neil Lennon, had been largely anonymous in the opening 45 minutes with his lack of penetration down the left limiting his team’s attacking options. The Dutch winger finally clicked into gear at the start of the second half, a shimmy taking him beyond Flogel into the box, only for his low cross to squirm beyond Larsson’s reach and wide of the far post.

While Celtic continued to dominate, the invention of Fuller on the break offered constant hope for Hearts.

The cutest piece of skill imaginable saw him turn Balde inside out and although the move petered out, the moment was lapped up by Fuller’s fan club, who were growing ever more hopeful of Hearts taking something from the match.

Larsson almost disabused them of the notion in 62 minutes, directing a lob over the stranded Niemi only for the ball to drift inches wide of the keeper’s right hand post. As limbs began to tire on the heavy surface, chances came more regularly at both ends, with Flogel stinging Robert Douglas’ hands with a fierce shot, then McNamara heading a Thompson cross just wide.

Petta was replaced with 24 minutes left, Lubo Moravcik appearing to thunderous applause as Celtic looked to his powers of invention to force the elusive breakthrough.

There was suddenly a great sense of urgency in the stands at news of Rangers’ comeback in Fife, the anticipation of a 16-point lead at the top of the table replaced by concern the advantage might actually be reduced.

The feeling that Celtic’s perfect home league record was finally going to be tarnished grew when John Hartson flashed a header over, but we should have known better.

Ten minutes from time, Hearts were broken late, like so many before them have been this season.

Thompson’s cross from the left was precision itself, although Hearts’ defensive discipline left much to be desired as the unmarked Larsson planted a downward header just inside Niemi’s
left- hand post from close range.

The visitors were visibly shattered, and Larsson piled on the agony when he scored again with four minutes remaining, this time volleying Moravcik’s cross beyond the helpless Niemi from around eight yards.

Hearts are to returf the Tynecastle pitch described by Aberdeen captain Derek Whyte as “the worst in the SPL” after the Pittodrie club’s recent 3-1 defeat there. The work will commence after Saturday’s visit of Inverness Caley Thistle in the Tennent’s Scottish Cup.

Taken from the Scotsman