Celtic 1 Hearts 1

Hearts cemented their Bank of Scotland Premier League title credentials with a well-deserved point at Celtic Park.

Rudi Skacel's eighth league goal of the season maintained the Jambos' unbeaten start to the season to keep the Edinburgh club at the top of the table after 10 games.

Celtic striker Craig Beattie had given the home side the lead in the 13th minute with a deflected drive from the edge of the box.

However, just three minutes later, Skacel capitalised on some loose play by defender Paul Telfer and goalkeeper Artur Boruc to draw Hearts level with a goal from 12 yards out.

Before kick-off Celtic fans in the Jock Stein Stand held up cards showing 'Lennon 18' in tribute to the return of the Hoops' skipper Neil Lennon after suspension.

However, it was the visitors who threatened first when a Paul Hartley drive from 25 yards was tipped over the bar by Boruc for a corner.

In the 10th minute, a Skacel free-kick whipped in from the right flew across the Celtic six-yard box but found no takers.

There were close calls at either end but it was the home side who took the lead in the 13th minute.

Hearts failed to clear their lines following a short burst of Celtic pressure and Beattie picked up the loose ball at the edge of the penalty area to drive a left-foot shot goalwards.

But the effort took a deflection to guide the ball past Hearts goalkeeper Steve Banks.

Then, Celtic defender Bobo Balde's back-post header from an Alan Thompson corner crashed off the post.

However, in the 16th minute, following a long through pass by Edgaras Jankauskas, Skacel won a tussle with Telfer and Boruc.

When the ball broke, the Jambos' midfielder was up first to slam the ball into the net from 12 yards out.

In the 25th minute, the visitors should have taken the lead when midfielder Samuel Camazzola sent Jankauskas through with a clever pass, but the striker thrashed his shot high over the bar.

Hoops' midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura sent a 25-yard shot wide moments before Stilian Petrov came closer with an effort from similar distance.

The home side were gradually taking control and, in the 41st minute Banks pulled off a good save from a Thompson drive from distance which was heading for the top corner.

Then, seven minutes after the break, only a fine Banks' save from Telfer's powerful deflected drive from distance kept the home side from taking the lead again.

On the hour, Skacel worked a wonderful one-two with Jankauskas at the edge of the Hoops' penalty area and only a fine close-range block by the alert Boruc prevented the Czech Republic player grabbing his second.

In the 64th minute, Celtic boss Gordon Strachan replaced Thompson with Shaun Maloney and, a minute later, he produced a curling free-kick from 30 yards which had Banks stretching to concede a corner.

At the other end, Hearts defender Andy Webster ballooned a shot from 16 yards high over the bar.

Michal Pospisil should have done better than head Skacel's terrific free-kick from wide on the touchline over the bar from barely six yards out.

At the other end, Chris Sutton headed a Maloney free-kick over in a similar situation to the groans of the home supporters.

Hoops' substitute John Hartson had came on for Lennon and the Welshman set up Sutton with a simple header, but Banks saved easily.

But the Tynecastle side held on for the point to keep them three points clear of Celtic at the top of the SPL.

Teams

Celtic Boruc, Telfer, Balde, McManus, Camara, Petrov, Lennon (Hartson 70), Nakamura (Agathe 84), Thompson (Maloney 63), Sutton, Beattie.

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Virgo, McGeady, Wallace.

Booked: Sutton, Thompson.

Goals: Beattie 13.

Hearts Banks, Neilson, Pressley, Webster, Fyssas, Skacel, Brellier, Hartley, Camazzola, Jankauskas, Pospisil (Elliot 78).

Subs Not Used: MacDonald, McAllister, Simmons, Mikoliunas, Wallace, Tall.

Booked: Skacel, Pressley, Brellier.

Goals: Skacel 16.

Att: 60,100

Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com