HEARTS BEAT STRONGER

THERE'S no reason to debate the issue any longer - Hearts DO have what it takes to win the title.

They left Celtic Park with a well-deserved point and still sit top of the league after facing up to both sides of the Old Firm.

For most of the season they have played silky soccer but George Burley's troops showed a different side to their character yesterday.

Hearts had to defend as Gordon Strachan's men mounted attack after attack in the second half but they held firm to escape with a draw.

It looked like Celtic would join Hearts at the SPL summit when Craig Beattie fired them into the lead after 13 minutes but Rudi Skacel bagged the leveller three minutes later.

It proved Burley's team are fighters and if the manager is given money to strengthen his squad in January it would be foolish to dismiss their title credentials. The Old Firm know they have one hell of a battle on their hands.

The Tynecastle outfit started well and showed no signs of being intimidated by the Hoops fans.

Paul Hartley let rip from 25 yards inside 90 seconds but his effort was pushed over by Polish keeper Artur Boruc Hartley was presented with the chance when towering striker Edgaras Jankauskas beat Bobo Balde in the air and it was the first of several interesting clashes between the giants.

The atmosphere was electric and it was pumped up further as the players rattled into each other. Mo Camara was fortunate not to be booked early on after a lunging challenge on Skacel.

Hearts looked the better side and caused a couple of anxious moments for Boruc.

In contrast Celtic seemed nervous and rarelymade it into the opposition half. However, Strachan's troops managed to get their noses in front against the run of play.

Skacel was harshly penalised for shoving Shunsuke Nakamura to the deck on the right wing and Celtic made the most of the set-piece.

Alan Thompson - in for Shaun Maloney - rolled the ball to Nakamura at the edge of the box and his cross to the back post was nodded back across the area by Neil Lennon.

Beattie killed the ball with a good first touch then sold Hartley a dummy to give himself a sight of goal.

The hitman let fly with a left-foot shot that deflected off Julien Brellier and soared past Steve Banks into the top left-hand corner.

Beattie's goal justified the Scotland striker's selection ahead of John Hartson with Polish ace Maciej Zurawski out injured.

Chris Sutton partnered him in attack as Lennon returned to midfield after suspension.

The changes didn't seem to spoil Celtic's momentum and Balde almost made it 2-0 in 15 minutes.

The big defender outjumped Steven Pressley but his header crashed off the base of the post.

Hearts suddenly looked out of sorts but were back in the game a minute later.

A long ball from Jankauskas should have been dealt with by Paul Telfer. However, despite Skacel breathing down his neck, the full-back decided to let it roll into the box for Boruc to collect.

It was a high-risk tactic and the Czech midfielder slid in to make a legitimate tackle on the keeper.

Boruc couldn't hold on to the ball and Skacel reacted quickest to fire into the empty net from 10 yards and silence Parkhead.

The Tynecastle ace should never have been presented with the chance but deserves enormous credit for chasing a lost cause and claiming his eighth SPL goal.

Hearts grabbed control of the game after the leveller and Jankauskas should have scored with a chip that drifted wide.

Burley's men weren't allowing Celtic to play their free-flowing passing game.

Whenever the Hoops had possession in their own half Hearts had at least three players pressing the ball, closing down options and forcing the long-ball tactic.

But the Hoops almost got back in front when the impressive Stilian Petrov shot inches wide.

The tackles were still flying in and Sutton was booked for a push on Pressley. The Jambos skipper was then involved in another flashpoint as he lunged into Thompson.

Elvis went into the book and the Celtic midfielder also picked up a yellow for his reaction Pressley could have no complaints and should cut out the finger wagging and concentrate on becoming a better defender.

Seconds later Thompson almost scored with a powerful left-foot shot that was turned away by Banks.

It was a decent save but the stand-in keeper looked nervous all afternoon.

Craig Gordon should be back in the team when he returns from his ban.

The pace was just as fast and furious after the break and Telfer had a 30-yard strike saved by Banks.

Boruc showed his value to Celtic again in 58 minutes when he made a superb block after Skacel raced clear in a lightning break.

Most of Hearts' best moves came from the vision of Hartley.

The Scotland star found time to put his foot on the ball and steer through a couple of nice passes.

However, when it looked like his probing would lead to a goal the long legs of Balde would clear the danger.

Maloney came on for Thompson in 63 minutes and made an immediate impact by winning a free-kick 25 yards out.

The little striker curled in a great effort with his right foot and it looked a cert until Banks got up to his left to tip the free-kick over.

Fellow sub Hartson wasted another chance in 75 minutes after good work from Nakamura.

The Welshman could have passed for the unmarked Maloney but hit a strike well wide.

Hartson then set up Sutton but his header from eight yards went straight into the arms of Banks.

It was the last save the Jambos keeper had to make

ref watch

DOUGIE McDONALD did well to keep control as some tasty challenges flew in. Can be pleased with his display. Rating: 7/10

Taken from the Sunday Mail