STRACHAN THWARTED BY JAMBOS

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan admits the gamble of bringing back Neil Lennon and Alan Thompson for the Bank of Scotland Premier League match with Hearts did not pay off.

The Hoops' boss restored the pair to his starting line-up after the team's best display of the season in the 5-0 win at Livingston two weeks ago.

Lennon returned from suspension while Thompson had recovered from an ankle injury.

But both players were withdrawn from the 1-1 draw with Hearts in the second period at Celtic Park with Shaun Maloney and John Hartson coming on as a replacements.

However, the Celtic manager admits the Jambos' defensive strategy thwarted his plans for the returning players.

Strachan said: "We had a plan for a couple of days, but it didn't really work out as well as we expected because Hearts defended really well.

"I thought Neil and Alan did all right, but, because of the number of games they have missed, their match fitness was not quite up to scratch.

"But it was just a knock for Alan, there was a problem with his breathing but the fitness will come back.

"He has trained very hard, but Hearts gave us a really tough game.

"If we had played a team with less stamina, ability and organisation, then it might have been easier for the two lads, but they did their best and that is all I can ask.

"Both of them are working hard, that's for sure, and we had good substitutes coming on and doing well for us.

"Shaun and John lifted the game and made it a hectic last half-hour for Hearts.

"We couldn't do any more in terms of pressing and pushing and you've got to give credit to Hearts, they did very well."

Craig Beattie opened the scoring for Celtic in the 13th minute but the SPL leaders hit back just three minutes leaders with Rudi Skacel grabbing his eighth league goal of the season.

And Hearts manager George Burley praised his side's resilience after fighting back from the loss of an early goal.

He said: "We have shown character in abundance this season so far and, even when we conceded the goal, there was no panic and the heads did not drop.

"There was still a long time left to play and we kept at it. We started very well and took the game to Celtic.

"We had one or two little opportunities early on and then Celtic scored against the run of play, but we kept going and got a deserved equaliser.

"In the second half, it could have gone either way. There were chances for both sides, but I was very pleased with the way my team performed."

Taken from sportinglife.com