Celts suffer late defeat

Scottish Premierleague
Sunday, August 6, 2006
Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh

HEARTS... 2
(Bednar 49, 87)
CELTIC... 1
(Petrov 65)

AN afternoon of high drama in Edinburgh ended in a victory for Hearts as SPL champions Celtic dropped their first league points of the season.

After a goalless first period, Hearts surged into the lead through Czech Republic striker Roman Bednar early in the second half. The SPL champions fought back and levelled through Stilian Petrov before Bednar grabbed a shock last-gasp winner.

Hoops boss Gordon Strachan made just one change from last weekend’s 4-1 victory over Kilmarnock, with Paul Telfer replacing Mo Camara. As expected, Mark Wilson shifted over to the left flank, with Telfer taking up his usual right-back berth.

Having finished as runners-up last season, Hearts were looking for a positive result to take into Wednesday’s Champions League qualifier with AEK Athens and began brightly, with Michael Pospisil forcing Stephen McManus into a brave block in the opening minutes.

With only two players who featured against Yokohama F Marinos in midweek – Shunsuke Nakamura and Aiden McGeady – starting for Celtic, the Hoops gradually settled into their usual passing game.

After Petrov and Jiri Jarosik started to exert more influence, McGeady was allowed to roam and one mazy run was halted by a crude Julien Brellier challenge. Referee Stuart Dougal, a late replacement for the injured Kenny Clark, immediately brandished a yellow card but Nakamura’s delivery found no takers.

As is the norm in this fixture, both teams were competing fiercely for every loose ball. While this commitment made for an engrossing spectacle, the search for flowing football was proving elusive as both sides scrapped for every ball.

Celtic continued to look composed in possession but Hearts threatened when Bruno Aguiar’s in-swinging free-kick sped Artur Boruc’s left-hand post in the 19th minute.

The home side were forced into a change after 25 minutes when Ibrahim Tall fell heavily after tangling with McGeady. Scotland squad member Robbie Neilson replaced the Senegalese defender.

Tynescastle has often been a happy hunting ground for Petrov and the Bulgarian captain looked in the mood from the start. The midfielder linked well with Nakamura to win a corner on the left and Jarosik angled a header past the post from the Japanese star’s centre.

Minutes later, another driving Petrov run ended with Nakamura picking a loose ball at the edge of the box, but the midfielder dragged his effort wide. Celtic were visibly growing in confidence and Jarosik flashed a drive past after neat footwork from Telfer.

On the stroke of half-time Celtic again threatened. McGeady and Maciej Zurawski combined to release Telfer and his cutback was met by Kenny Miller, whose curling shot was saved at full-stretch by the Scotland goalkeeper.

While the action was non-stop on the pitch, tensions were also rising on the sidelines as the entertaining and immensely hard-fought first period drew to a close.

After Brellier had inexplicably crashed to the turf holding his face following a tussle with McGeady, Strachan was understandably furious when play was stopped with Celtic in an attacking position.

Hearts assistant manager John McGlynn then remonstrated with the Hoops manager and both were banished to the stand. Given his understandable reaction to Brellier’s initial theatrics, it seemed a harsh decision to send Strachan off.

Without their manager in the dug-out, Celtic suffered the worst possible start to the second half. Bustling Hearts striker Bednar, who had been inches away from connecting with an Aguiar cross second earlier, was sent clear on the left side of the box and beat Boruc with a low drive.

Hearts were clearly buoyed by this opener and Brellier tested Boruc with a vicious first-time volley in the 55th minute. Bednar then had a goal disallowed for offside.
However, Celtic weathered the storm and conjured up a wonderful equaliser in the 65th minute.

Zurawski picked up a clearance and fed Nakamura, who in turn sent Miller into space. The Scotland striker’s instinctive back-heel found McGeady, whose first-time pass was slammed into the top corner by the onrushing Petrov.

It was a goal of stunning quality and, with club captain Neil Lennon on for Miller, the Hoops again threatened with a long-range effort from Petrov.

With Celtic looking to build on some pressure, Stephen Pearson was then introduced for Nakamura, who had been the victim of some rough-house tactics from the Hearts players all afternoon.

The substitutions of Lennon and Pearson allowed Petrov and Jarosik more freedom to make forward runs but Hearts still posed a threat, with Boruc clawing away a low cross from Devidas Cesnauskis.

The Polish No.1 produced another confident stop from the Lithuanian winger as both sides pushed for the winner.

With Celtic seemingly in control, it was the Tynecastle side that struck in the 87th minute when Bednar latched on to Lennon’s short back-pass, rounded Boruc and rolled the ball into the empty net.

With Celtic chasing a second equaliser, Aguiar rattled the bar from long range as Hearts held out for the victory. The nature of the defeat was a cruel blow for Celtic but with 36 games remaining, there will still be numerous twists and turns in the race for the SPL championship.

WEBSITE MAN OF THE MATCH: Stephen McManus

HEARTS (4-4-2) Gordon; Tall (Neilson 24), Pressley, Berra, Wallace; Mikoliunas, Brellier, Aguiar, McCann (Cesnauskis 62) ; Pospisil (Makela 83), Bednar
Subs: Banks, Beslija, Elliot Karapidis

CELTIC (4-4-2) Boruc; Telfer, Caldwell, McManus, Wilson; Nakamura (Pearson 70), Petrov, Jarosik, McGeady; Zurawski, Miller (Lennon 67)
Subs: McGovern, Riordan, Wallace, O’Dea, Sno