By Ronnie Esplin, PA Sport

Champions Celtic lost 3-1 to Hearts and had manager Gordon Strachan sent to the stands before being presented with the Bank of Scotland Premier League trophy captured last week at Kilmarnock.

After failing to make any sort of impact in the first half, the Jambos turned into party poopers after the break.

In a stormy second half at Celtic Park, Kestutis Ivaskevicius and Andrew Driver put the Gorgie side into a two-goal lead within a two-minute period.

Former Jambos skipper Steven Pressley quickly pulled a goal back for the Hoops but a contentious penalty from Michal Pospisil soon after restored the Tynecastle side's cushion.

But despite throwing everything at Hearts' goal in the dying stages the Hoops had to accept their second home league defeat of the season before showing the SPL trophy off to their fans who waited behind after the final whistle, concerned little about the score.

A full house enthusiastically welcomed the champions on to the pitch and skipper Neil Lennon, who will leave at the end of the season, was given a special cheer by the Hoops fans early on.

But although Celtic had far more of the game in the first half, their supporters were not given a goal to celebrate.

With five minutes gone Parkhead's mercurial midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura drew a decent save from Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon with a drive from the edge of the penalty area.

But it was no whirlwind start from the home side although Jiri Jarosik's left-footed effort from 18 yards called Gordon in to action again, the Scotland goalkeeper parrying the ball round the post for a corner.

In the 18th minute an Aiden McGeady drive from distance deflected off Jambos' stopper Christophe Berra for a corner, his Celtic counterpart Stephen McManus heading Nakamura's cross over the bar from barely six yards out.

Then debutant defender Jean-Joel Perrier Doumbe's cross from the right was met by Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink whose point-blank header went straight to Gordon.

Hearts midfielder Julien Brellier limped off to be replaced by Tomas Kancelskis who was fortunate not to concede a penalty moments later after tangling with Paul Hartley as the former Jambos' midfielder bore towards goal.

Another snap-shot by Jarosik after 35 minutes interrupted the increasing tedium but Gordon was perfectly placed to gather comfortably.

Moments later Celtic Park came to life momentarily after Vennegoor of Hesselink laid the ball off to McGeady at the edge of the Hearts box.

The Republic of Ireland star beat Gordon with a right-footed shot but the ball skipped inches past the post.

Another McGeady shot from a similar position minutes later was more easily saved by the Scotland goalkeeper.

Lee Wallace came on for Jose Goncalves at left back after the interval but that Jambos' substitution appeared to do little to change the pattern of play.

However, in the 58th minute, with their first effort on target, Hearts took a shock lead. Ivaskevicius robbed Nakamura in the centre of the park allowing Laryea Kingston to drive at the Celtic defence.

He returned the ball to Ivaskevicius who broke past McManus and Pressley rather easily before knocking the ball past Artur Boruc.

Two minutes later, Celtic were further in trouble when they fell two behind. Lee Naylor was booked for a foul on Kingston at the edge of the Celtic penalty area and watched in anguish as Driver curled in a wonderful free-kick past the stranded Boruc.

The home fans were stunned but the champions responded in style in the 62nd minute when Pressley pulled a goal back when he headed Nakamura's cross past Gordon from eight yards out.

However, Celtic's hopes of a comeback received a blow in the 69th minute when Pressley was adjudged, harshly it appeared, to have fouled Kingston in the penalty area, referee Stuart Dougal pointing to the spot.

After a delay to allow Kingston treatment, Jambos' striker Pospisil converted the penalty to restore the visitors' two-goal lead, with an angry Strachan sent to the stands.

As the champions swarmed around Gordon, Kingston blocked a Pressley effort on the line before the veteran Celtic defender came close with an effort from 18 yards out.

Hearts were not going to be denied however, and the Hoops had to accept a defeat that looked unlikely at the break.

Teams:

Celtic Boruc, Perrier Doumbe, Pressley, McManus, Naylor,Nakamura, Lennon (Gravesen 80), Hartley, McGeady (Riordan 81),Jarosik (Miller 73), Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Subs Not Used: Brown, O'Dea, Caldwell, Bjarnason.

Booked: Hartley, Naylor, Pressley.

Goals: Pressley 63.

Hearts Gordon, Karipidis, Berra, Zaliukas,Goncalves (Wallace 46), Mikoliunas (McCann 72),Brellier (Kancelsku 24), Kingston, Ivaskevicius, Pospisil,Driver.

Subs Not Used: Banks, Tall, Elliot, Bednar.

Booked: Mikoliunas, Driver, Wallace, Kancelsku.

Goals: Ivaskevicius 57, Driver 61, Pospisil 71 pen.

Att: 59,510

Ref: S Dougal (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com