Celtic's title push proves too much for Hearts

HEARTS 0
ANDREAS Hinkel grabbed his first goal for Celtic as the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title race was blown wide open at Parkhead.

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Scott McDonald and Hinkel were all on the scoresheet against Hearts to slash Rangers' lead at the top of the table to a single point ahead of their trip to Kilmarnock tomorrow.

The victory also ensured Celtic's fine form continued ahead of the visit of Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

It was no real surprise that Celtic manager Gordon Strachan opted against making wholesale changes following last week's emphatic 5-1 mauling of Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

Paul Hartley was spared a meeting with his old club when he was dropped to the bench to accommodate the introduction of Massimo Donati, while Hearts also made a single change following their victory over Gretna last week, with Michael Stewart making way for Eggert Jonsson.

Celtic started the game well and were denied the opener by the woodwork in the opening minutes after McDonald was fouled just outside the box by Jonsson. Shunsuke Nakamura stepped up for the free-kick and sent a curling effort crashing off the post. The ball then cannoned off the body of McDonald and into the grateful arms of Steve Banks.

Nakamura then saw a decent point-blank shot parried by the Hearts goalkeeper, before Vennegoor of Hesselink nodded across the goalmouth and wide of the upright.

It was a warning of what was to come and the big striker had more luck with 13 minutes gone. Aiden McGeady delivered the cross from the left and the Dutchman managed to connect at full stretch to stab into the bottom corner from eight yards out.

Far from crumbling, a period of pressure from Hearts followed and Celtic were forced into some desperate defending when Stephen McManus nodded an Andrius Ksanavicius ball to safety off the line.

Andrius Velicka then had a go with a long-range drive which fell just off-target, as the Edinburgh club battled to haul themselves back into the game.

The same player squandered a great chance to draw level moments later. Andrew Driver's shot was palmed to the feet of Velicka by goalkeeper Artur Boruc and the Hearts man somehow managed to rifle into the side-netting when it looked certain he would score.

After the restart Driver embarked on an impressive run, beating Hinkel for pace, before pulling the trigger from 16 yards. However, the shot was comfortably smothered by Boruc.

At the other end, Banks was called into action to make a decent save to deny Nakamura's smart shot at his left-hand post but he was left fishing the ball out of the net from the resultant corner.

Nakamura's inswinger reached the back post wh
ere the unmarked McDonald was waiting to nod home his 24th goal of the season from close range with 51 minutes on the clock.

Hearts could have had a case for a penalty when substitute Christian Nade went to ground under pressure from Lee Naylor.

Referee Dougie McDonald ruled that the challenge took place outside the box and Hearts failed to capitalise on the free-kick, Christophe Berra prodding wide.

With 15 minutes to go, Celtic put the game beyond their visitors. McGeady's back-heel found Hinkel, who produced a quality finish to smash home an unstoppable right-footed drive.

Substitute Georgios Samaras could have claimed a goal of his own in the final minutes only to look on in frustration as his thunderous effort cracked off the post.

But, by then, the outcome was not in doubt as Celtic claimed another crucial three points to keep the pressure on their Old Firm rivals.

Taken from the Scotsman