Neither side hit top gear but Celtic reclaim top spot

BARRY ANDERSON
AT TYNECASTLE
Celtic - Maloney (7), Caldwell (19)
WITHOUT ever reaching top gear, Celtic effected a comfortable victory over lacklustre Hearts that returns them to the top of the SPL with first-half strikes from Shaun Maloney and Gary Caldwell. To compound the hosts' despair, Marius Zaliukas was ordered off for a last-man foul on Scott McDonald during the second half, although Paul Hartley missed the resultant penalty kick.

By recent standards of Hearts-Celtic matches this was a tame affair with neither side functioning at full throttle. That Gordon Strachan's had the game sewn up inside 20 minutes was indicative of the home side's performance, which lacked cohesion and offered no attacking threat.

Ironically, Zaliukas' dismissal on 51 minutes preceded a period of consolidation by Hearts but, by then, Celtic were almost at walking pace in the knowledge that victory was theirs only to throw away.

Andy Driver and Deividas Cesnauskis returned to Hearts' starting line-up and Celtic made four alterations from the team which defeated Kilmarnock in a midweek Co-operative Insurance Cup tie. This, however, did little to interrupt their momentum as the visitors fashioned an opening goal within seven minutes. After Michael Stewart had fouled Barry Robson from behind, Andy Hinkel delivered a right-sided free-kick deep into Janos Balogh's penalty area. The Hungarian opted to come and punch rather than attempt a catch, and as he fisted the ball beyond the 18-yard line Maloney returned it powerfully into the open net.

For the fifth consecutive match, Hearts had conceded the first goal and found themselves striving for a foothold in proceedings. Twelve minutes later, Celtic's advantage doubled when Caldwell capitalised on a fortunate break of the ball just yards from goal. Robson's header from Hartley's corner looped high towards the back post, McDonald's effort brought a point-blank one-handed save from Balogh and Caldwell was well placed to bundle the ball home. His use of a hand before doing so was not spotted by any official and, in truth, would have been a harsh award as he seemed to know little about it.

Hearts' only noteworthy chance during an insipid first half display was Driver's 24th minute free-kick which curved narrowly wide of Artur Boruc's left post. Csaba Laszlo, the home manager, replaced Cesnauskis with Saulius Mikoliunas ten minutes from the interval but the attacking impetus remained with Celtic through to the break.

The visitors retained their incentive into the second period and earned a penalty in the 51st minute. A loping ball out of defence was glanced on by the teenage forward Cillian Sheridan and McDonald darted in behind Zaliukas. Sensing his opponent had a clear shot at goal, the Lithuanian pulled him back and was issued a straight red card by referee Craig Thomson for a professional foul. Hartley was in charitable mood against his former club though, and sent the ball wide of Balogh's right post from the spot.

With Hearts bereft of genuine attacking nous and reduced to ten men, Laszlo's 59th minute substitution of Christian Nade was somewhat perplexing. The Frenchman's ball skills and physical presence had, at times, unsettled Celtic's defence but he was replaced by Jamie Mole for the final half hour. The effect was minimal.

Celtic appealed for another penalty when Robson fell under Berra's 66th-minute challenge. Although this was not given, referee Thomson remained lenient by refusing to book the Scotland midfielder for simulation.

The closing stages were played at a considerably lower tempo with Hearts lacking in numbers and their guests doubtless mindful of an imminent Champions League engagement with Manchester United. Mole and Stewart had shots comfortably saved by Boruc and Balogh was required to catch a couple of testing balls which entered his domain. Other than that, the game petered out with Celtic gratefully accepting three points.

Hearts (4-4-1-1): Balogh; Jonsson, Zaliukas, Berra, Wallace; Cesnauskis, Karipidis, Stewart, Driver; Aguiar; Nade. Subs: MacDonald, Palazuelos 79 (for Aguiar), Mikoliunas 35 (for Cesnauskis), Makela, Mole 59 (for Nade), Thomson, Ksanavicius.

Celtic (4-4-2): Boruc; Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Wilson; Brown, Robson, Hartley, Maloney; McDonald, Sheridan. Subs: Brown, McGeady 67 (for Maloney), Nakamura, Donati 78 (for Robson), McCourt 90 (for McDonald), O'Dea, Caddis.

Referee: Craig Thomson.

Attendance: 15,460.

Hearts promise to ban hospitality guest who verbally abused Strachan

HEARTS have promised to issue a lifetime ban to a hospitality guest who verbally abused Celtic manager Gordon Strachan in a corridor at Tynecastle today.

As Strachan left the media centre following his side's 2-0 victory, he encountered a fan from one of the stadium's hospitality suites who called him an "arsehole" before quickly exiting the stadium. The manager challenged his detractor to "say it to my face" as stewards and media officers intervened but the man in question made his way outside.

Strachan then complained to stewarding staff and Hearts issued a statement moments after the incident. A club spokesperson said: "An investigation has already started and, once the individual has been identified, appropriate action will be taken."

Stewards have apologised to Strachan and Hearts intend to ban the supporter from Tynecastle.

Taken from the Scotsman