Scottish Premier
Hearts 0
Celtic 2

* Maloney 7,
* Caldwell 20

* Ewan Murray at Tynecastle

Maybe Celtic have written off European progress after all. Any thoughts that Gordon Strachan's side had one eye on Wednesday's visit of Manchester United were comprehensively dismissed within 20 minutes in Edinburgh.

Goals from Shaun Maloney and Gary Caldwell amid arguably Celtic's most impressive opening of the season negotiated this potentially tricky hurdle. The visitors even had the luxury of missing a second-half penalty, even if their manager left Tynecastle in rather grumpy mood.

Hearts took 83 minutes to register a shot on target and such failings clearly rankled with one of their followers who became involved in a spat with Strachan as he left his post-match press conference. An agitated Celtic manager told onlookers that he had been called "an arsehole" by the fan who had just left a hospitality suite. No formal complaint was lodged but Hearts will be investigating the incident. In truth, the assailant should really have directed his ire closer to home.

The hosts were swatted aside with similar ease to how United dealt with Celtic a fortnight ago. Marius Zaliukas' dismissal amid the incident that led to Paul Hartley firing a spot-kick wide on 51 minutes merely compounded Hearts' misery.

"It was hard until the two goals went in," said Strachan. "Wednesday is a different game and we need to find a plan for that. We will need to be at our best."

Fortune was on Celtic's side yesterday even if it was not required, with Caldwell using an arm to keep the ball in play before heading home his goal from close range.

Maloney's strike was more straightforward. Janos Balogh punched an Andreas Hinkel free-kick to the feet of the player who swerved a half-volley into the net.

"The early goals were like someone putting a knife into my heart," said Laszlo, "We have to stop losing early goals."

Man of the match Barry Robson (Celtic)

Taken from the Guardian/Observer