Jim Jefferies set for SFA date on top of a touchline ban

Or perhaps some satisfaction had been gleaned from the knowledge that his side had matched Celtic for much of the first-half before being undone by a moment which led to Jefferies being sent to the stand, where he took a seat in a celebrity-heavy directors' box.

Both Billy Connolly and Rod Stewart were present as Celtic marked the 25th anniversary of Jock Stein's death with what might sound like an unproblematic victory. But no-one could say it was straightforward, although the home side might have won by more in the end had Georgios Samaras been able to apply a sure finish in what was a lively substitute's appearance.

Pat McCourt brought his shooting boots and staged his own tribute to Stein with the sort of contribution that would have had the great man purring with delight. After all, did Stein not speak about winning with invention? McCourt sparkled in a brief cameo at the end, adorning his side's victory with a trademark solo effort.

Indeed, the game came to life just after an impressive burst of singing from the Celtic fans. "Jock Stein, Jock Stein," they chanted continually, while many held up cards depicting silhouettes of the late manager, who, it was asserted in the match day programme, had taken the club "beyond the norm". The players from both sides seemed energised by the suddenly improved atmosphere, with Hearts living to regret the passing up of a chance to open the scoring. The fact Celtic then sped up the park and claimed the first goal themselves made it even more galling, as did Jefferies' contention that the goal should not have stood anyway.

He claimed Daryl Murphy had been offside when he took control of the ball after a Shaun Maloney pass. Darren Barr made a bit of a mess of trying to clear Murphy's eventual cross and saw the ball helped into the net by the on-rushing James Forrest. But no-one could convince Jefferies that play should not have been stopped long before.

It was an argument he made in a forceful manner to the stand-side linesman, Francis Andrews. Referee Willie Collum intervened and sent Jefferies to the stand, although the Hearts manager has himself taken action against the official. He has reported Collum to Scottish Premier League match day supervisor John Connolly and is looking for an apology from Collum after being spoken to "like a two-year old".

Jefferies added: "He should not be talking like that to anyone".

Jefferies is shrewd enough not to waste any time rifling through his mail for a letter from Collum. But there might be something winging its way to him from the SFA after he made a further attack on the officials following an incident in the second-half, when David Templeton was tugged back by the Celtic left-back Emilio Izaguirre. Jefferies felt strongly that it was a penalty, and revealed that the fourth official had told him that the linesman - Andrews again - thought it should have been one too. So why he decided not to raise his flag is a mystery the Hearts manager would like cleared up.

What made Jefferies fume more as he made his way up to the directors' box on the half hour was the knowledge that Hearts might have been one-up. Instead, they were one down and missing a manager.

Suso Santana was desperately unfortunate to see his shot bash back off the post after 28 minutes, following a flowing move also involving Kevin Kyle and the impressive Ryan Stevenson. The Spaniard's mood grew more desolate when Celtic used this intervention by the post as the launching pad for an attack of their own. Forrest sourced his goal from this surge forward as Hearts sought to recover their poise.

If Jefferies, from his seat in the stand, noted a very marginal off-side decision against Anthony Stokes, then he wasn't mentioning it later. The former Hibs striker had a fairly quiet debut but was robbed of a chance to score by Andrews' flag, which shot up rather sharply. Forrest, too, should have scored when straight through on goal but elected to pass rather than shoot.

Celtic did manage to add a second just before half-time. This time Maloney broke through the Hearts back-line after a pass from Joe Ledley, and the in-form winger neatly side-stepped Marian Kello and slipped the ball into the net.

Lennon has never hidden his admiration for Maloney, even if others were writing him off after an injury-plagued two years. He feels Maloney is most effective at present when playing just behind the strikers. "But it doesn't matter where you play him in the form he is in just now," he added. Lennon expects him to be called up for the next Scotland squad after Craig Levein left him out for the recent matches against Lithuania and Liechtenstein. "I'd be delighted if he wasn't, but I'd also be surprised," said the manager.

Jefferies will know how he feels. Don't talk to the Hearts manager about Scotland just now. Lee Wallace's injury when on duty for Levein's side last midweek means Jefferies was denied the left-back's services for this game, and will be without him for many more. Ruben Palazuelos had to slot back into the left-side of defence wile Eggert Jonsson continued deputising for Marius Zaliukas at centre-half. Neither player seems comfortable with this arrangement.

Taken from the Scotsman