Celtic 1 - 0 Hearts

Page last updated at 17:13 GMT, Saturday, 10 December 2011
By Martin Conaghan
BBC Scotland

Celtic survived a last-minute penalty scare to claim a nerve-wracking win over Hearts in Glasgow.

It was a full 72 minutes before Victor Wanyama put the hosts ahead with a fine solo strike from the edge the area.

Anthony Stokes had earlier headed a James Forrest cross off the underside of the bar after Hearts' Scott Robinson came close with a long-range effort.

Goalkeeper Fraser Forster kept out an Eggert Jonsson penalty with 60 seconds remaining to hand Celtic a vital win.

The victory puts Celtic back to within four points of Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League table, while Hearts hang on to fifth place behind St Johnstone.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon made one enforced change to his side for the match, with defender Adam Matthews ruled out due to an ankle injury and replaced with Charlie Mulgrew.

Hearts made three changes, with Ian Black, Scott Robinson and Ryan Stevenson coming in for Andy Webster, John Sutton and Rudi Skacel.

Celtic dominated the early stages, with Georgios Samaras, Stokes, Gary Hooper and Cha Du-Ri all probing the Hearts defence.

A sterling chance landed at the feet of Hooper in the six yard area, but he toe-poked the ball past goalkeeper Marian Kello's right-hand post.

Moments later, Hooper latched on to a Samaras cut-back from the goal-line, but the ball rebounded off his ankle and rolled into Kello's hands.

As half-time approached, Stokes shot from 25 yards out and warmed the hands of Kello, but Hearts' strategy of limiting Celtic around the penalty area continued to benefit the visitors.

After the break, Hearts gave Celtic a scare with an early free-kick from the boot of Black that Forster edged out for a corner.

Hearts continued to grow in confidence, with a Scott Robinson shot from 30 yards out that inched past Celtic's right-hand post - then Beram Kayal tested Kello at the other end with a low drive from 18 yards.

James Forrest blitzed down the right flank on the hour mark and flighted in a ball that Stokes headed off the Hearts crossbar.

However, Hearts continued to frustrate Celtic's efforts going forward and Robinson earned himself a yellow card for time-wasting when the hosts were preparing to take a free-kick.

Wanyama finally broke the deadlock with a casual strike from the edge of the D in the 72nd minute, blasting into the top left-hand corner of Kello's goal after a Charlie Mulgrew free-kick was deflected out by Adrian Mrowiec.

A free-kick swung in by Ki Sung-Yeung met the head of Samaras in the 76th minute but drifted wide of the mark.

Hearts could have pulled one back following a controversial decision in the final minute when Wanyama was penalised for a challenge inside the area, but Jonsson was thwarted by a fine Forster save from the spot.

Tempers frayed in the three anxious minutes of added time, but Celtic held out to claim the three points.
Live text and stats

Saturday, 10 December 2011

Scottish Premier
Home Team Score Away Team Time
Celtic 1-0 Hearts FT
(HT 0-0)

Wanyama 72

Hide team line-ups and match stats
Celtic

01 Forster
05 Majstorovic
11 Cha Du-Ri
21 Mulgrew
22 Loovens (Brown 46)
33 Kayal (Ki Sung-Yeung 67)
67 Wanyama
09 Samaras
10 Stokes (Bangura 90+3)
49 Forrest
88 Hooper

Substitutes

24 Zaluska,
06 Wilson,
56 Twardzik,
08 Brown,
18 Ki Sung-Yeung,
46 McGeouch,
14 Bangura

Hearts

25 Kello
17 McGowan yellow card
26 Zaliukas
02 Hamill
04 Jonsson
08 Black (Obua 78)
12 Templeton yellow card (Driver 78)
16 Stevenson
21 Taouil
31 Mrowiec
27 Robinson yellow card (Elliott 78)

Substitutes

30 MacDonald,
13 Obua,
53 Mullen,
11 Driver,
19 Skacel,
10 Elliott,
18 Novikovas

Ref: MurrayAtt: 49,023
CELTIC
HEARTS
Possession

Celtic 54%
Hearts 46%

Attempts on target

Celtic 5
Hearts 1

Attempts off target

Celtic 3
Hearts 3

Corners

Celtic 7
Hearts 6

Fouls

Celtic 9
Hearts 14

Show all live text

Final Result
93:09 The referee blows for the end of the match.
Full Time
90:00+1:37 Victor Wanyama restarts play with the free kick.
90:00+1:37 Substitution Mohamed Bangura is brought on as a substitute for Anthony Stokes.
90:00+1:37 Ryan McGowan concedes a free kick for a foul on James Forrest.
89:30 Corner taken by Mehdi Taouil from the right by-line, clearance made by Victor Wanyama.
89:19 Short corner taken by Jamie Hamill.
89:13 Placed penalty taken by Eggert Jonsson saved by Fraser Forster. Celtic 1-0 Hearts.
87:18 Scott Brown is penalised for a handball.
87:01 Mehdi Taouil takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post.
86:46 Stephen Elliott crosses the ball, blocked by Daniel Majstorovic.
86:06 The offside flag is raised against Anthony Stokes. Marian Kello takes the indirect free kick.
85:23 A cross is delivered by Charlie Mulgrew, clearance made by Adrian Mrowiec.
84:05 Mehdi Taouil takes a shot. Fraser Forster makes a save.
83:52 The ball is delivered by Andrew Driver, Du-Ri Cha gets a block in.
82:19 The ball is swung over by Anthony Stokes, Marius Zaliukas manages to make a clearance.
82:05 Anthony Stokes produces a cross, Marian Kello makes a save.
81:23 The assistant referee signals for offside against Ryan Stevenson. Free kick taken by Fraser Forster.
79:22 Georgios Samaras takes a shot. Save by Marian Kello.
79:04 Andrew Driver concedes a free kick for a foul on Du-Ri Cha. Free kick taken by Sung-Yeung Ki.
77:48 Substitution Ian Black leaves the field to be replaced by David Obua.
77:14 Substitution Stephen Elliott on for Scott Robinson.
77:14 Substitution Andrew Driver is brought on as a substitute for David Templeton.
76:57 Headed effort from inside the area by Georgios Samaras misses to the left of the target.
76:24 Scott Brown takes the direct free kick.
76:24 Booking David Templeton is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
76:18 David Templeton concedes a free kick for a foul on Du-Ri Cha.
74:39 Unfair challenge on Scott Brown by Ian Black results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
71:36 The assist for the goal came from Charlie Mulgrew.
71:36 GOAL - Victor Wanyama:Celtic 1 - 0 Hearts Victor Wanyama grabs a goal from outside the area to the top right corner of the goal. Celtic 1-0 Hearts.
70:52 Charlie Mulgrew delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, Adrian Mrowiec manages to make a clearance.
70:52 Booking The referee books Scott Robinson for dissent.
70:38 Unfair challenge on Anthony Stokes by Marius Zaliukas results in a free kick.
68:02 Scott Brown concedes a free kick for a foul on Mehdi Taouil. Eggert Jonsson takes the direct free kick.
67:28 The ball is swung over by Charlie Mulgrew, save by Marian Kello.
66:44 Fraser Forster takes the indirect free kick.
66:44 Substitution Sung-Yeung Ki replaces Beram Kayal.
66:44 Mehdi Taouil is ruled offside.
65:23 Outswinging corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
65:05 Corner taken left-footed by Charlie Mulgrew, Marian Kello makes a save.
64:49 Centre by Du-Ri Cha, blocked by Ryan McGowan.
63:14 Handball decision goes against Mehdi Taouil. Direct free kick taken by Fraser Forster.
62:34 Foul by Georgios Samaras on Jamie Hamill, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Jamie Hamill.
61:48 Direct free kick taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
61:48 Booking Ryan McGowan is booked.
61:38 Unfair challenge on James Forrest by Ryan McGowan results in a free kick.
60:41 Anthony Stokes takes a shot.
60:00 Free kick awarded for a foul by Scott Brown on Ian Black. Marius Zaliukas takes the free kick.
59:43 Beram Kayal takes a shot. Save made by Marian Kello.
59:00 The ball is delivered by Charlie Mulgrew, clearance made by Adrian Mrowiec.
57:32 Beram Kayal takes a shot. Marian Kello makes a save.
55:16 Shot from long distance by Scott Robinson goes wide of the left-hand upright.
54:43 Corner taken right-footed by Ian Black from the left by-line, save by Fraser Forster.
51:53 Georgios Samaras fouled by Ian Black, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by James Forrest.
50:16 Foul by Scott Brown on Ian Black, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Jamie Hamill.
49:34 Beram Kayal gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ian Black. Marian Kello takes the free kick.
48:34 Beram Kayal fouled by Ryan McGowan, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Victor Wanyama.
47:49 Ryan McGowan concedes a free kick for a foul on James Forrest. Free kick taken by Beram Kayal.
47:06 Georgios Samaras delivers the ball, Adrian Mrowiec manages to make a clearance.
46:20 Corner taken by Ian Black from the left by-line, save by Fraser Forster.
45:26 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Scott Robinson by Scott Brown. Free kick taken by Ian Black.
45:01 The referee gets the second half started.
45:01 Substitution Scott Brown is brought on as a substitute for Glenn Loovens.
Half Time
45:00+0:59 The half-time whistle blows.
44:07 Centre by Anthony Stokes, Marius Zaliukas manages to make a clearance.
43:40 The ball is crossed by David Templeton, Du-Ri Cha gets a block in.
43:07 The ball is crossed by Georgios Samaras, clearance made by Adrian Mrowiec.
42:48 Ryan Stevenson sends in a cross, Charlie Mulgrew manages to make a clearance.
39:59 Ryan Stevenson delivers the ball, Charlie Mulgrew makes a clearance.
38:54 Eggert Jonsson is penalised for a handball. Free kick taken by Beram Kayal.
37:12 Du-Ri Cha sends in a cross, Marius Zaliukas manages to make a clearance.
35:53 Free kick awarded for a foul by Scott Robinson on Beram Kayal. Beram Kayal restarts play with the free kick.
35:30 Du-Ri Cha delivers the ball, clearance made by Ryan McGowan.
35:02 The ball is crossed by Du-Ri Cha.
33:54 Foul by Anthony Stokes on Eggert Jonsson, free kick awarded. Marius Zaliukas takes the free kick.
31:27 Shot by Scott Robinson from just outside the area goes over the net.
30:04 Close range effort by Gary Hooper goes wide of the left-hand upright.
29:00 Ryan McGowan concedes a free kick for a foul on James Forrest. Strike on goal comes in from Charlie Mulgrew from the free kick.
25:29 Foul by Ryan McGowan on James Forrest, free kick awarded. Charlie Mulgrew takes the free kick.
24:27 Georgios Samaras produces a cross, Marian Kello makes a save.
22:51 A cross is delivered by Charlie Mulgrew, clearance by Marius Zaliukas.
22:21 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Charlie Mulgrew, save made by Marian Kello.
22:15 Centre by Du-Ri Cha, blocked by Ryan McGowan.
20:34 Unfair challenge on Du-Ri Cha by David Templeton results in a free kick. Charlie Mulgrew takes the direct free kick.
19:53 The referee blows for offside. Daniel Majstorovic takes the indirect free kick.
18:38 James Forrest sends in a cross.
16:47 Gary Hooper is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Marian Kello restarts play with the free kick.
16:00 Short corner taken by Ian Black.
15:39 The ball is crossed by Scott Robinson, blocked by Victor Wanyama.
14:44 Inswinging corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew, clearance made by Jamie Hamill.
14:04 Corner from the left by-line taken by Charlie Mulgrew, clearance by Marius Zaliukas.
12:44 Foul by Ian Black on Beram Kayal, free kick awarded. Du-Ri Cha restarts play with the free kick.
12:04 The ball is swung over by Du-Ri Cha, Adrian Mrowiec manages to make a clearance.
11:20 Charlie Mulgrew takes the inswinging corner, Jamie Hamill makes a clearance.
10:59 Corner from the right by-line taken by Charlie Mulgrew, clearance made by Marius Zaliukas.
7:28 The assistant referee flags for offside against Anthony Stokes. Free kick taken by Marian Kello.
5:44 The ball is swung over by Jamie Hamill, save by Fraser Forster.
3:31 Foul by Gary Hooper on Marius Zaliukas, free kick awarded. Eggert Jonsson restarts play with the free kick.
3:01 Shot by Scott Robinson from outside the box goes high over the target.
2:42 The ball is swung over by Jamie Hamill, clearance by Glenn Loovens.
0:31 Unfair challenge on Ryan Stevenson by Daniel Majstorovic results in a free kick. Jamie Hamill takes the direct free kick.
0:00 The referee starts the match.

Taken from the BBC