Celtic's Victor Wanyama reveals hidden talent to break spirited Hearts
Celtic 1

Wanyama 72

Hearts 0

Ewan Murray at Celtic Park
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 10 December 2011 17.51 GMT

The moment of magic that turned this game in Celtic's favour arrived from the most unlikely of sources.

Victor Wanyama has proved something of a revelation at Celtic since arriving at the club in July. Defensive qualities, physicality and an ability to pass with authority have been the key attributes of the 20-year-old's game. Goals, such as the one that went a long way to securing three points against Hearts, have not.

Celtic were in danger of running out of ideas here before Wanyama struck. With 18 minutes to play, the Kenyan scored his first goal for the club, a 25-yard stunner that breached Hearts' impressive defence.

By full-time, Celtic owed as much of a debt of gratitude to their goalkeeper, Fraser Forster, as to Wanyama. The on-loan Newcastle player saved Eggert Jonsson's penalty kick with little more than a minute of normal time remaining. Given the ongoing turmoil at Hearts, with players still waiting for their November salaries, it was difficult not to admire the professionalism of the visiting players at Celtic Park. Hearts will argue, not without justification, that they were worthy of a draw.

Given the circumstances, only the most fanatical followers of Hearts could have fancied them to claim anything from this match. Yet, in the first half particularly, the organisation of Paulo Sergio's embattled side was admirable. This didn't look like a team with decimated spirit.

An early flurry of Celtic corners passed without any real chance arising. At the other end, Scott Robinson miscontrolled a David Templeton pass at a crucial moment in front of goal. That seemed to jolt the hosts, although it was Hearts' carelessness that almost broke the deadlock. Marius Zaliukas, a player prone to such errors, almost knocked a passback beyond his own goalkeeper.

On the half hour, Gary Hooper seemed surprised when a James Forrest cross fell to him and the Celtic striker was again wasteful, 11 minutes before the break, from a Georgios Samaras cut-back.

By that stage, the home crowd had become edgy. For all Celtic's bluntness, this was credit to a Hearts team who belied any theory that their minds were elsewhere. Anthony Stokes attempted to raise the mood with a long-range effort that Marian Kello parried away. It was two Hearts breaks, though, that ended the half.

In the first, Robinson failed to properly connect with a low cross by Ryan Stevenson. Moments before the interval, Templeton and Stevenson found themselves two on two with the Celtic defence. Templeton ruined that move with a poor pass to his team-mate when going for goal would have been the smarter option.

Neil Lennon hinted at concern with Celtic's touch by withdrawing Glenn Loovens at the interval. In his place came captain Scott Brown, with the intention clear; Celtic's tempo had to improve.

Still, it was Hearts who opened the second period with attacking intent. Robinson picked up a cross by Stevenson when he should really have left the ball to Mehdi Taouil, who was in a glorious position to score. The Celtic response to that came via Stokes, who headed against the crossbar from Forrest's cross.

Just as a lull developed, Wanyama struck. Hearts were perhaps culpable for not clearing their lines sufficiently, but few could have anticipated the interest Wanyama would put on the ball's reply. The scale of celebrations that met the goal illustrated its value. Further wild scenes were to follow. Wanyama was adjudged to have handled inside his penalty area, a potentially key moment in this closely fought title race.

Hearts had missed a penalty in defeat to St Johnstone last weekend. Similar woe was encountered in Glasgow when Forster batted away Jonsson's effort. An interminable delay between the penalty being awarded and Jonsson stepping forward did not help the Icelander's cause.

At full-time Brown, who specialises in the winding-up of opposition players, entered into a verbal spat with the Hearts captain, Zaliukas, and Jamie Hamill. As ever, it all seemed a little unnecessary; Celtic should simple have celebrated the avoidance of a damaging slip-up.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer