Celtic 4 Hearts 1: match report

Showing his worth: Gary Hooper, who is wanted by Norwich, scored twice for Celtic against Hearts Photo: REUTERS

By Ewing Grahame

Celtic's procession towards a second successive Scottish Premier League title continued with a 4-1 victory over Heart of Midlothian which was even more comprehensive than the scoreline suggests.

The tone for the afternoon was set when a pass from Adam Matthews ricocheted off Mehdi Taouil, constituting a perfect one-two for the full-back, who squared for Gary Hooper to prod home from close range

The second goal arrived just 10 minutes later. Kris Commons, who had been giving left-back Kevin McHattie a torrid time, bamboozled him once again to engineer an opening for himself.

Jamie MacDonald got down well to push away his angled drive but, unfortunately for the goalkeeper, Georgios Samaras was on hand to convert the rebound.

Commons ought to have added another before the interval but shot weakly at MacDonald after once again creating space for himself.

Joe Ledley also saw a netbound shot blocked by Andy Webster after Commons had lured the goalkeeper from his line and then passed to the better-placed Welshman.

Hooper netted from another Commons cross in the 51st minute but was denied by a tight offside decision.

The visitors offered nothing as an offensive force and were grateful to MacDonald for keeping out a full-blooded half-volley from Ledley.

Former Rangers and Scotland central defender Danny Wilson made his debut for Hearts on loan from Liverpool and the 21-year-old endured an uncomfortable afternoon.

Even when Hearts reduced the leeway in the 68th minute there was a large dollop of good fortune involved: Jason Holt's shot from 15 yards was well covered by Lukasz Zaluska until it took a massive deflection off Mikael Lustig.

An equaliser was never on the cards, though, and Hooper sealed the outcome five minutes from time, taking a return pass from Lustig before beating MacDonald low to his right.

Lassad Nouioui completed the scoring in stoppage time with a clinical finish at the far post from Emilio Izaguirre's deep cross.

Afterwards Neil Lennon, who is hoping to keep his squad intact for next month's Champions League last-16 clash with Juventus, said: "I thought Gary was brilliant, he was at his best. He got two goals, but I think his all-round game was top class.

"We had a chat last night after speaking to his representatives and we wanted to make our position clear to him and he is quite comfortable with it all.

"We have made it clear that we are not selling him, we don't want him to go, especially at this juncture of the season.

"However, everyone has their price and what Gary's price is will be down to the board and myself to decide.

"What we were offered on Thursday was nowhere near our valuation of the player.

"We don't have a set figure, however, goalscorers are at a premium and Gary is a goalscorer so we will set the bar pretty high for him.

"I am hearing that they (Norwich) might come again but good luck to them on that."

The former Celtic skipper stressed that he would not unnecessarily stand in the way of Hooper moving on to bigger things.

He said: "He is at a big club as it is and he is in the Champions League.

"His ambition possibly is to play in the Premier League and I think he is good enough to do it now, there is no question about that. It just depends on the level he wants to play at and I don't think he is far away from international level as well.

"I mentioned him to (England manager) Roy (Hodgson) last week and he said he is keeping tabs on the two boys (including goalkeeper Fraser Forster) so it's all good.

"I am not going to stop any of the guys' progress because I wouldn't have wanted that done to myself, but I am the manager of the club and they have to do what (chief executive) Peter Lawwell and I think is best for the club's interests and, in the short term, it is keeping Gary Hooper here.

"But we still have two weeks to go of the transfer window and the last week gets pretty heavy.

"I am sure he is on the radar of plenty of clubs."

Inverness Caledonian Thistle tightened their grip on second place with a comfortable 3-0 home victory over Aberdeen. Andrew Shinnie opened the scoring and Billy McKay did the rest of the damage.

Dundee United manager Peter Houston had revealed on Thursday that he intended to leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the current campaign. However, it is understood that certain board members at Tannadice believe that it would be better for all concerned if he left sooner rather than later.

His side came from behind at Rugby Park to win 3-2. Johnny Russell's hat-trick was sandwiched between goals by Kilmarnock captain Manuel Pascali.

St Mirren had earlier been humiliated at home by Ross County. A beautifully struck free-kick from Richard Brittain gave the Highlanders a first-half lead and, although Steven Thompson equalised after the break, Derek Adams' side took advantage of some dreadful defending to run out 4-1 winners.

Substitute Sam Morrow restored their lead and a brace from debutant Ivan Sproule secured the points. Mark Brown also saved a Lewis Guy penalty kick with his leg.

Bottom club Dundee shocked hosts Hibernian by taking the lead at Easter Road through John Baird, only for Leigh Griffiths to equalise

Taken from telegraph.co.uk