Celtic 2-0 Hearts: Hosts go two points clear at top

Celtic are “shut” to finishing a deal for Sead Haksabanovic, supervisor Ange Postecoglou confirmed, after his facet overcame an ungainly take a look at in opposition to Hearts to maneuver two points clear at the Scottish Premiership summit.

Hearts improved after the break, however had no photographs heading in the right direction and ended with 9 males after second yellows for Alex Cochrane and Toby Sibbick late on.

Victory maintains Celtic’s good begin of 4 straight victories. And they’re set to bolster their squad with the signing of 23-year-old Montenegro winger Haksabanovic, who’s in search of to go away Russian facet Rubin Kazan.

“Yeah I believe that is a good evaluation, it is getting shut,” Postecoglou advised Sky Sports.

Hearts, whose line-up mirrored the significance of their looming Europa League play-off second leg with FC Zurich, misplaced for the primary time within the league this season.

Craig Gordon, Barrie McKay and Lawrence Shankland had been among the many key gamers rested as Hearts boss Robbie Neilson made seven modifications from the 2-1 first-leg defeat in Switzerland.

But even accounting for the upheaval, the guests’ defending was dire as they fell behind within the opening quarter-hour.

Kyogo was left on their own six yards out to volley previous stand-in goalkeeper Ross Stewart after Daizen Maeda wriggled clear of Cochrane and whipped over a cross from the suitable.

Hearts regrouped and manfully prevented additional injury earlier than the break, with Jota lashing into the side-netting, Matt O’Riley knocking an acrobatic effort huge and Maeda wastefully planting a header into Stewart’s arms from shut vary.

Hearts had been too usually hurried in possession, however minimize Celtic open when neat interaction in midfield allowed Gary Mackay-Steven to spring Josh Ginnelly clear, just for the winger to tug huge.

The guests’ perception blossomed as Celtic began the second half in sloppy trend. Ginnelly screwed one other effort huge whereas Sibbick was unable to attach with Alan Forrest’s tempting ball throughout the face of objective.

Yet Hearts had been unable to bother goalkeeper Joe Hart, even after throwing on McKay and Shankland for the ultimate half hour.

Celtic’s seek for a second objective was thwarted by Stewart’s positive save from O’Riley, with substitute Hatate bundling the rebound a foot previous. But Giakoumakis lastly discovered a approach by when he bundled in Josip Juranovic’s fizzed supply.

Man of the match – Kyogo Furuhashi

Solid Celtic carry on rolling – evaluation

While Celtic’s flawless begin continues, they made arduous work of overcoming a patchwork Hearts facet.

The hosts allowed slackness to seep into their play within the second half, with free passes and careless possession giving their guests a foothold.

Still, Celtic’s defensive solidity noticed them by the rocky patch, with a 3rd clear sheet secured whereas limiting the guests to a meagre XG (anticipated targets) of 0.15.

At the opposite finish, Celtic created greater than sufficient probabilities to make the sport secure lengthy earlier than Giakoumakis’ objective. Having come off the bench to web in successive video games, has the Greece striker earned a begin subsequent weekend?

One look at the Hearts teamsheet confirmed Neilson’s priorities this week clearly lie elsewhere, with the supervisor taking no dangers on his primary males amid varied bumps and bruises.

The early concession may have opened the floodgates, however Hearts dug in impressively and knocked Celtic off their stride after the break.

However, they had been bereft of leading edge and their set-piece deliveries lacked high quality because the Edinburgh males’s plucky efforts got here to nothing.

What did they are saying?

Celtic supervisor Ange Postecoglou: “It was a recreation the place there was no actual move to it. It was very stop-start, arduous to get actual tempo. Some of it was our personal doing.

“Through that, we nonetheless maintained management and despite the fact that it was 1-0 for a very long time, I by no means felt threatened. Their keeper pulled off two or three good video games to maintain them within the recreation.”

Hearts supervisor Robbie Neilson: “I used to be happy with the gamers that got here in. We haven’t got a giant squad however we have actual high quality within the depth of the squad.

“For massive durations of the sport we performed effectively. Until the referee sends two of our gamers off, we’re nonetheless within the recreation and we’re in place.”

What’s subsequent?

Hearts are banking on house benefit serving to them flip the tie round after they face Swiss champions FC Zurich within the Europa League play-off second leg at Tynecastle on Thursday (20:00 BST).

They then host St Johnstone within the Premiership subsequent Sunday (15:00), with Celtic away to Dundee United the identical day (12:00).