Match Pictures | Matches: 2005 – 2006 | 2005-2006 Pictures
Trivia
- Two late goals from Stephen McManus stretched Celtic’s lead in the SPL to seven points as Celtic came from two behind.
Review
A cracking game, possibly the best of the season in Scotland. We quickly went down two nil which began the wailing and gnashing of teeth (as it does) as the Hearts decided to celebrate a happy new year.
Up stepped the most unlikely hero Stephen Pearson who was subbed on and changed the whole face of the game. First he grabbed a splendid goal to then push the side to an unlikely comeback victory, 3-2 win, with McManus grabbing a late double at the death.
Pearson was though the Man of the Match, and this is the game he will be best remembered for the most. A great performance and some great commitment by the guy, deserves all the plaudits that come his way.
A genuinely great game to have watched too!
Teams
Hearts:-
Gordon, Neilson, Pressley, Webster, Fyssas, Cesnauskis (Wallace 77), Hartley, Brellier, Skacel, Elliot, Jankauskas (Pospisil 88).
Subs Not Used:- Banks, MacFarlane, McAllister, Simmons, Berra.
Goals:- Jankauskas 6, Pressley 8.
Sent Off:- Fyssas (76).
Booked:- Pressley, Neilson, Hartley, Skacel.
Celtic:-
Boruc,
Telfer, Balde, McManus, Wallace,
Petrov (Pearson 50), Lennon, Nakamura, Thompson (McGeady 62),
Hartson, Maloney.
Subs Not Used:- Marshall, Lawson, Virgo, Du Wei, Camara.
Goals:- Pearson 55, McManus 87, 90.
Booked:- Balde, McManus, Hartson, Boruc.
Att: 17,358
Ref: I Brines
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Hearts 2-3 Celtic
Shaun Maloney and Stephen McManus celebrated at Tynecastle
BBC
Two late goals from Stephen McManus stretched Celtic’s lead in the SPL to seven points as they came from two behind to defeat 10-man Hearts.
Edgaras Jankauskas bundled home a cross from Paul Hartley and Steven Pressley headed the second from close range.
But Celtic substitute Stephen Pearson sidefooted home a Shaun Maloney cross.
Takis Fyssas was sent off for fouling Maloney before McManus struck one with his head and another with his foot from Shunsuke Nakamura free-kicks.
Hearts had exerted the early pressure, but it was Celtic who created and missed the first chance of a scintillating encounter.
Alan Thompson, preferred to Aiden McGeady in midfield, found Petrov unmarked at the back post with a pinpoint cross but the Bulgarian powered his header just over from eight yards.
Hearts made them pay for that immediately, as 18-year-old Calum Elliot, again deputising for the injured Roman Bednar up front, sent Hartley clear.
And the Scotland midfielder’s low pass across the face of goal was bundled into the net by Jankauskas off retreating defender Ross Wallace.
Hearts were two up after eight minutes, Pressley connecting with Rudi Skacel’s inswinging corner to power home a header at the back post.
Elliot, buoyed by a contract extension signed this week, weaved through a couple of challenges before setting up Skacel 16 yards out, but the Czech midfielder sent his low drive straight at goalkeeper Artur Boruc.
Another bit of trickery and a neat cross from the young striker found Skacel, who sent a header wide from 12 yards.
Elliot then set up Skacel with a lovely backheel and the Czech’s powerful drive from 14 yards was parried clear by Boruc.
Celtic’s cause could have been hindered by the loss of Petrov to a hamstring injury just after the break, Pearson taking over in midfield.
But the former Motherwell man made an immediate impact, playing the ball wide to Maloney and side-footing home the resulting cross from six yards.
Hearts escaped when Nakamura’s shot was spilled by goalkeeper Craig Gordon, Pearson’s follow-up struck the post and Maloney was ruled offside as he side-footed home.
The home side had to endure 14 minutes with 10 men after Fyssas departed for a last-man challenge on Maloney at the edge of the box.
And McManus made them pay, heading in a Nakamura cross then stabbing home a second after a goalmouth scramble.
Hearts: Gordon, Neilson, Pressley, Webster, Fyssas, Cesnauskis (Wallace 77), Hartley, Brellier, Skacel, Elliot, Jankauskas (Pospisil 88). Subs Not Used: Banks, MacFarlane, McAllister, Simmons, Berra.
Sent Off: Fyssas (76).
Booked: Pressley, Neilson, Hartley, Skacel.
Goals: Jankauskas 6, Pressley 8.
Celtic: Boruc, Telfer, Balde, McManus, Wallace, Petrov (Pearson 50), Lennon, Nakamura, Thompson (McGeady 62), Hartson, Maloney.
Subs Not Used: Marshall, Lawson, Virgo, Du, Camara.
Booked: Balde, McManus, Hartson, Boruc.
Goals: Pearson 55, McManus 87, 90.
Att: 17,358
Ref: I Brines
Strachan hails a classic victory
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan
Hearts 2-3 Celtic
Gordon Strachan refused to rule Hearts out the title race after his side’s 3-2 victory over Celtic’s nearest rivals in what he viewed as a “classic” game.
“It just makes us feel a bit better about ourselves,” said the Celtic boss.
“Give credit to Hearts. They bombarded us at the start and showed great power and lots of skill. We had a problem and to come back from that was excellent.
“It was a classic. The game had everything. And to come from two goals behind to win is a good feeling.”
Strachan admitted that he had to change his tactics to cope with Hearts.
“We realised by half time that we could not overpower them as they are big strong lads, so we thought we could be quicker them and put on some fresh legs,” he said.
Strachan praised substitute Stephen Pearson, whose goal brought Celtic back into the game after he replaced the injured Stilian Petrov.
New signing Roy Keane could not be registered in time to face Hearts but is available make his debut against Clyde in the Scottish Cup.
“With the way Pearo’s playing, I don’t know what I’ll do,” said Strachan.
“Stilian’s injured, so there’s a gap in midfield, but we certainly have options.”