2006-04-05: Celtic 1-0 Heart of Midlothian, Premier League

Match Pictures | Matches: 2005 – 2006 | 2005-2006 Pictures

Trivia

  • CHAMPIONS with six games still to play

  • The title race is over with six games left to play.
  • John Hartson celebrated his 31st birthday with a sweetly struck volley, to claim the title.

Review

Celtic ground out the victory with some tenacious tackling of their own and a sound display from Boruc and his defenders.

It looked as if Celtic might run away with it when Hartson got the party off to a flying start with a wonderful volley. Maciej Zurawski nodded a long punt down field from Boruc to the Welshman, who caught the ball 25 yards out and watched it bounce once before grazing the fingertips of Craig Gordon on its way into the net.

Bednar spun cleverly inside the penalty area and sent a low shot towards the bottom corner but Boruc threw himself to his left to tip the ball behind.

Celtic were struggling to build on their promising opening and Gordon comfortably saved Shunsuke Nakamura's 30-yard free-kick as the first-half came to a close.

Hearts thought they had levelled the game five minutes after the break when Webster bundled the ball home from close range, but the Scotland international had strayed offside. Hearts were claiming for a penalty when Balde mis-timed a clearance and whacked the striker, with interim manager Valdas Ivanauskas sent to the stands for his protest.

The final few minutes saw Hearts camped in and around the Celtic penalty area, but Celtic held firm to secure a league and League Cup double in Strachan's first season at the club.

Teams

Celtic:-
Boruc, Telfer, Balde, McManus, Wilson, Nakamura (Pearson 58), Petrov, Lennon, Maloney (McGeady 82), Zurawski, Hartson (Dublin 69).
Subs not used:- Marshall, Thompson, Varga, Wallace.
Goal:- Hartson3.
Booked:- Hartson, Telfer.

Hearts:-
Gordon, Neilson, Webster, Berra, Fyssas, Cesnauskis, Hartley, Brellier (Elliot 85), Mikoliunas (Skacel 62), Bednar, Jankauskas (Pospisil 54).
Subs not used:- Banks, Tall, Aguiar, Petras.
Booked:- Fyssas, Brellier, Elliot.
Sent Off:- Coach – Ivanauskas.

Att:- 59,699
Ref:- D McDonald.

Articles

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Articles

Celtic 1-0 Hearts

BBC

Celtic managed to hold off the stern challenge of Hearts and wrap up the SPL championship thanks to John Hartson's early strike.

The big striker celebrated his 31st birthday with a sweetly struck volley from distance after just three minutes.

The title race is over with six games left to play but it was far from an easy ride for Gordon Strachan's side.

Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc had to make fine saves to twice deny Roman Bednar and then Rudi Skacel.

It was a nervous night for the home support as their nearest rivals Hearts more than matched them in a bruising contest.

The visitors looked more comfortable on the ball and were quick to close Celtic down.

But Celtic ground out the victory with some tenacious tackling of their own and a sound display from Boruc and his defenders.

It looked as if Celtic might run away with it when Hartson got the party off to a flying start with a wonderful volley.

Maciej Zurawski nodded a long punt down field from Boruc to the Welshman, who caught the ball 25 yards out and watched it bounce once before grazing the fingertips of Craig Gordon on its way into the net.

Hartson hints at possible summer exit

The visiting goalkeeper was caught out by Hartson's opportunism and his positioning was not what it could have been before the strike.

Hearts responded well and almost snatched a goal back immediately.

Bednar spun cleverly inside the penalty area and sent a low shot towards the bottom corner but Boruc threw himself to his left to tip the ball behind.

Tynecastle defender Andy Webster gave Boruc a scare with a long-range lob onto the top of the net after Stephen McManus had failed to clear his lines properly.

Roman Bednar escapes from Bobo Balde and Stilian Petrov
Hearts made life difficult for Celtic
Celtic were struggling to build on their promising opening and Gordon comfortably saved Shunsuke Nakamura's 30-yard free-kick as the first-half came to a close.

Hearts thought they had levelled the game five minutes after the break when Webster bundled the ball home from close range, but the Scotland international had strayed offside.

Celtic defender Bobo Balde mis-hit a shot straight at Gordon from a good position before Boruc was at full-stretch to keep out a low, angled strike from Bednar.

The Polish keeper then had to make a similar stop to keep out an effort from Hearts substitute Skacel.

Hearts were claiming for a penalty when Balde mis-timed a clearance and whacked the striker, with interim manager Valdas Ivanauskas sent to the stands for his protest.

The final few minutes saw Hearts camped in and around the Celtic penalty area, but Celtic held firm to secure a league and League Cup double in Strachan's first season at the club.

Celtic: Boruc, Telfer, Balde, McManus, Wilson, Nakamura (Pearson 58), Petrov, Lennon, Maloney (McGeady 82), Zurawski, Hartson (Dublin 69). Subs Not Used: Marshall, Thompson, Varga, Wallace.

Booked: Hartson, Telfer. Goal: Hartson 4.

Hearts: Gordon, Neilson, Webster, Berra, Fyssas, Cesnauskis, Hartley, Brellier (Elliot 85), Mikoliunas (Skacel 62), Bednar, Jankauskas (Pospisil 54). Subs Not Used: Banks, Tall, Aguiar, Petras.

Booked: Fyssas, Brellier, Elliot.

Att: 59,699

Ref: D McDonald

Strachan hails fantastic triumph

BBC
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan
Strachan celebrates his side clinching the championship
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan was delighted to land the championship in his first season at Parkhead.

"To win by 20 points is scary," he told BBC Sport after the 1-0 victory over Hearts. "Nobody could have dreamt that after the start we had.

"After we got beat by Dunfermline here, we've gone 16 games – 14 wins and two draws – that's not bad going.

"I don't care who you are, to keep up with that you need to be a good side. These players have been fantastic."

Celtic clinched their fourth league title in six seasons thanks to John Hartson's early goal against Hearts.

With six games of the campaign remaining, the race is over and that represents a remarkable turnaround after a poor opening to Strachan's tenure at the club.

"We're not saying that we're a great side – far from it. What we're saying is that we are a side that is improving all the time," added the manager.

"We wanted to try and get the championship back after last season.

"And we wanted to get respectability back from the start to the season – and they've done that.

"Over the season,we've been involved in some great games.

"It was exciting tonight but not a great game.

"Hearts did very well and will be great adversaries over the next couple of years."

Celtic's title-winning hero John Hartson has hinted he could move on to another club in the summer, even though he has one year left on his contract.

Hartson celebrated his 31st birthday with an goal which was enough to beat Hearts 1-0 and clinch the Bank of Scotland Premier League crown.

"I need to sit down with the manager and talk with my family but it would be a massive wrench to leave," he said.

"I don't know how long I'll be here but I'll cherish the next few weeks."

But Hartson, who retired from international football with Wales earlier this year, said he was not ready to retire altogether.

"Even at 31 I am still feeling good and I can have a few more years at the top if I keep my sharpness," he said.

"Then I will be happy but I don't want to play for ever.

"I'll have another two or three years in the game but then I will be hanging up the boots."

Hartson has been linked with a move to Harry Redknapp's Premiership strugglers Portsmouth.

Redknapp was in charge of West Ham during Hartson's two seasons at Upton Park.

Strachan plays down Hartson move

BBC

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan says none of his players are for sale, despite speculation linking John Hartson with a January transfer.

Hartson, who has split from his wife, has found himself on the bench and it is believed that Birmingham City and West Ham United want the striker.

But Strachan said he would have no qualms about playing Hartson from the start against Motherwell on Wednesday.

"Nobody is for sale here," added the Celtic manager.

Strachan had on Sunday said that every player had his price.

The qualification of his stance would disappoint potential suitors from England's Premiership if it were not for the fact that it is believed that Hartson would prefer a move to Birmingham for personal reasons.

Strachan, though, insisted that he was concentrating on identifying "players who can improve us".

But Austria captain Andreas Ivanschitz is not one of them.

Celtic had been linked with a move for the 22-year-old £1m-rated Rapid Vienna midfielder.

"Apologies to Andreas, but I have not seen him play and I don't really know his name, so that kind of answers the question," said Strachan.

"Unless the scouting staff come up with his name soon then that's a 'no' on that one.

"We have plans for the next 18 months, which are ongoing. We are watching players all over the world."