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Trivia
- Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon scored an own goal in the dying seconds as Celtic staged a dramatic comeback to move 13 points clear in the SPL.
- A senior member of the Conservative Party was slammed for branding Celtic fans “gypsies”. A senior member of the Conservative Party was last night slammed for branding Celtic fans “gypsies”.Outraged Hoops supporter Martin McManus, from the William Orr Supporters Club in Antrim, demanded a written apology from Tory adviser Iain Gibson for making the controversial comments.The spin doctor labelled Celts fans the “gypsy home support” in a match report on the official Hearts website after the two Scottish Premier League sides clashed on November 4. see: https://www.thecelticwiki.com/opposition/hearts/hearts-gypsy-slur-article/
Review
Paul Hartley sent a 20-yard snapshot over the bar within a minute of the kick-off to signal Hearts’ intent.
Zurawski breached the packed Hearts defence, but his shot was parried into the air by Gordon before Hartley mopped up after Miller attempted to capitalise on the rebound.
Mikoliunas drew a good save from goalkeeper Artur Boruc with his right-footed drive from 12 yards.
Mikoliunas lashed an angled shot wide and Velicka drove wildly over the bar as Hearts continued to threaten after the break.
Velicka finally made the breakthrough after Neil Lennon was caught out in the middle of the park. Bruno Aguiar sent the Lithuanian through the middle and the striker went past Steve McManus with ease before driving low past Boruc from the edge of the penalty area.
But Celtic were back on level terms when Jarosik found space inside a packed Hearts area to head a Nakamura corner past Gordon from eight yards out.
Gordon made a fine save from a Nakamura free-kick, but the Scotland goalkeeper’s rare error handed Celtic victory deep into four minutes of added time. He pushed the ball into his own net when it looked like he had possession of McManus’ shot.
Teams
Celtic (4-4-2):-
Boruc, Telfer, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Lennon, Sno (Jarosik 74), McGeady (Maloney 78), Miller, Zurawski (Vennegoor of Hesselink 59).
Subs Not Used:- Marshall, Pearson, Balde, O’Dea.
Booked: Lennon.
Goals: Jarosik 86, Gordon 90 og.
Hearts:
Gordon, Neilson, Berra, Tall, Goncalves, Cesnauskis (Barasa 45), Hartley, Aguiar (Fyssas 80), Mikoliunas, Velicka, Zaliukas.
Subs Not Used:- Banks, Jankauskas, Wallace, Brellier, Mole.
Goal:- Velicka 72.
Booked:- Tall, Neilson.
Att:- 58,971
Ref:- Craig Thomson.
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
KStreet
- MOTM Voting
- Winner – Shunsuke Nakamura – (Link to MOTM Winners 2006-07)
Articles
Celtic 2-1 Hearts
BBC
Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon scored an own goal in the dying seconds as Celtic staged a dramatic comeback to move 13 points clear in the SPL.
Andrius Velicka missed several chances before holding off two Celtic defenders and firing home the opener.
But, just as Hearts appeared poised for what would have been a deserved victory, substitute Jiri Jarosik headed in the equaliser following a corner.
And Gordon pushed the ball over the line under pressure from Kenny Miller.
Stephen Pearson and Shaun Maloney had been dropped after Celtic’s midweek defeat by Benfica, with Aiden McGeady and Maciej Zurawski returning to the side.
Hearts suffered a pre-match blow, with captain Steven Pressley suffering from flu.
Bruno Aguiar, Saulius Mikoliunas and Marius Zaliukas came into the side, with Lee Wallace and Roman Bednar also dropping out.
Paul Hartley sent a 20-yard snapshot over the bar within a minute of the kick-off to signal the visitors’ intent.
Interim Hearts coach Eduard Malofeev had promised a 4-3-3 formation, but Velicka was the only man not to pack their defence in the early stages.
And, when Zurawski breached the packed defence, his shot was parried into the air by Gordon before Hartley mopped up after Miller attempted to capitalise on the rebound.
Hearts ought to have taken the lead during a dangerous two-minute spell.
Mikoliunas drew a good save from goalkeeper Artur Boruc with his right-footed drive from 12 yards.
And unmarked fellow Lithuanian winger Deividas Cesnauskis looked well placed to knock home the rebound from close range but stretched to volley wide.
Cesnauskis burst into the Celtic penalty area and set up Velicka with an even better chance with a cut-back, but the Hearts striker fluffed his kick and the ball ran wide.
Mikoliunas lashed an angled shot wide and Velicka drove wildly over the bar as Hearts continued to threaten after the break.
Velicka finally made the breakthrough after Neil Lennon was caught out in the middle of the park.
Bruno Aguiar sent the Lithuanian through the middle and the striker went past Steve McManus with ease before driving low past Boruc from the edge of the penalty area.
But the champions were back on level terms when Jarosik found space inside a packed Hearts area to head a Nakamura corner past Gordon from eight yards out.
Gordon made a fine save from a Nakamura free-kick, but the Scotland goalkeeper’s rare error handed Celtic victory deep into four minutes of added time.
He pushed the ball into his own net when it looked like he had possession of McManus’ shot.
Celtic: Boruc, Telfer, Naylor, Caldwell, McManus, Nakamura, Lennon, Sno (Jarosik 74), McGeady (Maloney 78), Miller, Zurawski (Vennegoor of Hesselink 59).
Subs Not Used: Marshall, Pearson, Balde, O’Dea.
Booked: Lennon.
Goals: Jarosik 86, Gordon 90 og.
Hearts: Gordon, Neilson, Berra, Tall, Goncalves, Cesnauskis (Barasa 45), Hartley, Aguiar (Fyssas 80), Mikoliunas, Velicka, Zaliukas.
Subs Not Used: Banks, Jankauskas, Wallace, Brellier, Mole.
Booked: Tall, Neilson.
Goal: Velicka 72.
Att: 58,971
Ref: Craig Thomson
Title race is not over – Strachan
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan
Gordon Strachan thought Hearts got their tactics right
Gordon Strachan suggested that pride pulled Celtic to victory but denied that the title was now secure after they overcame a determined Hearts side.
“We didn’t play well in the first half,” the Celtic boss told BBC Sport after a late goal ensured a 2-1 win over the side in second spot.
“But they moved up an extra gear. I think a bit of pride took over.”
Asked if he thought that a 13-point lead meant the title race was over, Strachan said: “No way.”
Strachan pleased with Celtic recovery
The Celtic manager was particularly happy with the result considering the 3-0 Champions League defeat from Benfica in midweek.
“Hearts did well and their plan was good,” he said. “They did not allow us to play.
“But we sorted it out at half time.”