2010-11-10: Hearts 2-0 Celtic, SPL

So vehement was Neil Lennon's objection to the denial of a second-half penalty that the Celtic manager was then sent to the stand by the referee. Joe Ledley was earlier shown the red card after a two-footed tackle on Ian Black, who opened the scoring after 27 minutes. Templeton extended the lead in the 58th minutes, with Celtic's ten men having been breached almost immediately.
Even though the visitors laboured with depleted numbers for much of the second-half, Hearts had already established their superiority in the opening 45 minutes, scoring once through Black and squandering other chances.

Celtic's ire was raised when referee Craig Thomson booked Gary Hooper for diving in the penalty box ten minutes before half-time, and their fury continued to rage in the second-half. Hearts refused to be drawn in, though, and Jim Jefferies' side were a credit to themselves in the end, following-up the commanding performance over Hibs on Sunday with one of equal worth here last night.

Templeton began where he left off against Hibs and continued to suggest he could be a major force in the Scottish game. Celtic left back Emilio Izaguirre gave his usual salute to the heavens at kick-off and then must have felt abandoned by them in the opening minutes as Templeton made it his mission to wreak havoc down the right.

Templeton was introduced by Tynecastle DJ Scott Wilson as "the man who scored the opening goal against Hibs". As if anyone here had forgotten. The in-form midfielder also had a hand in the move which nearly provided Hearts with the lead after 12 minutes.

His skewed volley from a beautiful cross-field ball from Ruben Palazuelos fell rather fortuitously for Stephen Elliott, whose header rattled the Celtic bar.

It was, as expected, fast and furious, with both sides fuelled by the momentum of significant weekend victories. Jim Jefferies sought to keep things going by naming the same side who defeated Hibs so easily.Celtic, whose weekend victory over Aberdeen was achieved with an even greater degree of comfort, showed three changes, with Jos Hooiveld stepping in for the suspended Thomas Rogne at centre-half.

It was his defensive partner Daniel Majstorovic who

featured in the game's opening goal, but not in the way he would have wished since it was claimed by Hearts, and deservedly so. Ian Black was enjoying himself as much as Templeton. Indeed, the pair were proving so dominant that even Rudi Skacel was being over-shadowed in a Hearts midfield which was also being well anchored by Adrian Mrowiec.

A short-free kick from Skacel was picked up by Black 25 yards out, and the player did what players in form do – he aimed for goal. The shot was hit decently enough, but was turned into an even greater threat to Celtic keeper Fraser Forster when it slapped off the top of Majstorovic's bald head. Forster could not prevent the ball looping over him into the net.

This slice of misfortune was not going to dissuade the Celtic fans housed in the stand behind Forster from the notion that the world is against them.

Indeed, they may have felt this theory was firmed up by another penalty controversy involving Hooper. The Celtic striker tried to latch on to an Anthony Stokes through ball but fell to the floor after goalkeeper Marian Kello had managed to get there first.

Its resemblance to Hooper's clash with Dundee United goalkeeper Dusan Pernis last month was hard to ignore, but unlike on that occasion the referee saw no reason to confer with anyone.

Craig Thomson quickly flashed a yellow card in Hooper's outraged face. Play resumed against a backdrop of "It's a conspiracy", as sung in a jeering fashion by the Gorgie choir.

Hooper had only himself to blame when he failed four minutes later to level the scores. Another Stokes pass picked the striker out and he had time to steady himself and pick his spot. Instead, he rifled the ball against Kello's legs, although the 'keeper deserved to be applauded for the block.

Hearts might have extended their lead before Thomson blew the whistle for half-time, but Elliott's shot was saved by Forster.

It wasn't long before Hearts managed to gain some breathing space, with the second goal – scored just 12 minutes after the re-start – following soon after the incident which could be viewed to be the game's defining moment.

Again, Celtic were left looking aghast, but it was surely more reasonable to question Joe Ledley's judgment as he locked his feet together when clattering into Black after 56 minutes. Thomson once more quickly made up his mind, and could be seen to mouth "two feet" at Ledley while also brandishing the red card.

It was a crude challenge, and led eventually to Black – one of the game's pivotal players – leaving the field after 63 minutes. He left with Hearts even more in control of things.

The home side had been quick to take advantage of the uneven numbers, with Skacel dispossessing Shaun Maloney just two minutes after Ledley had exited. He swept a ball in from the left and Templeton – who else? – raced in to the box and finished with

the composure of a veteran.

But the drama was not over, not by a long shot. Celtic made a double substitution in an attempt to find a way back into the game, with Cha Du-Ri and Niall McGinn replacing Mark Wilson and Stokes. It was one of Lennon's last contributions before he was sent to the stand, having said too much and in too offensive terms after what was perceived by Celtic to be another wrong call by the referee. The Celtic manager was furious after Ryan Stevenson, who had come on for Black, appeared to handle in the box.

His behaviour grew almost delinquent and Lennon was told to exit the dug-out area by Thomson, but not before he fired another broadside at the fourth official, Steven McLean.

Celtic were losing their composure, and Georgios Samaras was perhaps fortunate to see only a yellow card flashed at him after a late challenge on Marius Zaliukas. Hearts remained superior to Celtic in most aspects of the game, including discipline.

Hearts: Kello, Palazuelos, Bouzid, Zaliukas, Jonsson, Templeton (Santana 87), Black (Stevenson 64), Mrowiec, Skacel (Craig Thomson 78), Kyle, Elliott. Subs Not Used: MacDonald, Barr, Elliot, Glen.

Celtic: Forster, Wilson (Cha 62), Majstorovic, Hooiveld, Izaguirre, Maloney, Ledley, Ki, Samaras, Stokes (McGinn 62), Hooper. Subs Not Used: Zaluska, Juarez, McCourt, Keatings, Towell.