2013-12-21: Celtic 2-0 Hearts, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 2013 – 2014 | 2013-14 Pictures

Trivia

• Celtic top of the league, ten pts in front on 42pts with game in hand. D Utd next in table.
• Concerns growing about attendances, usually lower at this time of year, but there is apathy around which is dispiriting.
• Stories that tricolour Irish flags taken off of Celtic supporters by our own stewards. Bizarre.
• Samaras/Ledley deny rumours of leaving Celtic.
• Lustig has had surgery on both hips and will be out for 4 months.
• Neil Lennon’s side are one of only six European teams who remain unbeaten in their domestic league. The other five are Roma, Olympiakos, Sparta Prague, Steaua Bucharest and reigning UEFA Champions League holders, Bayern Munich.
• Japanese midfielder Hiroki Yamada starts trial period with Celtic.
• Neil Lennon twitter ended without any reason.
• Ex-Rangers Player Gattuso investigated for match fixing in Italy.
• BBC Reporting seven members of the Green Brigade group of Celtic fans are to stand trial next year for allegedly singing a song in support of the IRA.
• Green Brigade carrying out a foodbank collection. Much respect to them for that.

Review

(AntrimKev of KDS forum)
dire viewing but 3 points and Next

Izzy and Forrest played well, VVD and big Efe strolled the game – Pukki and Stokes were awful in what essentially was a training match – I don't hold any hope for Pukki making it here

don't get Lenny at times, Balde and Atajic would be busting a gut out there trying to prove a point and who does he bring on? a guy that dosent want to be here anymore

anyway 3 points and we move on to St Stephen's day

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Stats

Celtic Heart of Midlothian
Possession
26% 74%
90mins

Shots
19 1

On target
9 0

Corners
15 3

Fouls
4 12

Articles

Celtic 2 – 0 Hearts: Champions grab win
The Scotsman
LEAGUE leaders Celtic stretched their unbeaten run in the Scottish Premiership to 16 games with a 2-0 win over bottom side Hearts at Parkhead thanks to goals from Kris Commons and James Forrest.

SCORERS: Celtic – Commons 64, Forrest 90

The Hoops had thrashed the administration-hit visitors 7-0 in their Scottish Cup clash at Tynecastle at the beginning of the month – with Commons scoring a hat-trick – and Jambos boss Gary Locke was keen to ensure there would be no repeat.

The Gorgie side were set out to keep a clean sheet although goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald had to make several saves in the first half, the best from a Joe Ledley header.

However, the Hoops remained patient after the beak and got their reward when Commons scored in the 63rd minute with a powerful drive and the 30-year-old also cleared off the line near the end before Forrest, on for Nir Biton for the start of the second half, grabbed a second at the end.

While Celtic’s inexorable march to the title continues steadily, there seems no end to the struggle of the Gorgie club to avoid relegation, despite a valiant effort.

Hoops manager Neil Lennon made one enforced change to his side with right-back Darnell Fisher coming in for Sweden international Mikael Lustig, who faces four months on the sidelines after undergoing a double hip operation.

The visitors showed three changes with Brad McKay, David Smith and Adam King – making his first start – in for Sam Nicholson, Scott Robinson and Gary Oliver with Locke naming only five substitutes.

Given their cup humiliation, there was no surprise that the Tynecastle men lined up in defensive mode and in the early stages Celtic struggled to pierce the maroon wall.

In the eighth minute MacDonald rushed from his goal to thwart Commons and when the Edinburgh side failed to deal with the resulting corner, the Jambos keeper reacted brilliantly to push Anthony Stokes’ close-range toe-poke on to the bar, before they eventually cleared.

MacDonald was next called into action in the 17th minute when he dived low to his left to push Commons’ volley from the edge of the box past the post for a corner, which again, came to nothing.

The Gorgie keeper was far from under siege but he dealt well with an angled drive from Hoops striker Teemu Pukki as the chances mounted.

Hearts’ forays up the pitch were few and far between.

Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk lost possession to Callum Paterson midway through the first half but the Gorgie side’s lone-striker lacked the confidence to go through himself and was eventually crowded out.

The home side looked certain to take the lead in the 35th minute when Commons’ inswinging cross from the right was met by Ledley three yards from goal but MacDonald made a fantastic block from the Welshman’s header, with the Jambos escaping again.

The procession towards the Hearts goal continued after the break.

In the 56th minute van Dijk headed a corner from Commons over the bar before MacDonald, in inspired form, made another great save from the former Derby and Nottingham Forest midfielder’s powerful drive.

There was little surprise that top scorer Commons, behind most of Celtic’s good play, was the man who eventually got the breakthrough.

As the Hoops players swarmed around the Jambos penalty area once more, skipper Scott Brown picked him out with an incisive pass and he wasted no time before rifling a shot across MacDonald and into the far corner to the relief of the home crowd.

As the champions stepped up the pressure, MacDonald pushed a close-range effort from Ledley on to the post before making yet another save from Commons.

With two minute remaining Commons proved his worth at the other end when he popped up at his own post when defending a corner to prevent a Dylan McGowan header creeping in for a shock equaliser.

However, there was still time for Forrest to end a Celtic breakaway by beating McKay with ease before sliding the ball past MacDonald for number two.

BBC
By Andy Campbell BBC Sport Scotland

Kris Commons and James Forrest were on target as Celtic overcame a Hearts side inspired by goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald.

The stopper kept out Commons, Anthony Stokes and Joe Ledley in a first half played mostly in Hearts territory.

That pattern continued after the break and Commons eventually fired the opening goal.

And he preserved that lead when he cleared Dylan McGowan's header off the line before Forrest netted Celtic's second in stoppage time.

The visitors had arrived at Celtic Park still three points away from the zero mark, having started the season on -15 points due to insolvency problems, and with injuries to several first-team players.
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Indeed, Hearts manager Gary Locke named only five substitutes and was given further cause for anxiety early on when David Smith went down in pain following a challenge but he soon recovered.

The prospect of another high-scoring win in the vein of Celtic's recent 7-0 humbling of Hearts in the Scottish Cup was apparent as the hosts began to dominate possession and territory.

But MacDonald had other ideas, reacting well to touch Stokes' rising effort onto the bar and then beating Commons' downward volley wide.

Teemu Pukki's shot on the turn was also kept out and the stopper reacted superbly to deny Joe Ledley moments later.

The Welsh midfielder stooped to meet Commons' cross with a header and MacDonald adjusted his left leg to make the block.
Kris Commons celebrates after scoring for Celtic against Hearts

Commons netted after being denied several times by MacDonald

Lennon sought to add more spark to the Celtic attack at the start of the second half by introducing Forrest in place of Nir Biton.

MacDonald produced another fine save to beat away Commons' diagonal shot but the Celtic forward found the net moments later.

The 30-year-old was played in by his captain Scott Brown and calmly slotted into the net from the edge of the six-yard area.

The Hearts goal continued to come under pressure and MacDonald blocked a close-range Ledley effort onto the post and then tipped over a Commons header.

Hearts had rarely been seen as an attacking force but forced a corner in the final minute of regulation time. McGowan's header beat Fraser Forster, but not the well-placed Commons.

And Forrest sealed Celtic's victory when he latched on to fellow substitute Georgios Samaras' through ball, skilfully evaded his marker and clipped the ball past MacDonald with the outside of his right foot.

Live Text Commentary
Full time

Full Time Match ends, Celtic 2, Hearts 0.
90:00 +2:57 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Celtic 2, Hearts 0.
90:00 +2:16 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 2, Hearts 0. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Georgios Samaras.
90:00 +1:19

Foul by Anthony Stokes (Celtic).
90:00 +1:19

Dylan McGowan (Hearts) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90:00 +0:31 Booking

Booking David Smith (Hearts) is shown the yellow card.
90:00 +0:18

Georgios Samaras (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90:00 +0:18

Foul by David Smith (Hearts).
90:00

Kevin McHattie (Hearts) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
89:51

Foul by Georgios Samaras (Celtic).
89:19

Attempt blocked. Dylan McGowan (Hearts) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
88:35

Corner, Hearts. Conceded by Virgil van Dijk.
85:42 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Hearts. Sam Nicholson replaces Callum Tapping.
85:21

Attempt missed. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
83:00

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Kevin McHattie.
82:21

Attempt missed. Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
82:01

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jamie MacDonald.
81:37

Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) header from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
75:13

Attempt missed. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
74:22 Booking

Booking Adam King (Hearts) is shown the yellow card.
74:14

Georgios Samaras (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
74:14

Foul by Adam King (Hearts).
72:15 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Hearts. Dale Carrick replaces Jamie Walker.
71:12

Attempt missed. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is too high.
70:33 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Georgios Samaras replaces Teemu Pukki.
69:25

Joe Ledley (Celtic) hits the right post with a left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box.
69:00

Darnell Fisher (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
69:00

Foul by Jamie Walker (Hearts).
66:07

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Callum Paterson.
65:37

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jamie Hamill.
64:49

Attempt blocked. Joe Ledley (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
63:03 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 1, Hearts 0. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Scott Brown.
62:01

Foul by Darnell Fisher (Celtic).
62:01

Jamie Walker (Hearts) wins a free kick on the right wing.
60:21

Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
59:46

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Dylan McGowan.
59:19 Booking

Booking Jamie Hamill (Hearts) is shown the yellow card.
59:11

Hand ball by Jamie Hamill (Hearts).
57:26

Joe Ledley (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
57:26

Foul by Adam King (Hearts).
56:47 Booking

Booking Jamie Walker (Hearts) is shown the yellow card.
55:29

Attempt missed. Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is too high.
55:09

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by David Smith.
54:16

Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
53:20

Kris Commons (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
53:20

Foul by Dylan McGowan (Hearts).
50:58

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Brad McKay.
47:51

James Forrest (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
47:51

Foul by David Smith (Hearts).
45:00

Second Half begins Celtic 0, Hearts 0.
45:00 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. James Forrest replaces Nir Biton.
45:00 +1:07 Half time

Half Time First Half ends, Celtic 0, Hearts 0.
45:00 +0:33

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
45:00 +0:33

Foul by Callum Tapping (Hearts).
42:31

Foul by Kris Commons (Celtic).
42:31

Jamie Hamill (Hearts) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
41:20

Attempt blocked. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
40:59

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Kevin McHattie.
35:29

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Kevin McHattie.
34:17

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jamie Hamill.
34:02

Attempt saved. Joe Ledley (Celtic) header from very close range is saved in the top centre of the goal.
33:36

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Brad McKay.
33:20

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Danny Wilson.
30:00

Kris Commons (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
29:56

Foul by Kevin McHattie (Hearts).
27:09

Attempt missed. Joe Ledley (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
25:52

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Brad McKay.
24:00

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
23:58

Foul by Danny Wilson (Hearts).
23:31

Corner, Hearts. Conceded by Efe Ambrose.
21:06

Attempt saved. Teemu Pukki (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
16:13

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jamie MacDonald.
15:58

Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
15:00

Kris Commons (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
14:59

Foul by Dylan McGowan (Hearts).
13:28

Corner, Hearts. Conceded by Emilio Izaguirre.
8:10

Attempt saved. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
7:48

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jamie MacDonald.
7:33

Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
3:30

Foul by Adam King (Hearts).
3:30

Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
0:00

First Half begins.
0:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

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