2015-10-29: Hearts 1-2 Celtic, League Cup

by
STEPHEN HALLIDAY

AT A venue which seems to have lost its ability to intimidate as far as Celtic are concerned, their grip on the League Cup was unmoved.

Leigh Griffiths’ 14th goal of the season provided Ronny Deila’s side with the breakthrough in a quarter-final which was sore on the eyes for long periods before substitute Tom Rogic provided the insurance of a second goal.

Celtic's Leigh Griffiths celebrates after opening the scoring. Picture: SNS
Celtic's Leigh Griffiths celebrates after opening the scoring. Picture: SNS

It was needed when Arnaud Djoum headed home in stoppage time for Hearts, but that proved simply a consolation for Robbie Neilson’s men.

Celtic have not lost at Tynecastle for four years and they have now racked up seven consecutive wins at the Gorgie ground since then. This was a win to cherish for Deila as holders Celtic booked their place in the semi-finals and helped ease the pressure the Norwegian has been under since last week’s latest European failure in Molde.

Deila’s game plan was disrupted before kick-off when his captain, Scott Brown, suffered an injury in the warm-up, forcing a hasty reshuffle of the Celtic line-up with James Forrest promoted to the starting X1. Gary Mackay-Steven also pulled up lame during the warm-up, necessitating further alterations on the bench, with Tyler Blackett and Callum McGregor called from the stand to take their place among the substitutes.

With Mikael Lustig taking the armband from Brown, the visitors seemed largely untroubled by the changes. They largely monopolised possession for much of the opening period, albeit without being able to fashion many clear sights of the Hearts’ goal.

Neilson had made two changes to the team which defeated Ross County last Saturday, Morgaro Gomis and Billy King replacing Djoum in a robust and disciplined 4-4-2 formation.

Forrest had an early opportunity to make the most of his late call into the Celtic side, the Scotland winger seeing a firm netbound shot inadvertently blocked by team-mate Leigh Griffiths on the edge of the six- yard box.

Such was Celtic’s dominance of the ball, there was scope for central defender Jozo Simunovic to venture forward, something it seems will be a feature of the Croatian’s play. He did so to good effect in the 22nd minute, setting up Stuart Armstrong for a shot which was deflected wide for a corner.

Kris Commons then flashed a shot over from around 20 yards when he made more time than he seemed to realise and could have taken more deliberate aim.

Hearts were displaying an admirable work ethic as they contested the midfield battle diligently but struggled to find any fluency or penetration as an attacking force.

Osman Sow finally provided some encouragement for the home support when he muscled his way beyond Simunovic and drilled in a low shot which drifted just wide of Craig Gordon’s left-hand post.

Perhaps against the expectations of many, it was not an especially physical or fractious contest at this stage. Nonetheless, referee John Beaton saw fit to hand out three yellow cards before half-time. Prince Buaben and Jordan McGhee were the Hearts’ recipients, while Celtic’s Nir Bitton was also cautioned.

Sow’s attempt at goal had sparked a better spell for Hearts, but it was Celtic who came closest to making the breakthrough before the interval. Commons and Griffiths were involved in a good move which allowed Forrest to find space on the right.

His cutback was intended for Armstrong, but the normally sure-footed midfielder got his timing all wrong and was unable to get a shot away from a prime position.

Hearts made their first change of the night eight minutes into the second half, Billy King making way for Jamie Walker as Neilson sought to bring more pace and creativity to his side.

It remained pretty turgid fare, however, with both teams desperately in need of a flash of inspiration from somewhere.

Bitton was treading a dangerous line after his earlier booking and the Hearts players looked imploringly at referee Beaton when the Israeli was penalised for a cynical foul on Sam Nicholson, but a free-kick was the only sanction this time.

Celtic sent on Rogic for the fading Forrest and the big Australian midfielder almost made an immediate impact, shaping a shot not far wide of Neil Alexander’s left-hand post from the edge of the penalty area.

Hearts fleetingly believed they had grabbed the breakthrough in the 63rd minute when Sow beat Craig Gordon from close range but the big striker was offside as he latched onto Juanma’s knockdown.

That prompted a response from Celtic who suddenly injected greater urgency into their work. It required a brilliant clearance from Jordan McGhee to prevent an Armstrong cross providing Griffiths with a tap-in.

Celtic’s top scorer had been subdued for much of the evening but he burst into life in spectacular fashion to finally end the stalemate in the 71st minute.

Collecting the ball around 30 yards out, Griffiths surged beyond a couple of wrong-footed challenges and into the right side of the penalty area before guiding a precise, right-foot shot beyond Alexander’s right

hand into the far corner of the net.

Griffiths then did himself no favours with a needlessly provocative celebration, choosing to run away from the jubilant Celtic support behind the goal where he had just scored and instead raise his arms to the home fans. It inevitably earned him a booking.

But Griffiths made another positive contribution to firmly settle the tie with eight minutes remaining. Burrowing in from the right, his cutback was cleverly flicked home at the near post by Rogic.

An exciting finale out of synch with what had gone before continued when Hearts substitute Djoum headed home a corner in the second of three minutes stoppage time but a recovery was beyond them.

Hearts: Alexander, Paterson, Rossi, Augustyn, McGhee; Nicholson, Gomis, Buaben (Djoum 81), King (Walker 53); Sow, Juanma (Reilly 87). Subs not used: Hamilton, Swanson, Smith, Zanatta.

The striker opened the scoring in the second half and then quickly created the second for Tom Rogic.

Hearts were defensively strong in the opening period but could not cope with Griffiths' skilful enterprise.

The holders deservedly progressed, even after Arnaud Djoum's late consolation for the home side.

Celtic join Ross County and St Johnstone in the draw for the last four, which will take place on 9 November after next week's final quarter-final between Hibernian and Dundee United.

Pre-match setback for Celtic
Celtic players Gary Mackay-Steven and Scott Brown Gary Mackay Steven and Scott Brown had been named in Celtic's squad but pulled out through injury

Ronny Deila began the night problem-solving with captain Scott Brown and Gary MacKay-Steven both injuring themselves in the warm-up. The former was in the starting line-up and the manager opted to replace him with James Forrest.

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Interviews – Deila and Neilson

The visitors still started with a formidable attacking four, but any combination of players Deila might have chosen would have found the opening half frustrating.

Hearts were disciplined and organised enough to establish a deep, compact shape whenever the visitors carried the ball over the halfway line.

Kris Commons, Stuart Armstrong, Forrest and Leigh Griffiths were all denied the kind of room they need to wield their imagination. Hearts applied themselves to a strategy, even though the compromise was that their own attacking play was subdued.

Openings were restricted, and Celtic's chances came with long-range efforts. Forrest saw his volley from outside the area blocked by offside team-mate Griffiths and Commons shot over.

Osman Sow has a goal disallowed against Celtic Sow was offside when he netted in the second half

Hearts needed their two forwards, Juanma Delgado and Osman Sow, to be dominant, but they tended to be peripheral instead. Sow did create a chance for himself by bundling past a challenge but could only clip his shot wide.

The game opened up in the second half and Celtic took advantage, although there was a scare to overcome first.

When the solidly impressive Jordan McGhee delivered a free-kick deep into the Celtic box, Callum Paterson headed down for Sow, who was judged to be offside as he stabbed the ball past goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

Griffiths takes charge
As Hearts' defensive resolve slipped, Celtic could rely on the sprightly movement and razor-sharp instincts of Griffiths to take advantage.

He skipped past two Hearts defender with a dip of his shoulder and quick footwork, but then showed immense composure to size up the situation inside the area, open up his body and curl a shot past keeper Neil Alexander.

The home side tried to regroup but could not pass the ball accurately enough to build passages of pressure.

Tom Rigic scores for Celtic against Hearts Rogic scored what proved to be the winner

As Celtic were untroubled in defence, their attack began to flourish and another darting, incisive run from Griffiths ended with a cross that Forrest's replacement Rogic turned into the net from close range with a stylish flick.

Hearts managed a late rally and pulled a goal back when Djoun converted Jamie Walker's corner with his head, but it was too little, too late.

The evening might have started with consternation for Celtic as they coped with pre-match injuries, it ended with a sense of deserved satisfaction, not least for Griffiths.

Live Text Commentary
Full time Full Time
Match ends, Heart of Midlothian 1, Celtic 2.
90:00 +3:30 Full time Full Time
Second Half ends, Heart of Midlothian 1, Celtic 2.
90:00 +1:38 Goal scored Goal!
Goal! Heart of Midlothian 1, Celtic 2. Arnaud Djoum (Heart of Midlothian) header from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jamie Walker with a cross following a corner.
90:00 +1:27 Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Dedryck Boyata.
90:00 +0:35 Attempt blocked. Callum Paterson (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
90:00 +0:20 Jamie Walker (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90:00 +0:20 Foul by Mikael Lustig (Celtic).
88:44 Attempt missed. Callum Paterson (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left from a direct free kick.
88:12 Sam Nicholson (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
88:12 Foul by Stuart Armstrong (Celtic).
86:27 Substitution Substitution
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Gavin Reilly replaces Juanma.
84:15 Attempt missed. Mikael Lustig (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
83:14 Booking Booking
Blazej Augustyn (Heart of Midlothian) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
83:04 Foul by Blazej Augustyn (Heart of Midlothian).
83:04 Nadir Ciftci (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
82:30 Substitution Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Nadir Ciftci replaces Leigh Griffiths.
81:27 Goal scored Goal!
Goal! Heart of Midlothian 0, Celtic 2. Tomas Rogic (Celtic) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Leigh Griffiths.
80:10 Substitution Substitution
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Arnaud Djoum replaces Prince Buaben.
78:06 Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
77:07 Foul by Morgaro Gomis (Heart of Midlothian).
.77:07 Tomas Rogic (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
76:27 Booking Booking
Stefan Johansen (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.
74:04 Attempt saved. Dedryck Boyata (Celtic) header from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal.
73:40 Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Igor Rossi.
71:52 Booking Booking
Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.
70:50 Goal scored Goal!
Goal! Heart of Midlothian 0, Celtic 1. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner.
70:21 Igor Rossi (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
70:21 Foul by Tomas Rogic (Celtic).
68:17 Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jordan McGhee.
67:31 Attempt missed. Nir Bitton (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
65:41 Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.
65:10 Foul by Osman Sow (Heart of Midlothian).
65:10 Stefan Johansen (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
64:11 Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jordan McGhee.
64:00 Attempt blocked. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
62:02 Jordan McGhee (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
62:02 Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
59:42 Morgaro Gomis (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
59:42 Foul by Stuart Armstrong (Celtic).
58:47 Attempt missed. Tomas Rogic (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.
58:20 Substitution Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Tomas Rogic replaces James Forrest.
57:20 Morgaro Gomis (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
57:20 Foul by Kris Commons (Celtic).
56:41 Sam Nicholson (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
56:41 Foul by Nir Bitton (Celtic).
55:37 Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Stuart Armstrong.
54:40 Prince Buaben (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
54:40 Foul by Jozo Simunovic (Celtic).
53:33 Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right.
52:15 Substitution Substitution
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Jamie Walker replaces Billy King.
51:38 Dangerous play by Osman Sow (Heart of Midlothian).
51:38 Jozo Simunovic (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
47:13 Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Jozo Simunovic.
47:01 Nir Bitton (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
47:00 Foul by Juanma (Heart of Midlothian).
45:00 Second Half begins Heart of Midlothian 0, Celtic 0.
45:00 +0:27 Half time Half Time
First Half ends, Heart of Midlothian 0, Celtic 0.
44:45 Sam Nicholson (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick on the right wing.
44:45 Foul by Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic).
43:03 Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Callum Paterson.
41:09 Morgaro Gomis (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
41:09 Foul by Nir Bitton (Celtic).
40:07 Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Mikael Lustig.
39:18 Attempt missed. Jordan McGhee (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
36:36 Attempt missed. Jordan McGhee (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
35:42 Booking Booking
Nir Bitton (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
35:36 Foul by Nir Bitton (Celtic).
35:36 Billy King (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick on the right wing.
33:54 Booking Booking
Jordan McGhee (Heart of Midlothian) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
33:43 James Forrest (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
33:43 Foul by Jordan McGhee (Heart of Midlothian).
31:19 Foul by Juanma (Heart of Midlothian).
31:19 Jozo Simunovic (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
31:00 Prince Buaben (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
30:56 Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
26:51 Attempt missed. Osman Sow (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
25:59 Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner.
23:15 Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) header from the centre of the box misses to the right.
22:15 Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Blazej Augustyn.
21:44 Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Callum Paterson.
21:35 Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Igor Rossi.
21:18 Attempt blocked. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
16:57 Booking Booking
Prince Buaben (Heart of Midlothian) is shown the yellow card.
14:30 Foul by Osman Sow (Heart of Midlothian).
14:30 Nir Bitton (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
14:00 Blazej Augustyn (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
13:55 Foul by Jozo Simunovic (Celtic).
13:15 Foul by Sam Nicholson (Heart of Midlothian).
13:15 Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
10:39 Sam Nicholson (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
10:39 Foul by Stuart Armstrong (Celtic).
9:51 Hand ball by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
6:54 Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high.
6:12 Foul by Jozo Simunovic (Celtic).
6:12 Juanma (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
4:48 Attempt saved. Osman Sow (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
3:40 Attempt saved. Dedryck Boyata (Celtic) header from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the centre of the goal.
2:49 Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jordan McGhee.
0:00 First Half begins.
0:00 Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
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