2016-08-07: Hearts 1-2 Celtic, SP

Trivia

• First match of the new league season.
• Celtic already played competitive games in European Competition.
• Celtic despite being the league champions have to play their first game away! Breaks tradition, and Celtic have held their flag day instead a week or two back prior to a European Cup home leg match.
• Celtic draw Hapoel Beer Sheva in the Champions League group stages playoffs. Vital games.
• Celtic joint top in the league (3rd on goal difference)
• Scott Sinclair signs for Celtic. Scores on his debut after coming off the sub's bench to seal winner for Celtic in a tense game in the opener for the new league season.
• Celtic misruled over a penalty claim, then a penalty against from a dive from a Hearts player which grabbed them their equaliser.
• Jamie Walker (Hearts) given two match ban for the dive that led to their penalty, good but strangely first such ban since Boerrigter long back, diving is more regularly sadly than that! They failed in their appeal so LOL. Claimed he went down as he anticipated a challenge! Answers on a postcard.
• 11 bookings in the game! Ref was poor, and Hearts incredibly survived with 11 on the pitch.
• Tony Watt (ex-Celt) in the Hearts side, misses a good chance to grab a goal. Most believe he'll do a good job for Hearts.
• Dundee & Partick top of the league on goal difference. Aberdeen draw, whilst first season for zombie outfit TheRangers (Sevco), they draw 1-1 with Hamilton.
• Sportscene no longer featuring Championship games. Happy to cover Rangers last year who banned BBC reporters. Scottish media right there.

Review

(Ess of KDS)
That was an excellent 3 points, from a varied performance.
Their goal made all the difference and we let them back in to it – that needs addressed

Great to get the winner and absolutely get it right up the diets at the same time.

Toure was excellent
Forrest was much better
Griffiths poor but great at the winner

Armstrong doesn't do much at all

(TEG of KDS)

What an introduction for Sinclair and if Brendan didn't know about "honest mistakes" before, he does now, honestly one of the worst decisions I've seen for a while. And how Beaton managed to book 15(?) players in a game that certainly didn't rank as one of the rougher Hearts Celtic games I'll never know. Hearts have always been and always will be dirty hacking bastards.

Oh and GIURFY ya torn faced, greetin' Jambo's. Every little decision that went our way met with howls of anguish, to think they'll have the nerve to complain about the ref after getting a penalty for that is hilarious.

Thought Forrest had a great game, looked like a player who realised that he's under pressure with the new Bhoy coming in and Brown did well. Big Kolo was a rock at the back and what a pass from Griffiths for Sinclair's goal. That said, McGregor is way too powderpuff to play CM in this type of game and wtf is up with Armstrong? So ineffective.

Other than those minor quibbles, a terrific start to the season at a tough venue, onwards and upwards!

Teams

Hearts

• 1 Hamilton
• 3 Rherras
• 4 Rossi Booked at 50mins
• 14 Souttar
• 2 Paterson Booked at 55mins
• 7 Walker Booked at 36mins
• 10 Sutchuin-Djoum Booked at 18mins
• 15 Cowie Booked at 76mins
• 11 Nicholson
• 32 Watt Booked at 29mins Substituted for Muirhead at 61'minutes
• 18 Sammon Booked at 11mins Substituted for Buaben at 78'minutes

Substitutes

• 8 Buaben
• 13 Noring
• 17 Oshaniwa
• 23 Muirhead
• 24 Smith
• 26 Zanatta
• 35 Paton

Goals

• Walker (36' minutes pen)

Celtic

• 1 Gordon Booked at 35mins
• 63 Tierney
• 34 O'Connell Substituted for Rogic at 73'minutes
• 2K Touré
• 23 Lustig
• 42 McGregor
• 14 Armstrong Substituted for Sinclair at 61'minutes Booked at 81mins
• 8 Brown Booked at 78mins
• 49 Forrest
• 9 Griffiths Substituted for Janko at 83'minutes
• 10 Dembele Booked at 90mins

Substitutes

• 3 Izaguirre
• 7 Ciftci
• 11 Sinclair
• 18 Rogic
• 22 Janko
• 25 Johansen
• 38 Fasan

Goals

• Forrest (8' minutes),
• Sinclair (81' minutes)

Referee:John Beaton
Attendance:16,777

Articles

• Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

• Match Pictures

Forum

• Pre-match
• Match
• Post Match

MOTM

• Voting Thread

Stats

Hearts Celtic

Possession
Home48%
Away52%

Shots
Home13
Away11

Shots on Target
Home6
Away5

Corners
Home5
Away6

Fouls
Home15
Away13

Articles

Hearts 1 – 2 Celtic: Scott Sinclair bags debut winner
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/hearts-1-2-celtic-scott-sinclair-bags-debut-winner-1-4196605
A debut goal from Scott Sinclair nine minutes from time earned Celtic victory from a hard fought opening day clash with Hearts at Tynecastle.

After completing his transfer, Sinclair was thrown immediately into the squad and replaced Stuartm Armstrong on the hour.

He finished a low cross from Leigh Griffiths at the end of a swift-moving Celtic counter.

Jamie Walker had cancelled out James Forrest’s opener when he converted his own penalty after Kieran Tierney was adjudged to have fouled him inside the penalty area.

In an even, high-octane match in which referee John Beaton dished out an incredible 11 yellow cards, Hearts appeared to have earned a share of the spoils until substitute Sinclair – who only hours ago had signed for Celtic from Aston Villa in a £3.5million deal – climbed off the bench to grab victory for Brendan Rodgers’ men.

Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson went with a conventional 4-4-2 for the visit of the Premiership champions, with Conor Sammon partnering Tony Watt in attack. With captain Alim Ozturk suspended, midfielder Don Cowie wore the armband, while 19-year-old John Souttar filled in for the Turkish defender at centre-half.

Celtic made two changes from the team that narrowly defeated FC Astana 2-1 on Wednesday night in the Champions League qualifying round. Veteran Ivorian defender Kolo Toure came in for Saidi Janko, while Moussa Dembele replaced the injured Patrick Roberts as Rodgers went with a 4-4-2 system as well.

The match started at a frenzied pace, roared on by a packed Tynecastle. Sammon had the first shot on goal after just two minutes, but he didn’t catch his effort cleanly and it screwed wide of Craig Gordon’s goal.

Hearts keeper Jack Hamilton had a nervy beginning to the match, miscontrolling a passback and then minutes later firing a clearance straight at the onrushing Griffiths. Fortunately for the Jambos, the ball shot out for a throw-in.

Celtic then took the lead on eight minutes. Callum McGregor was sent clear down the right-hand side after Hearts left-back Faycal Rherras had been caught too far up the pitch and, although Igor Rossi thwarted his run into the box, the ball fell to Forrest and he curled a measured left-footed shot beyond Hamilton and into the corner of the net. Celtic’s Stuart Armstrong did appear to be blocking the keeper’s view from an offside position when the ball was struck, but whether it was enough to seriously interfere with play is debatable.

Sammon then became referee Beaton’s first player into the book as he was cautioned for late tackle on Kolo Toure. Arnaud Djoum then followed him into the book afer bring down Scott Brown on 18 minutes.

Hearts then missed a gilt-edged chance to equalise on 23 minutes. Walker engineered some space down the right and played the ball back to Callum Paterson. His cross took out the whole of the Celtic backline but, with the goal gaping, Watt could only head wide from a few yards out. Then, from the resultant goal-kick, Rossi misjudged the flight of the ball, but Griffiths could only loft it over the bar as he bore down on Hamilton’s goal.

Watt then picked up a booking on 29 minutes for a petulant kick out at Brown after the Celtic captain had hounded him off the ball. The former Hoops striker, although busy enough, was finding it hard to get much change out of the defence.

Hamilton then had to show strong reflexes to keep out Forrest on 34 minutes. The winger’s shot from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection of Rossi and looked to have deceived the young keeper, but he thrust out a hand and clawed it over the bar.

That save proved to be crucial as just a minute later Hearts won a penalty when Kieran Tierney was adjudged to have clipped Walker in the box. Contact appeared minimal, but Walker took it himself and sent Gordon the wrong way before needlessly celebrating in front of the Celtic fans. A yellow card followed, but Walker cared little. The Jambos were back in the match.

Celtic came straight back at them and only a goal-line intervention from Rossi denied a strike from Griffiths after Hamilton had saved bravely at the feet of Dembele. In the ensuing melee, Paterson was lucky to see his diversion of a Griffiths cross skid narrowly over his own bar.

The last action of a power-packed first half came on 44 minutes. Watt, now finding more space around the Celtic box, picked up possession and struck a fierce effort towards goal that Gordon parried away well.

Celtic came out for the second period with purpose and Hamilton had to look lively to block a Griffiths shot before Hearts scrambled the rebound away from the onrushing Dembele on 48 minutes. Rossi then became the fifth Hearts player to go into Beaton’s book – Sammon, Djoum, Watt and Walker already cautioned – with a clever foul to stop Dembele racing away from him. Griffiths’ free-kick, however, was tepid and Hamilton easily collected.

The former Hibs striker was becoming more and more prominent and Rossi did well to block his shot on 54 minutes after a fine cross from Tierney. Then Paterson was the next man to receive a yellow card for hauling down Dembele. Griffiths’ free-kick wasn’t much better than his last, though, and boomed off the wall for a corner that came to nothing.

Rodgers and Neilson then made their first substitutions of the match on 61 minutes, with Sinclair coming on for Armstrong for Celtic and Robbie Muirhead for Hearts, replacing Watt, who put in a good shift on his debut for the Jambos.

Celtic should’ve taken the lead on 66 minutes, but were denied by a fine bit of defending by Souttar. Griffiths cleverly dummied a pass to send Mikael Lustig free on the right-hand side. His cut-back found Dembele the box and it looked for all the world that the Frenchman would find the net until the young Hearts defender courageously hurled his body in front of the net-bound shot.

Hearts created a sight of goal themselves on 72 minutes with a well-worked throw-in routine. Paterson’s long throw found Cowie and his header into the box was millimetres away from giving Muirhead a clear header on goal.

Rodgers, sensing Hearts were becoming more and more prevalent in the game, made a tactical switch, bringing on midfielder Tom Rogic for defender Eoghan O’Connell and switching to a three-man defence.

It did little to stem the immediate tide as a thumping tackle by Djoum sent Sammon clear on goal. However, the striker didn’t have enough pace to scamper clear of Lustig’s attention and, forced wide, his tame shot was easily held by Gordon.

Referee Beaton then made his seventh Hearts booking of the afternoon, carding Cowie for a late challenge on Tierney. Although merited, the caution count of 7-1 in Hearts’ favour did not reflect the amount of niggly fouls Celtic were getting away with, although the Tynecastle faithful did sound their approval when Brown was finally pulled up for dissent.

Hearts felt they should’ve had a penalty on 79 minutes when Muirhead tangled with Toure in the box. An infringement appeared minimal as the Ivorian used his superior strength to move the striker off the ball. In any case, Beaton was unmoved and waved play on.

It turned out to be a pivotal moment in the game, as on 81 minutes Celtic went ahead. Griffiths burst clear on the left and his ball across goal found Sinclair, who stole in front of the Hearts defence to slide the ball past Hamilton and into the corner of the net. The forward celebrated wildly in front of his own fans and was booked for his troubles, while Rodgers rampaged half-way up the touchline in jubilation.

Hearts tried manfully to find an equaliser, but the closest they came was when Cowie – perhaps their best player with a dynamic display in midfield – stung the palms of Gordon with a rasping drive.

Hearts (4-4-2): Hamilton; Paterson, Souttar, Rossi, Rherras; Walker, Cowie, Djoum, Nicholson; Watt (Muirhead 61), Sammon (Buaben 79). Subs not used: Noring, L Smith, Oshaniwa, Paton, Zanatta.

Celtic (4-4-2): Gordon; Lustig, Toure, O’Connell (Rogic 73), Tierney; Forrest, Brown, McGregor, Armstrong (Sinclair 61); Dembele, Griffiths (Janko 84). Subs not used: Fasan, Izaguirre, Johansen, Ciftci.

Referee: J Beaton.

Attendance: 16,777.

Bookings

Hearts: Sammon (11), Djoum (18), Watt (29), Walker (36), Rossi (50), Paterson (55), Cowie (75)

Celtic: Gordon (35), Brown (78), Sinclair (82), Dembele (90+1)

BBC

By Tom English

BBC Scotland at Tynecastle

3 hours ago From the section Football

Scott Sinclair celebrates his winner with Celtic fans at Tynecastle
Sinclair made an instant impact on his Celtic debut

Celtic debutant Scott Sinclair came off the bench to score an 81st-minute winner as the champions prevailed in a frenetic encounter at Tynecastle.

The visitors led via James Forrest before Tony Watt missed a close-range sitter for Hearts against his old club.

Celtic's advantage was cancelled out before the break, though, with a hugely controversial Jamie Walker penalty.

A game of 11 bookings looked to be heading for a draw before Sinclair turned in Leigh Griffiths' cross.

The winger, who only completed his £3.5m move from Aston Villa late on Saturday, ran to his new fans at the Celtic end of Tynecastle and was engulfed.

For the champions, it was a hard-fought but deserved winning start to their title defence.
Celtic celebrate James Forrest's opening goal
Celtic got off to the perfect start with James Forrest's opening goal

Celtic went in front when Callum McGregor ran hard at the Hearts defence. It looked like he had been taken down in the box and that a penalty might be coming, but Forrest was on to the breaking ball quickly and swept it into far corner of Jack Hamilton's net.

Replays showed Celtic's Stuart Armstrong, who appeared to be offside, was right in front of the Hearts goalkeeper when Forrest netted, but no flag was forthcoming.

Midway through the half, Hearts had a cast-iron chance of an equaliser when Watt headed high and wide from point-blank range at the visitors' back post.
Tony Watt heads a golden opportunity wide in the first half
Tony Watt wasted a golden opportunity in the first half

It was a calamitous miss for Hearts' new striker and one that lived with him for a period after. He soon got booked for kicking out at Scott Brown.

Hearts got their equaliser before half-time when Walker dived in the penalty area under a non-challenge from Kieran Tierney.

The only man in Tynecastle who saw contact was referee John Beaton, who made a terrible call. Walker took advantage of the present and beat Craig Gordon with ease.
Jamie Walker celebrates his equalising penalty
Jamie Walker's penalty award was dubious but he dispatched the spot-kick with aplomb

There was a wonderful intensity – Hearts had seven players booked in all, Celtic four – and a huge noise-level, too. Before the opening half was out, Igor Rossi had to clear off his own line and then Gordon had to make two saves from Watt.

Both sides created bits and pieces – John Souttar did well to get a block on Moussa Dembele's close-range shot – but the longer it went on the more it looked like ending in a draw.

Sinclair came on just after the hour-mark and was having an anonymous debut until the dramatic end-game.

Griffiths did wonderfully well down the left side, accelerating away and playing a precise ball into Sinclair's path, who had a straightforward job of putting it away.

For Hearts, there was the realisation that for all their physicality, intensity and admirable work from Conor Sammon and Watt, they lack cutting edge up front.

For Sinclair, the debut of his dreams.