Heartbreakers
Celtic take another step closer to only the third "5 in a row" in our unbroken history

Despite the recent negativity amongst the Celtic support, we are now
into the final games of Ronny Deila's reign and the travelling
Celtic support were in fine voice at Tynecastle, from the word go.

A huge number of Celtic fans have never had the opportunity to see
the club win 5 titles in a row, so regardless of other
disappointments, this is an achievement that should be soaked up and
enjoyed.

The first major incident of the match came from Scott Brown shoulder
barging a Hearts player in the 7th minute, with Brown receiving a
yellow card.

Brown perhaps wrongly thought he would get away with it
early on in the match, a stupid booking to receive. The booking was
frustrating, given that Brown's form since returning from injury has
been poor. Sections of the support have been murmuring that Brown no
longer brings much to the team.

The 9th minute of the match saw Celtic win their first corner, with
Patrick Roberts swinging it towards Sviatchenko at the penalty spot,
whose weak header was easily caught by the Hearts goalkeeper.

Roberts weaved his way into the box in the 12th minute, hitting a
low shot at the goalkeeper. The keeper failed to hold on to the ball
and Callum McGregor took the ball past him on the rebound and
slotted the ball into the net.

He should have put the Hoops 1-0 up
but the linesman wrongly flagged him for offisde. TV replays show
that McGregor is clearly onside, another honest mistake? It wouldn't
surprise me in Scottish football.

A minute later saw another shot by Roberts saved by the keeper, with
Griffiths taking a pop at goal seconds later as Celtic start to
break open the Hearts defence.

Bauben received a booking for a challenge on Brown in the 15th
minute, a late jump for a header.

Some fine play in the 17th minute by Celtic saw a Lustig cross find
Kazim-Richards at the far post, who controlled the ball with his
chest before smashing a half volley low into the net. The away
support began to belt out a cry of 'Championees Championees'.

Hearts saw their first real chance of the match in the 20th minute
as Walker fired in a low shot, with Gordon making a good shot
stopping save, along with saving the offside rebound attempt.

As Celtic searched for a second goal, the game became a more scrappy
affair. Hearts chased an equaliser before the end of the first half
but the Celtic defence remained solid.

The 40th minute saw a Celtic counter-attack releasing Leigh
Griffiths, one on one with the goalkeeper. Alexander got enough on
the shot, with his left leg, to put the ball wide for a Celtic
corner.


Post match celebrations

Hearts began the second half with two changes to their team,
Augustyn, Cowie off, Paterson, Dauda on. The changes seemed to have
an impact as the first five minutes of the second half was all
attacking pressure from Hearts, with a great save from Gordon
keeping the scores level.

The 54th minute saw a scramble in the Celtic box as the champions
attempt to deal with a Hearts corner before Dauda hit a shot wide.

Hearts' pressure paid off in the 57th minute, with Dauda making a
run from deep, hitting a low shot past Gordon into his right hand
corner of the net.

Kazim-Richards received a yellow card in the 63rd minute after a
tussle at the sideline. Oshaniwa decided to roll around, acting as if he had been shot. Poor sportsmanship.

Patrick Roberts then gave the Celts the lead, after winning the ball
near the Hearts box, before making a fool of Alexander, slotting the
ball between his legs to put the Hoops 2-1 up.


Here we go for 5 in a row

Ronny Deila decided to take the goalscorer off, with Australian Tom
Rogic taking his place, in the 69th minute. A low Tierney cross set
up Rogic for a shot, almost making an immediate impact.
Unfortunately his shot flew over the bar.

A clash with Juanma and Gordon in the 72nd minute was a cause for
concern for the Hoops, as the goalkeeper needed treatment. Bailly
began warming up but Craig Gordon was able to continue.

Tierney losing the ball opened up a chance for Hearts down Celtic's
left hand side, but it was swiftly dealt with before Celtic were
back in possession and looking for a third.

Buaben came off for Nicholson in the 77th minute as Hearts used
their final substitution. At this stage of the match, both teams
were cancelling one another out, with neither creating a clear
chance on goal.

The 82nd minute saw Bitton clashing heads with scorer Dauda, causing
a stoppage in play.

Leigh Griffiths had his leg grabbed by Souttar, after a leaping
challenge for a ball and somehow the referee saw reason to book both
players. Ridiculously poor refereeing.

However, Griffiths intercepted a long ball attempt by Souttar
immediately after, before running down the right channel, nutmegging
Souttar to cut inside, before smashing a low drive into the corner
of the net to put Celtic two goals ahead!

Stuart Armstrong was then brought on to replace Griffiths in the
87th minute, while the 93rd minute saw Commons replacing club
captain, Brown.

A solid performance from the men going for 5 in a row, barring a
shaky spell at the beginning of the second half. Kazim-Richards
opening the scoring, getting a long overdue debut league goal, solid
performances from former academy players McGregor and Tierney along
with the 39th goal of Leigh Griffiths' Player of the Year season.

The full time whistle saw the away fans, the management team and the players soaking up every moment in the nation's capital. Ronny Deila may be leaving, but he will leave on a high and we look forward to a new dawn at Celtic.


Tierney has been one of this season's highlights.
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