Hearts 2-3 Celtic

Celtic came from two behind to win a thrilling encounter at Tynecastle, and move seven points clear at the top of the SPL table. In the best game of the season so far, two late goals from Stephen McManus completed a fantastic comeback against a Hearts team that finished the match with ten men.

It was Celtic who created and missed the first chance of this exilirating encounter. Alan Thompson who replaced Aiden McGeady in midfield, brilliantly found Petrov unmarked at the back post with a pinpoint cross following a piece of individual brilliance on the wing. However, quite amazingly the Bulgarian captain powered his header just over from just five yards when it looked easier to score.

Hearts made Celtic pay for that great chance immediately. 18-year-old Calum Elliot, again deputising for the injured Roman Bednar up front rolled Balde and sent Hartley clear. And the Scotland midfielder's low pass across the face of goal was unfortunately bundled into the net by the helpless Celtic defender Ross Wallace under extreme pressure from Jankauskas.

Hearts then doubled their lead only two minutes later. Hearts skipper Steven Pressley powerfully headed home from Rudi Skacel's inswinging corner at the back post. It was a poor goal for Celtic to conceed as McManus didn't even get off the ground. At this point it almost seemed like Bratislava all over again as despite only playing eight minutes, Celtic were in serious danger of getting a good going over.

Minutes later the impressive Elliot weaved through a couple of challenges before setting up Skacel 16 yards out, but the Czech midfielder sent his low drive straight at goalkeeper Artur Boruc. It was a fine save by Boruc and he held the shot well.

Another bit of skill and a tidy cross from Elliot found striker found Skacel in the penalty box. But the Czech star sent a header wide from 12 yards under pressure from Telfer. Elliot was causing the Celtic defence of kinds of problems and it was a magnificent piece of individual skill from the teenager that set up Skacel with a magnificent chance to kill the game. However, Artur Boruc saved the day with a stunning save after he stood up strong and parried the Czech's powerful drive from 14 yards.

As the half-time whistle blew, Tynecastle was bouncing and a jubilant Romanov lead the applause for his team. Celtic simply couldn't get into the game and were lucky to only be trailing by two goals as they left the field. Even after half-time Celtic were unable to get any rythmn into their play and it looked liked the gap at the top of the table would be closed to a single point.

The day looked to have gone from bad to worse as the inspirational Stillian Petrov was forced to leave the field with a hamstring injury. Stephen Pearson who was been strongly linked with a loan move in recent weeks away from Celtic Park came on to replace Stan and this swap was the catalyst for Celtic's amazing comeback. The former Motherwell man made an immediate impact and turned the game. Hartson superbly chested the ball into Pearson's path following a long kick from Boruc. He the played the ball out wide to Maloney before getting on the end of a cross and side-footing home from six yards to half the deficit.

Celtic were then denied a clear penalty as Pressely tripped Maloney in the box. However, depite the referee having a great view of the incident, he amazingly let play continue much to the suprise of the striker Maloney. Hearts then escaped again when Nakamura's spinning shot was spilled by goalkeeper Craig Gordon. Pearson's follow-up from 5 yards was deflected by Gordon onto the post and Maloney was ruled offside as he side-footed home. This was a tight decision and could have gone either way.

The home side were then ordered to endure the last 14 minutes of the game with ten men after Fyssas was sent-off for a last-man challenge on Maloney at the edge of the box. It was a brave decision by the referee but in my opinion, a correct one. Maloney's effort from the resulting free-kick was disappointing, as it never really threatened Gordon's goal.

It was a frustrating ten minutes following the sending-off as Celtic conceeded silly fouls as they desperately looked for an equaliser. Time looked to be ebbing away but with only three minutes remaining Telfer was needlessly fouled near the corner flag. Nakamura delivered an exquisite cross and the big centre-half McManus brilliantly got in front off his man and powered his header into the net. It was a massive goal and following their second half performance, it was no more than Celtic deserved.

Then in stopage team Hearts conceeded another foul in almost exactly the same place. As Nakamura was composing himself to take the free-kick you could cut the atmosphere with a knife. The Japanese star again crossed superbly and following a couble of deflections, the ball dropped to McManus again who superbly stabbed the ball in to corner of the net and sent the Celtic fans behind that goal into raptures. This goal could well be pivotal come May in determining the outcome of the Championship.

Celtic saw out the rest of stoppage time safely despite keeper Gordon making a mess of a good chance is the dieing seconds. The full time whistle was greeted by amazing scenes from the Celtic players and fans alike while the Hearts fans simply couldn't believe it. Romanov looked as shocked as anyone as the players left the field. It was a scintillating encounter that will be remembered for years to come.

This was a classic 'game of two halfs' as Celtic looked a completely different side in the second peroid. The game could easily have been over by half-time if it wasn't for the outstanding Boruc. But in the second-half, Celtic played some great stuff and deserved their late win. It was great to get a vital win plus seeing the danger signs in the process. For me Wallace is the weak-link and was exposed in the air on many occasions following goal-kicks and long balls. Defending set-pieces must be another priority for Strachan and we simply must stop giving ourselves a handicap by losing the first goal so early on. However, it was a great game, and a great win.


Hearts: Gordon, Neilson, Pressley, Webster, Fyssas, Cesnauskis (Wallace 77), Hartley, Brellier, Skacel, Elliot, Jankauskas (Pospisil 88).
Subs Not Used: Banks, MacFarlane, McAllister, Simmons, Berra.


Celtic: (4-4-2)

Boruc

Telfer Balde McManus Wallace

Nakamura Petrov(Pearson 50) Lennon Thompson (McGeady 62)

Hartson Maloney

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Camara, Virgo, Du Wei, Lawson


Att: 17,358