Celtic 3 Hearts 0
00:00
HELLO and welcome to www.celticfc.net for today’s SPL match with Hearts at Celtic Park.
Hoops manager Gordon Strachan has made one change to the side that beat Aberdeen 5-1 at Pittodrie last Sunday. Massimo Donati comes in for Paul Hartley.
Both sides enter this match on the back of some impressive form. Celtic have won seven successive matches since December, while Hearts have racked up three SPL victories in recent weeks.
Today’s Teams:
CELTIC (4-4-2) Boruc; Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor; Nakamura, Donati, S. Brown, McGeady; McDonald, Vennegoor of Hesselink
Subs: M.Brown, O’Dea, Sno, Samaras, Robson, Hartley, Hutchinson
HEARTS (4-5-1) Banks; Neilson, Karipidis, Berra, Goncalves; Cesnauskis, Jonsson, Palazuelos, Ksanavicius, Driver; Velicka
Subs: Basso, Wallace, Zaliukas, Mikoliunas, McCann, Elliot, Nade
00:01
Celtic kick off. Celtic are shooting towards the Lisbon Lions stand in the first half
04:00
Hinkel picks out Vennegoor of Hesselink at the back post, but his header is punched to safety by Steve Banks.
06:00
Great chance for Celtic. McGeady feeds McDonald, who is sent crashing to the ground by Hearts midfielder Jonsson. From 23 yards, Nakamura strikes the post with a curling effort.
09:00
Celtic continue to probe, with McGeady and Nakamura seeing a lot of the ball. Hearts, playing 4-5-1, are defending in depth
10:00
Tremendous pressure from Celtic. Banks saves well from Nakamura, while McDonald also threatens.
14:00
GOAL - CELTIC - VENNEGOOR OF HESSELINK - McGeady skins Driver on the left wing and crosses for the Dutch striker, who pokes a finish past Banks.
16:00
Hinkel and Nakamura create a chance for McDonald, but his volley is blocked. At the other end, Velicka is crowded out as he breaks away
19:00
Vennegoor of Hesselink picks out McGeady. He takes a touch and fires toward goal, but the shot is deflected wide.
22:00
Ksanavicius releases Driver on the left. He beats Boruc to the ball but then throws himself to the ground with no-one near him. Celtic remain ahead and Driver somehow escaped a booking for diving
24:00
Hearts win their first corner of the afternoon after a mysterious decision by referee Alan Freeland. Boruc punches clear.
25:00
Hearts enjoy some pressure and McManus is forced to concede another corner. Boruc is fouled as the ball comes into the box.
27:00
Hearts start to create more chances and Velicka spins and fires a long-range shot past the post.
32:00
Let-off for Celtic. Driver gets in behind Hinkel and forces a fantastic save from Boruc. Velicka follows up, but slams his shot into the side-netting.
36:00
Brown runs 60 yards and wins a free-kick on the right. Nakamura takes it, but Hearts clear the danger
38:00
Nakamura and Hinkel link up on the right wing. The German's cross is too deep
40:00
Great work by McGeady on the left flank. He leaves two Hearts defenders trailing and sends over a good cross. Karapidis clears for Hearts
41:00
McGeady again drives Celtic forward and slips a pass to McDonald. His shot is deflected wide
42:00
Nakamura floats his corner to the front post and McManus' flick comes to nothing
45:00
Drivers makes his way into the Celtic box, but Caldwell clears
45:00
Celtic win a corner as the break approaches. Nakamura takes it and Hearts somehow escape as the ball bobbles around the box
45:00
HALF-TIME: CELTIC 1 HEARTS 0 - Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's goal gives Celtic the lead at the break
45:01
Hearts kick off the second half. Celtic are shooting towards the Jock Stein stand.
48:00
Nakamura, McDonald and Hinkel all link up. The move ends with the German firing a shot at Banks
50:00
After Boruc had saved from Driver, Nakamura almost adds a second for Celtic. Twisting and turning, he forces a fantastic save from Banks.
51:00
GOAL - SCOTT McDONALD - CELTIC 2 HEARTS 0: Nakamura floats a corner to the middle of the six yard box and McDonald steers a header past Banks
55:00
Boruc's kickout is gathered by Velicka, who drives forward and sends a shot inches past the post
58:00
Boruc saves low from Jonsson as Hearts look to find a way back into the match.The attendance is 56,738.
60:00
Donati and Brown exchange passes before finding Nakamura. His shot soars over the bar.
61:00
Caldwell is penalised for a foul on Velicka. From 28 yards, Hearts fail to threaten
63:00
Brown takes Hinkel's pass and races into the box, but his pass just evades McGeady
66:00
Driver again finds space on the left, but his finish is woeful
67:00
McGeady spins into space and fires a shot towards goal, which takes a deflection past the post
68:00
Hearts substitution: Mikoliunas comes on for Cesnauskis
69:00
Hinkel produces a brace block to deny Velicka
73:00
Celtic sub - Samaras on for Vennegoor of Hesselink. Hearts sub - Ksanavicius for Nade
74:00
Berra stabs a shot wide after Driver's free-kick caused problems in the Celtic box
76:00
GOAL - CELTIC 3 HEARTS 0 - ANDREAS HINKEL: The German full back scores his first goal after superb play from Nakamura and McGeady
78:00
Celtic sub - Barry Robson on for Donati.
81:00
McGeady slips a pass to Samaras and his low shot is deflected wide
83:00
Nakamura fires over yet another corner but Samaras heads wide under pressure
87:00
McDonald releases McGeady but his shot goes well over the bar. Ben Hutchinson replaces McDonald
90:00
Samaras skips past two Hearts defenders and slams a shot off the post
90:00
FULL-TIME: Celtic 3 Hearts 0: Goals from Scott McDonald, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Andreas Hinkel give Celtic a comfortable win as the Hoops reduce Rangers' SPL lead to just one point.