Scottish Premier League - Celtic back on top

Eurosport - Mon, 03 Nov 11:27:00 2008

A clever strike by Shaun Maloney and a controversial goal from Gary Caldwell gave Celtic a comfortable 2-0 win over 10-man Hearts at Tynecastle and took them back to the top of the SPL.

Shaun Maloney, Celtic v Hearts, FOOTBALL - 0

Rangers had gone top on goal difference on Saturday with a 5-0 home win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle but the champions stormed back in impressive fashion in Gorgie.

After just seven minutes Maloney volleyed the ball back over the head of Janos Balogh after the Jambos keeper had punched clear an Andreas Hinkel free-kick before Caldwell appeared to use a hand in doubling the visitors' lead from close range.

The champions could even afford to miss a penalty six minutes after the break after Marius Zaliukas had been shown a straight red for a 'last-man' foul on Scott McDonald, Paul Hartley sending his spot-kick wide of the target.

Although there was some dubiety surrounding Caldwell's goal and even allowing for the extra-man advantage they enjoyed for most of the second half, this was as convincing a victory as the Parkhead side have recorded in Gorgie for many a year.

The win will stand them in good stead, if anything can, for their Champions League Group E rematch with Manchester United at Parkhead on Wednesday.

The visitors got off to the perfect start in the seventh minute when they took the lead after Jambos' midfielder Michael Stewart had fouled Barry Robson on the right-hand side.

Hinkel floated the free-kick into the Hearts box and Balogh appeared to punch to safety - but the ball went only as far as Maloney and from 25 yards out, he quickly and intelligently volleyed over a crowd of bodies and in to the net.

The Tynecastle side responded positively but with a little too much haste although referee Craig Thomson ignored Bruno Aguiar's claim for a penalty after his free-kick from the edge of the box had struck the Celtic wall.

Celtic, calm and composed, had a firm grip of the game and they doubled their lead in the 20th minute following a Hartley corner from the right which Robson met to send a header towards the top corner.

Scott McDonald redirected the ball from close range and Balogh brilliantly saved but then Caldwell appeared to keep the ball in play with his hand before he stuck it in the net.

Andrew Driver sent a free-kick from 25 yards just wide of Artur Boruc's left-hand post moments after which denied the Gorgie side a quick reply.

The game grew increasingly bad tempered with both sets of supporters baiting each other and at one point police went in to one of the stands housing Hearts fans to remove an offensive banner.

Celtic were defending with a great deal of resilience and the home side and their supporters grew frustrated at their unsuccessful attempts to get back in to the game.

Deividas Cesnauskis limped off in the 34th minute to be replaced by Saulius Mikoliunas but by the time Thomson blew the whistle for half time, there was still no sign of a comeback.

Hearts' task became increasingly difficult in the 51st minute when Zaliukas was red-carded for a 'last-man' foul on McDonald inside the box after the Australian international had latched on to a Cillian Sheridan head-flick from Boruc's clearance.

Former Hearts player Hartley took responsibility for the spot-kick but drove wide of the target - but the Hearts supporters were less happy just before the hour when Jamie Mole replaced the tiring Christian Nade.

In the 65th minute Aiden McGeady came on for Maloney, seconds after Celtic were denied a penalty claim after Robson tumbled in the Hearts box following a challenge by Tynecastle skipper Christophe Berra.

It was too easy for the champions who settled in to cruise control to take them through to victory.

TeamTalk / Eurosport

Comment 26 - 45 of 45

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  1. I'm sure I read somewhere that Rangers were going to beat Dundee Utd tonight and go back to the top of the league....I think not!!!

    From stanleyippkiss2003, on Tue 4 Nov 9:45PM
  2. kilcoolecelt - sing about trophies?.. It took them long enough to realise there's not a word in the english language that rhymes with orange! Bet they wish they were tims now!! LOL!! Hello, hello, they are the Silly Boys!!.. Hail, hail!!

    From Singin' Ginger!!, on Tue 4 Nov 8:11AM
  3. Duffin / Paul G - lickin' windaes is all you're good for.. Oh, I almost forgot!!.. You can both simulate emergency services vehicle sirens too!! Hail, hail!!

    From Singin' Ginger!!, on Tue 4 Nov 8:08AM
  4. Oh look whos back its PAUL G-STRING back from dubia (gaybar) or what ever it is, he;s still talking pants though.

    From steph_hewitt2001, on Mon 3 Nov 10:42PM
  5. to gary r
    celtic was not set up to stop catholics mixing with protestants . but it is this small minded belief that made rangers the big club they are today and yes i know rangers were formed before celtic but they were not a big club until the "irish team started winning things " and more in reaction to this did rangers become a big club . to most people who support rangers it is always a platform to sing racist songs . why dont you sing about your wonderful collection of trophys cos you dont want to . your lot would prefer to sing the same old @#$% week in week out .
    i look forward to the day they finally fall kicking and screaming into the 21st century
    heres to 4 and more

    From simonk, on Mon 3 Nov 10:00PM
  6. Not really hard to figure that one out as stevie -b-umbasher will never change

    From Paul G CHAMPIONS, on Mon 3 Nov 8:51PM
  7. Why is it that celtic fans can't debate any points but just revert to insults. This happened to me recently when a scumbag started saying Ibrox was full of perverts, and one in particular, but when asked would say nothing except insults about "licken windies" and when he was asked if he did he agreed that the boys club scandal was the biggest disgrace in sporting history replied "ya muppet hail hail"....so inteligent???

    From duffin870@..., on Mon 3 Nov 8:37PM
  8. GARY R: you're next for a trip to the gynaecologist, I think!!

    From Singin' Ginger!!, on Mon 3 Nov 8:04PM
  9. I have to laugh at the Nazi connections as Celtic park was closed down during WW2 because Celtic fans were voicing and displaying Pro-Nazi paraphernalia.The original nazi sympathisers.You cant put any good points forward because you haven't got a leg to stand on and make you look foolish at every turn.Facts and tims dont mix.

    From World Record 52 Champions, on Mon 3 Nov 5:12PM
  10. I dont even have to put any good points foward because everything you say just makes you look like you know even less you argue like a 12 year old, I will just end this by saying 3 in a row ( SAY HELLO TO 4 IN A ROW) oh and my dad could batter your dad !

    From steph_hewitt2001, on Mon 3 Nov 4:39PM
  11. If you wanna talk about racism,i have two things to say Mark and Walters,the worst case of RACISM in British sporting history.

    From World Record 52 Champions, on Mon 3 Nov 4:34PM
  12. Look,dont tell me to learn my stuff,i deal in facts and you deal in brainwashing bull,a product of your upbringing methinks.

    From World Record 52 Champions, on Mon 3 Nov 4:27PM
  13. If Rangers say or do ANYTHING,they are in the front pages of the rags and the radio trash lap it up but if poor victimless Celtic do anything,FA happens and its been going on too long.Celtic FC was formed to stop catholics mixing with protestants so if Celtic was "open to all" why is it that your schools and churches are catholic only??
    Twisted if you ask me.Brother Walfrid left to go to Ireland when the club said they were going down the route of being "open to all" as it did not satisfy his bigoted views.

    From World Record 52 Champions, on Mon 3 Nov 4:22PM
  14. Rangers didnt sign Mo Jo until the late 80's and even then it had supporters burning there season tickets, scarfs and tops you dont have a clue mate. Celtic have always signed prods we even had Big Jock as the boss in the 60's and he played for us long before that and he was from an orange family so you should learn your stuff before you try and talk about grown up things. Rangers are the original racist sectarian nazi small minded club.

    From steph_hewitt2001, on Mon 3 Nov 4:20PM
  15. Its a load of @#$% to say that Rangers have had an anti-catholic policy for years,they have had catholics playing for them in the past but they haven't been as high profile as Mo Johnston,its actually Celtic who were founded on sectarian purposes having a clear no protestants ruling so its a bit rich to say that Rangers are the bigots and trying to label Celtic as non-sectarian.You only have to read the papers and radio,etc to see the anti-Rangers bias in this country.

    From World Record 52 Champions, on Mon 3 Nov 4:08PM
  16. Rangers are built on sectarian foundations with all the years of the anti-catholic signing policy. Thats what Rangers are all about first and foremost, were as Celtic are the total opposite. And as for Celtic getting it easy from the media, are you mental the whole media in this country are unionist and they favour the unionist Glasgow Rangers view.

    From steph_hewitt2001, on Mon 3 Nov 3:46PM
  17. Why is it no wonder ? Explain yourself gary.

    From steph_hewitt2001, on Mon 3 Nov 3:38PM
  18. Unlike the scum who could be heard clearly on Setanta singing Pro-IRA songs,the same scum who go running to the authorities when Rangers fans sing the famine song.Its always double standards with that mob and its no wonder they get an easy ride from the media in this country.

    From World Record 52 Champions, on Mon 3 Nov 2:47PM
  19. to true blue
    you are exactly the type of trash supporter david murray is trying to get rid of at ibrox . at the end of the day you are a bitter wee bassa

    From simonk, on Mon 3 Nov 1:50PM
  20. There is no such place as Dubia you tit and i very much doubt PAUL G-STRING AND grahamclaire have ever been there !

    From steph_hewitt2001, on Sun 2 Nov 10:16PM
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