No matter how many times Gordon Strachan returns to Tynecastle as Celtic boss he'll never, ever pick up an easier win than this one. Shaun Maloney opened the scoring with a beautiful volley from just outside the box and Gary Caldwell scored a scrambled effort to put the Celts 2-0 ahead and cruising after only 20 minutes. "I didn't see Shaun's goal,' said Strachan. "I only saw it hitting the back of the net. I don't know if he blasted it or lobbed it, but it was a nice opener."
Scott McDonald was pulled back in the box as he ran through on goal and Zaliukas received a red card. Paul Hartley missed the resultant spot-kick, Celtic's third miss of the season, but in the end it didn't matter as the gutless Hearts team had by then given up any semblance of a fight.
"It wasn't easy until we were ahead, just like our game at Manchester United, that was hard today until the two goals went in and until the guy got sent off." said Strachan. This was Celtic's seventh SPL win on the trot but even so the manager knows his bhoys will still have to shift up a few gears on Wednesday night as they seek to compete against current European Champions United in their Champions League tie at Celtic Park.
The manager knows what's required to achieve a result against the team he judges to be the best in the world at this moment in time "We need to be at our best and need to have a bit of luck. We must have things going for us. In terms of effort, motivation, character and determination, we will be fine. But United are the best team in the world, in terms of ability. Italy would have no chance against Man United. France? No chance. Man United are far better. Roma lost 7-0 to them. It's unbelievable what they can do to other teams."
"So what can we do?" he asked "This is it, this is what we've got. United only went past second gear after scoring two offside goals against us. But character, determination and spirit is not a problem for us. You need a few breaks at times against Man United. If we are to play well and get something, we need a bit of luck."
The biggest danger to the gaffer's blood pressure yesterday would have come when he was abused by a neanderthal home fan following his media interviews. The ease in which this thug was allowed to approach the Celtic manager within what should have been a tightly controlled area must be a cause for concern.
Reports are sketchy but it seems that Strachan had been discussing his side's 2-0 victory outside the media room when a man came from a hospitality area and called him an "a*******" then headed for an exit. Gordon's reply hasn't been made known yet but knowing the wee man's low tolerance for yob culture you can imagine his reaction. A Hearts spokesman said: "An investigation into the incident has already begun. Once the individual has been identified, appropriate action will be taken."