The Bhoys were simply too good for Hearts, it was probably our finest performance of the season so far.
Alan Thompson returned to the Celtic team, but there was no place for injured John Hartson. Chris Sutton partnered the King up front.
As expected, the atmosphere was electric, and we got the usual unpunished Nazi salutes from the Hearts fans, yet Celtic supporters were ejected from the ground for possessing Irish tri-colours!
Celtic were settled down after only 3 minutes, when Henrik Larsson set up Stan Petrov, who rifled home past Craig Gordon.
Larsson was in amongst all the action, again turning provider, but Chris Sutton volleyed over the bar.
Sutton was denied a stone-wall penalty in the first half, Craig Gordon punched the big striker but Willie Young, not surprisingly, waved play on.
Not to worry though, Celtic's second goal is a contender for goal of the season. Stan Petrov fnished the move off, but it was a sublime period of play by Celtic, involving Alan Thompson, Chris Sutton and Henrik Larsson. Game over.
Half time provided a few laughs, Several Celtic fans making a mockery of Hearts' cheap, tacky 'Robinson Must Go' signs, with their very own, 'Robinson Must Stay!'
We probably won't see a more one-sided game all year, Celtic's passes were cheered by the travelling support - who were in top form today.
I can't recall a save Rab Douglas had to make, but the big man was confident with his crossed balls.
Hearts were out to kick every Celtic player that moved - Neil Lennon in particular was being hounded, he was elbowed, kicked and pushed, and in the last 10 minutes, Paul Harley and Alan Maybury were red carded.
The Hearts support proved themselves as a bunch of idiots throughout the game, and shamed themselves by cheering when Neil Lennon was brutally tackled. Lennon, however, shaked it off and returned to the field of play.
The Celtic end went wild when Henrik Larsson headed home from 2 yards out, after Petrov came close with a shot.
All in all it was a superb performance by Celtic, I can't think of a better ground to bag three goals away from home. Hearts fans are worse than the huns and they deserve all they get. I hope they go out of business and meanwhile, we will march on the road to Hampden.
Celtic:
Douglas - 8
Varga - 9
Kennedy - 8
McNamara - 7
Agathe - 7
Petrov - 10
Lennon - 9
Thompson - 8
Pearson - 6
Larsson - 7
Sutton - 8
Celtic-Mad Man of the Match: Stan Petov
|
|
