Celtic FC vs Hearts Live Blog: Scores and Updates
Post-match thoughts: Again not the most convincing performance in the world as the visitors had chances to score more than just the one goal that they did. But three goals and three points are what matter most. Bayo was brilliant and will have pegged down Griffiths in the striker pecking order after his performance today. The defence though will be a cause for worry as we go to Sweden next to play the second leg of the Europa League Play-Off against AIK Stockholm.
FT Celtic 3-1 Hearts
90′ Forrest tests the Hearts goalkeeper but he is up to it.
87′ Another brilliant performance for the Norwegian. Hopefully he is not seriously injured and it’s just cramp.
87′ SUBSTITUTION
ON Anthony Ralston
OFF Kris Ajer
80′ GOAL! Hearts grab one back. Forster manages to save the penalty but the rebound is converted by Washington. 3-1
79′ PENALTY! Brown gives away a penalty.
78′ SUBSTITUTION
ON Leigh Griffiths
OFF Vakoun Bayo
77′ CLOSE! Bayo hits the crossbar. Almost a hattrick for the Ivorian. Brilliant delivery from Forrest again. Fine margins!
75′ Nothing from the corner though as Jullien heads well over.
74′ Brilliant press from Bayo sees Heart concede a corner. The #10 has been electric.
73′ Brilliant cross into the box from Hearts. But they somehow fail to get to it.
72′ Brown gives away a free-kick. A scuffle almost breaks out but is cut out quickly.
69′ SUBSTITUTION
ON Mikey Johnston
OFF Olivier Ntcham
68′ Things open up again for Celtic but a bad pass from Christie sees it cut out.
65′ Another good ball into from Ajer and it falls to Bayo. But he fails to get it under control and it is cleared by the Hearts defence.
64′ The visitors come forward again but they just don’t seem to have that final ball.
62′ Hearts get into the Celtic box but Christie does well to block it out for a corner. Hearts fail to get anything out of the corner. 3-0 at Paradise.
60′ GOAL! Bayo gets his second of the day as he pokes in a grounded cross from Ajer. 3-0 to the hosts with 30 minutes left to play.
57′ After some early Hearts domination in the second half, it is now Celtic who are well and truly in control of things with that two goal cushion.
55′ Corner to Celtic but they get nothing out of it. Offensive corners have been a real issue for them this season.
54′ GOAL! McGregor opens his account for the season with a brilliant strike from outside the box. 2-0 to the hosts just mere seconds after Hearts failed to equalise.
53′ Washington skies his big chance. He was through on goal there and should put it in the back of the net.
52′ Hearts are pegging Celtic back but haven’t managed to create any clear cut chances till now.
51′ Brandon takes down Forrest. Free-kick in their own half.
49′ Early second half pressure from Hearts as they have come out the stronger side from the break.
47′ Boli puts in a beautiful ball for Bayo from inside his own half, but the striker is offside.
46′ We are back underway at the Park.
Celtic are up 1-0 at half-time through that brilliant Bayo header on the half hour mark. James Forrest who is playing on the left wing today, continues his hot streak of form with a brilliant assist. End-to-end stuff as it has been a pretty open game till now. Hearts are pretty much in it and have had a few good chances of their own.
HT Celtic 1-0 Hearts
45′ McGregor takes an elbow to the face but looks alright. 1 minute of added time.
44′ YELLOW CARD! Halkett goes into the book for Hearts after taking out Brown.
44′ Hearts try their luck from distance but Jullien with the block.
43′ A sloppy back pass from Ntcham but he manages to win it back from Washington quickly to amend for his mistake.
41′ Ntcham puts a cross in but it is cleared. Ajer gets an opportunity as well but fails to get his shot off in time.
39′ Hickey hits a sweet half-volley but Forster gets down well to stop it from going in. That was travelling though.
38′ YELLOW CARD! Forster makes a mess of things. Fails to clear after coming off his line and then takes out a Hearts attacker to give away a free-kick in a dangerous area.
37′ Ajer is forced to clear for a corner after a deflected cross finds its way into the Hoops’s box.
35′ Hearts now putting some pressure on the Celtic back-line but well defended by Ryan Christie.
30′ Half an hour gone at Paradise. Celtic are 1-0 up through a header from their number 10, Vakoun Bayo.
30′ GOAL! Bayo gets the goal in his first start of the season. Brilliant header. Brilliant cross. Good work all around. 1-0 to the hosts.
29′ Dangerous ball into the box from Ajer but Bayo just can’t get to it.
28′ Ntcham goes past two defenders but is brought down at the halfway line. Free-kick to the Hoops.
26′ It is a tame effort this time around that doesn’t need the Hearts’ keeper’s attention.
25′ Another corner to Celtic and Bayo gets his head to it but is saved by the Hearts goalkeeper. Another corner.
24′ Celtic win a corner after some good work down the right.
18′ SUBSTITUTION Hearts are forced into a change.
ON Brandon
OFF Smith
15′ Quarter of an hour gone and only McGregor has had a chance till now.
11′ That was a dangerous attack from Hearts but Celtic manage to clear it out for a throw in.
10′ First chance of the day falls for McGregor but he fails to take it.
8′ Neither team has managed to threaten till now.
5′ First 5 minutes of the game gone and things remain 0-0.
Kick-off at Celtic Park.
CELTIC XI
Fraser Forster
Kris Ajer
Christopher Jullien
Nir Bitton
Boli Bolingoli
Scott Brown (c)
Callum McGregor
James Forrest
Olivier Ntcham
Ryan Christie
Vakoun Issouf Bayo
Hearts XI
Joel Pereira
Michael Smith
Craig Halkett
Christophe Berra
Aaron Hickey
Glenn Whelan
Loic Damour
Andy Irving
Jake Mulraney
Sean Clare
Conor Washington
Welcome to the live blog as Celtic take on Hearts at Celtic Park.