Celtic vs Hearts Live Blog: Score and Updates

FT CELTIC 5-0 HEARTS

Meanwhile, Rangers lose 2-1 at Rugby Park. 10 points clear!

85′ RED CARD! Langer of Hearts sent off. Absolutely disgusting challenge on Brown. Thankfully captain looks alright.

80′ GOAL! SIMUNOVIC! The big man scores the header from a beautiful corner. 5-0!

75′ Hearts starting to play some reckless football.

72′ SUBSTITUTION

ON Elyounoussi

OFF Forrest

67′ GOAL! CHRISTIE! The substitute scores just minutes after coming on. 4-0.

63′ What a run from Forrest there. Last ditch challenge saves Hearts from conceding a fourth.

60′ That was a great effort from Forrest. The Hearts keeper somehow manages to keep it out. That was travelling at some pace.

52′ GOAL! McGregor! Starting to run away with it now.

46′ GOAL! JULLIEN!  What a start to the half for the Bhoys. That could be all three points.

HT Celtic 1-0 Hearts

42′: Hearts is starting to show some life here as we approach the end of the half.

36′: Edouard had a wonderful opportunity to get his first goal of the evening in. Hearts read his second touch well and ended the threat.

30′: GOALLLL!!!!!!! Ntcham gets it done off the rebound! Celtic 1-0 Hearts!

27′: YELLOW CARD. Jozo is booked… Hearts awarded the free kick just outside the box which was punched away by Fraser.

25′: Ntcham tries to take a shot from distance and sails it. It might still be flying through the sky as we speak.

23′: Fantastic tackle by CalMac, to get the ball in their own territory. Too hard of a touch by Ntcham, allows Hearts to make the stop.

18′: After their fourth corner of the match, Celtic has taken clear control of the match. Despite no having scored a goal, the opportunities have been plentiful.

15′: Celtic had their best chance of the match yet to add a goal. Forrest had a nice shot, but was blocked by the Hearts keeper.

12′: Griffiths had a BEAUTIFUL strike from distance, but was just over the top of the bar.

10′: Celtic launched a promising attack, but Hearts was able to adjust well and shut it down.

8′: Greg Taylor tried to thread the low ball into the box for Edouard. Hearts was able to break it up. Celtic corner is awarded, but Hoops were unable to threaten.

5′: Nothing much going for either squad, but Celtic has taken the early share of possessions.

We have kickoff!

Celtic XI

Fraser Forster

Jozo Simunovic

Kris Ajer

Christopher Jullien

James Forrest

Greg Taylor

Scott Brown (c)

Olivier Ntcham

Callum McGregor

Leigh Griffiths

Odsonne Edouard

Substitutes: Scott Bain, Moritz Bauer, Jonny Hayes, Tom Rogic, Ryan Christie, Mohamed Elyounoussi, Vakoun Issouf Bayo.

Celtic will be looking to maintain their 7 point lead over the Rangers in the Premiership and probably even extend it to even 10 points depending upon their Glasgow rivals’ result when they travel to Rugby Park to take on Kilmarnock at the same time.

Steven Gerrard’s men have not looked great since returning from the winter break and any away for them in this form might prove to be a hard task. Thus this could be a huge opportunity for the Hoops to further widen the gap at the top in their conquest for a record-equaling ninth straight league title.

Celtic cannot afford to look past their opponents though. Hearts are currently at the bottom of the table with just 18 points from 25 games. But they managed to beat the Rangers very recently in a shock result and Neil Lennon will be eager for his team to avoid that fate.