Room on top
Daylight at the top for Hoops but it’s doom & gloom at bottom for Hearts
Celtic open up five-point lead while Stendel’s Jambos stay rooted in the danger zone
FOR Celtic there’s some daylight. For Hearts, only darkness. As Neil Lennon’s men moved five points clear of Rangers at the top of the table, it proved to be another dim and depressing evening for their polar opposites. First-half strikes from Ryan Christie and Olivier Ntcham saw the champions make it nine successive league wins with a seventh clean sheet of that streak thrown in. There was nothing typical about this trip to Tynecastle, a spate of bookings aside, as the Jambos continued their horror campaign for new boss Daniel Stendel. The reality of relegation looms on the horizon unless the German can find a way for his charges to get their act together. It should have been more comprehensive as Celtic gave themselves wiggle room over Rangers, who can return the gap to two points with a win over Hibs at Easter Road tomorrow.
If there was a glimmer of light for the Jambos then it was a second-half performance that had them going toe to toe with such gusto that they shoved Celtic back into second gear.
But rock bottom they remain, only goal difference keeping them ahead of a Hamilton outfit they visit this weekend – just to compound worries.
Typically, either of the Old Firm would approach a trip to Tynecastle under the lights with a degree of trepidation. But these are not normal times at Hearts, these are dark days.
Owner Ann Budge’s revelation at Tuesday’s AGM that Craig Levein has been banished from being around the first team and his former No.2 Austin MacPhee has been tasked with recruitment and video analysis – from the house – pointed towards the dysfunction.
Last night was to prove another video nasty.
Booed off against St Johnstone, Stendel’s displeasure at having his big day ruined saw no fewer than five players bounced out.
It was quite a shuffle from the 45-year-old, desperately in need of
something to suggest he’s inherited a group that can change the grim mood music in Gorgie. Stendel had suggested at the weekend his players were suffering from a nervousness and from the first whistle a familiar anxiety swept through the stands.
Craig Halkett gifted a pass straight to Ntcham from inside his box and, while the Frenchman could not capitalise, it did not bode well.
Stendel’s side were snapping into challenges and showing an energy that was not allowing Celtic to settle.
But still the jitters were getting to the Jambos. Ollie Bozanic took possession of a Halkett pass 15 minutes in and, under little pressure, inexplicably kicked the ball back 40 yards for a corner. It resulted in Kristoffer Ajer firing a shot wildly over in what was the first warning.
It was heating up and referee
Bobby Madden went into his pocket to flash a yellow card at Scott Brown for a crude lunge on kid Aaron Hickey, a decision that brought delight to the home support.
Bozanic then glanced a cross from Craig Wighton inches past Fraser Forster’s left-hand post to further fuel a belief within the home side this could be an evening on which they would buck the trend.
Even Stendel appeared to be enjoying the occasion, ditching his coat to continue his all-action coaching from the technical area.
Then came that familiar moment of deflation in the 28th minute as Celtic edged ahead.
It required some brilliance from Christie – back from a knee injury – as he buried a shot from the edge of the box after James Forrest combined with Odsonne Edouard, the Frenchman playing a backheel into his scoring team-mate’s path.
A hammer blow for Hearts that was compounded by losing Jamie Brandon as he limped off.
Only a poor touch prevented Edouard going clear on goal while Forrest dragged a shot wide when he should have scored as Celtic looked to bolster their cushion. They did not need to wait long. Forrest broke down the left in the 40th minute and his dragback found Ntcham who steered in. For Celtic, it was now a case of, ‘How many?’.
Hearts attempted a fightback from the restart as sub Sean Clare rattled a shot inches wide.
But it appeared short-lived as Celtic looked to have added a third, Forrest slamming home only for an offside flag to go up. Edouard nodded a Callum McGregor cross off a post but credit was still owed to the home side for not giving up the ghost as the gulf in class did not stop them busting a gut in every challenge.
There was no doubting the intensity and commitment of Stendel’s players, probing away for a goal that’d offer hope. McGregor should have extinguished it when he burst into the box but allowed Joel Pereira to claw the ball away.
Lennon’s agitation was clear as chances started to come Hearts’ way, with Wighton’s shot requiring a block from Christopher Jullien.
Hearts now had the gloves off, the Gorgie support coming alive as proceedings closed with Stendel’s men doing almost all of the pressing.
Nothing clear-cut and no moment they looked like making a proper fist of it. But, at least for spells, they for once had their hands up fighting.