CHAMPING AT THE BIT
Fans in party mood as Hoops lay one hand on title after beating Hearts
Officially, it’s not done just yet.
But try telling that to the Celtic fans inside Parkhead yesterday who roared and sang l ike champions at full-time.
Despite being nine points clear of Rangers, who have three games left and an inferior goal difference, Ange Postecoglou still wouldn’t say it afterwards.
But the Hoops boss knows he now has one hand on his first Premiership title.
And given the celebrations after this beating of Hearts, the roof will come off the place when skipper Cal lum McGregor eventually lifts that trophy.
For a nervy 20 minutes there was a bit of uncertainty as the Jambos got in front through Ellis
Simms. But after goals from Daizen Maeda, Kyogo Furuhashi, Mat t O’Ri ley and Giorgos Giakoumakis this result – and the destiny of the league flag – was never in doubt.
Midfielder David Turnbull who made his f irst star t since December after injury, said: “It’s been a great season for everyone.
“This result was massive and puts us in a good position. It was a joy to be out there, especially after the injury.
“Now I’m real ly looking forward to [Dundee United] on 4 1
Wednesday night. We’ll go there full of confidence and hopefully wrap up the title.
“We showed character to come back after going behind.
“Once we got the first goal, the boys knew others would come.
“There was pressure on us after the first few games of the season.
“But we all believed we could go on a run and that’s what we’ve done. To go 30 games unbeaten has been terrific.”
But at the start yesterday it was the Jambos – and Simms in par t icular – who looked sharper. And in three minutes, they were in front as Simms stunned Parkhead.
Barrie McKay and Liam Boyce played their part in getting the ball to him in the box.
Simms turned brilliantly and coolly slotted past a helpless Joe Hart to make it 1- 0.
Suddenly there was an air of anxiety among the home fans.
Hearts were playing a high defensive line and compressing the middle of the pitch. Celtic had to try to play through or look to go over the top to Kyogo – but initially they found it difficult.
Turnbul l pounced on an O’Riley cross that was cleared but Craig Gordon pulled off a terrific stop low down.
The Jambos were trying to frustrate Postecoglou’s men and kill time at every opportunity.
But gradually Celtic started to get a grip of the game. Kyogo met a McGregor cut-back but Gordon made a fine stop again.
At that point Hearts boss Robbie Neilson would have been delighted at his team’s display. The game plan was working.
But after half an hour he was left livid with ref Don Robertson as the Hoops levelled.
Hearts were convinced that Toby Sibbick was upended by McGregor in midfield.
Robertson waved play on and Celtic went on the counter. Jota produced a brilliant solo run with pace and purpose before teeing up Maeda in the box to finish.
Gordon, Sibbick and others
went straight for the whistler but their appeals fell on deaf ears.
If the Jambos felt hard done by at the equaliser, their mood got worse as Celtic got their noses in front before half-time.
O’Riley was given too much space on the left flank to deliver a back- post cross. Jota rose superbly to nod it back across goal and Kyogo battled with Kingsley to direct it towards goal.
Gordon got back and thought he’d clawed it to safety but on the advice of assistant Dougie Potter, Robertson deemed it to be a goal and replays proved them right.
It sparked celebrations that were a mixture of joy and relief.
Neilson wasn’t happy with the officials and waited for them at the break. His team somehow had to stop feeling hard done by and get back in the game.
But with Celtic now having the bit between their teeth – and the crowd behind them – that was a big ask.
Maeda slid in with Gordon for a Kyogo cross and when the ball broke free, it had to be cleared off the line.
Then O’Riley worked a bit of space for himself 15 yards out and crashed a shot off the post, with the Scotland keeper beaten.
But, while it was still 2-1, Hearts were in it. And for a period around the hour mark they put the Hoops under pressure.
That’s where the likes of Carl Starfelt and even O’Riley came to the fore with excellent defensive headers to keep the Jambos at bay. When that flurry fizzled out, Celtic upped a gear and got a third. Greg Taylor flighted a cross to the back stick for O’Riley who was unmarked.
The former MK Dons man took a touch before caressing it past Gordon into the corner.
That was game over and it was party mode in the stands again.
Hearts hadn’t played badly but Celtic have proved time and again this season that once they get in front they’re difficult to catch.
Jota had a goal ruled out for offside, while Gordon kept out Reo Hatate, Liel Abada and James Forrest who’d come off the bench.
At the death, sub Giakoumakis made it 4-1 with a clinical finish that wrapped up the points and – unofficially for now – the title.