CELTS DISH OUT YET MORE CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

The aggregate score between Celtic and Hearts this season now reads Celtic 9 Hearts 1 after Celtic’s comfortable 4-1 win over the Edinburgh side this weekend.

After a minute’s applause in honour of the late great Sean Fallon, Celtic took the lead after just 90 seconds when great work by Adam Matthews set up Gary Hooper to fire home.  The lead was doubled ten minutes later, after Kris Commons saw his shot parried straight to Samaras, who slotted the ball into the empty net.

The rest of the first was quiet by comparison, although it should be noted that the new centre-half duo of Mulgrew and Lustig and Lukasz Zaluska – in for Fraser Forster who has a neck injury – had very little to do.

The second half was more intriguing, as Hooper had a goal disallowed and a great time move saw Joe Ledley have a shot well saved.  Hearts then pulled a goal back in one of their rare attacks on goal when a shot by Holt took a massive deflection of Lustig and went out of reach of the despairing Zaluska.  This spurred Celtic on however, as Gary Hooper made it 3-1 after a great run from Brown on 85 minutes and in injury time Lassad made it 4-1 with a cool finish.

Neil Lennon can be satisfied with the performance of his side, with Adam Matthews in particular a stand out.  Joe Ledley also played well in his return from injury.  Lennon also admitted in the press that he expects more bids to come in for Gary Hooper after Norwich’s recent £5 million was turned down.  If will be interesting to see if Celtic decide to take the money for Hooper now, knowing that in the summer with only 12 months of his contract left to run he could be worth less.

Next up for Celtic is Dundee United at Celtic Park on Tuesday, and a chance to see in action the man many want Celtic to sign – Johnny Russell.