Celtic 2-0 Hearts: Hosts go two points clear at top

Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi knocked in the opener to score for the third successive game

Celtic are "close" to completing a deal for Sead Haksabanovic, manager Ange Postecoglou confirmed, after his side overcame an awkward test against Hearts to move two points clear at the Scottish Premiership summit.

Hearts improved after the break, but had no shots on target and ended with nine men after second yellows for Alex Cochrane and Toby Sibbick late on.

Celtic maintained their perfect start with a fourth straight victory, and are set to bolster their squad with the signing of 23-year-old Montenegro winger Haksabanovic, who is seeking to leave Russian side Rubin Kazan.

"Yeah, I think that's a fair assessment - it's getting close," Postecoglou told Sky Sports of a potential deal.

Hearts, whose line-up reflected the importance of their looming Europa League play-off second leg with FC Zurich, lost for the first time in the league this season.

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Craig Gordon, Barrie McKay and Lawrence Shankland were among the key players rested as Hearts boss Robbie Neilson made seven changes from the 2-1 first-leg defeat in Switzerland.

But even accounting for the upheaval, the visitors' defending was dire as they fell behind in the opening 15 minutes.

Kyogo was left all alone six yards out to volley past stand-in goalkeeper Ross Stewart after Daizen Maeda wriggled clear of Cochrane and whipped over a cross from the right.

Hearts regrouped and manfully prevented further damage before the break, with Jota lashing into the side-netting, Matt O'Riley knocking an acrobatic effort wide and Maeda wastefully planting a header into Stewart's arms from close range.

Hearts were too often hurried in possession, but cut Celtic open when neat interplay in midfield allowed Gary Mackay-Steven to spring Josh Ginnelly clear, only for the winger to drag wide.

The visitors' belief blossomed as Celtic started the second half in sloppy fashion. Ginnelly screwed another effort wide while Sibbick was unable to connect with Alan Forrest's tempting ball across the face of goal.

Yet Hearts were unable to trouble goalkeeper Joe Hart, even after throwing on McKay and Shankland for the final half hour.

Celtic's search for a second goal was thwarted by Stewart's fine save from O'Riley, with substitute Hatate bundling the rebound a foot past. But Giakoumakis finally found a way through when he bundled in Josip Juranovic's fizzed delivery.

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While Celtic's flawless start continues, they made hard work of overcoming a patchwork Hearts side.

The hosts allowed slackness to seep into their play in the second half, with loose passes and careless possession giving their visitors a foothold.

Still, Celtic's defensive solidity saw them through the rocky patch, with a third clean sheet secured while restricting the visitors to a meagre XG (expected goals) of 0.15.

At the other end, Celtic created more than enough chances to make the game safe long before Giakoumakis' goal. Having come off the bench to net in successive games, has the Greece striker earned a start next weekend?

One look at the Hearts teamsheet showed Neilson's priorities this week clearly lie elsewhere, with the manager taking no risks on his main men amid various bumps and bruises.

The early concession could have opened the floodgates, but Hearts dug in impressively and knocked Celtic off their stride after the break.

However, they were bereft of cutting edge and their set-piece deliveries lacked quality as the Edinburgh men's plucky efforts came to nothing.

What did they say?

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou: "It was a game where there was no real flow to it. It was very stop-start, hard to get real tempo. Some of it was our own doing.

"Through that, we still maintained control and even though it was 1-0 for a long time, I never felt threatened. Their keeper pulled off two or three good games to keep them in the game."

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson: "I was pleased with the players that came in. We don't have a big squad but we've got real quality in the depth of the squad.

"For large periods of the game we played well. Until the referee sends two of our players off, we're still in the game and we're in a good position."

What's next?

Hearts are banking on home advantage helping them turn the tie around when they face Swiss champions FC Zurich in the Europa League play-off second leg at Tynecastle on Thursday (20:00 BST).

They then host St Johnstone in the Premiership next Sunday (15:00), with Celtic away to Dundee United the same day (12:00).