CHAMPIONS
with six games still to play
Quick Review
Celtic ground out the victory with some tenacious tackling of their own and a sound display from Boruc and his defenders.
It looked as if Celtic might run away with it when Hartson got the party off to a flying start with a wonderful volley. Maciej Zurawski nodded a long punt down field from Boruc to the Welshman, who caught the ball 25 yards out and watched it bounce once before grazing the fingertips of Craig Gordon on its way into the net.
Bednar spun cleverly inside the penalty area and sent a low shot towards the bottom corner but Boruc threw himself to his left to tip the ball behind.
Celtic were struggling to build on their promising opening and Gordon comfortably saved Shunsuke Nakamura's 30-yard free-kick as the first-half came to a close.
Hearts thought they had levelled the game five minutes after the break when Webster bundled the ball home from close range, but the Scotland international had strayed offside. Hearts were claiming for a penalty when Balde mis-timed a clearance and whacked the striker, with interim manager Valdas Ivanauskas sent to the stands for his protest.
The final few minutes saw Hearts camped in and around the Celtic penalty area, but Celtic held firm to secure a league and League Cup double in Strachan's first season at the club.
Trivia
The title race is over with six games left to play.
John Hartson celebrated his 31st birthday with a sweetly struck volley, to claim the title.
Teams
Celtic:-Boruc,
Telfer,
Balde,
McManus,
Wilson,
Nakamura (
Pearson 58),
Petrov,
Lennon,
Maloney (
McGeady 82),
Zurawski,
Hartson (
Dublin 69).
Subs not used:- Marshall,
Thompson,
Varga,
Wallace.
Goal:- Hartson 3.
Booked:- Hartson, Telfer.
Hearts:-Gordon, Neilson, Webster, Berra, Fyssas, Cesnauskis,
Hartley, Brellier (Elliot 85), Mikoliunas (Skacel 62), Bednar, Jankauskas (Pospisil 54).
Subs not used:- Banks, Tall, Aguiar, Petras.
Booked:- Fyssas, Brellier, Elliot.
Sent Off:- Coach - Ivanauskas.
Att:- 59,699
Ref:- D McDonald.
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