FROM NEIL DOHERTY IN EDINBURGH: Neil Lennon praised his Hoops heroes tonight after a smashing 4-0 win over Hearts here at Tynecastle.
It was the perfect response from the Celtic players following recent poor domestic performances.
Lassad opened the scoring before Mikael Lustig doubled the Hoops’ advantage. A Ryan Stevenson own goal just after the half-hour mark made it three for Celtic before a late strike from Gary Hooper sealed the points.
Marius Zaliukas was denied by the outstanding Fraser Forster when he struck a controversial penalty at the death but the win was already in the bag for Celtic.
“It was a cracking atmosphere,” said Lennon afterwards at a ground where he was once attacked by a Hearts fan.
“The match was played at a great tempo. It’s the performance I was looking for from the players but to win so comprehensively was very pleasing.”
Keeper Forster agreed: “Saturday was unacceptable and the gaffer was looking for a reaction – and that’s what he got.”
After the defeat at home to Inverness at the weekend Lennon made some changes with Georgios Samaras, Adam Matthews and Tony Watt dropping to the bench. Joe Ledley, Kelvin Wilson and Lassad came into the side.
The match had a frantic start but it took Celtic just 10 minutes to take the lead, Commons playing a superb ball for Lassad to finish.
Commons was continuing to cause problems for the home side and in the 21st minute he fired a shot in, and Lustig followed up to score Celtic’s second.
Hearts continued to push forward and as they did Celtic found gaps and just after half an hour Mulgrew fired a wicked ball into the Hearts box and Stevenson turned the ball into his own net.
The travelling support were delerious.
Forster made a number of fine saves to keep a clean sheet. At the other end man of the match Commons was threatening again.
Five minutes from time Hooper added a fourth after great work by Brown.
Hearts were offered the chance of a consolation just before the end but Forster made a great save from Zaliukas.
A great night for the Hoops.
HEARTS (4-4-1-1): MacDonald; McHattie, Zaliukas, Webster, R. McGowan; Walker (Driver 68), Barr, D. McGowan (Robinson 63), Stevenson; Holt (Taouil 58), Paterson
Subs not used: Enckelman, Sutton, Smith, Novikovas
CELTIC (4-4-2): Forster, Lustig (Matthews 69), Ambrose, Wilson, Mulgrew, Commons, Kayal, Wanyama, Ledley (Brown 69), Lassad (Samaras 80), Hooper.
Subs not used: Zaluska, Miku, Watt, McGeouch
Man of the Match: Kris Commons.
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