Hearts fail to perform at Celtic Park (stop me if you’ve heard this before)

Celtic 3 Heart of Midlothian 1

Ladbrokes Premiership Sunday 25^th August
2019 – Celtic Park

The
Edinburgh Festival draws to a close this weekend with many shows performed
daily. Aficionados of some of these shows may well have seen some of them more
than once, going back for more even though they knew what was coming. Those
Hearts supporters heading to Celtic Park this afternoon certainly knew what was
coming – their favourites recent shocking record against Celtic in Glasgow
continuing in all-too predictable fashion as Craig Levein’s side went down 3-1
and, typically, scarcely laid a glove on their hosts.

Levein
was forced to make one change to the team that knocked Motherwell out of the
Betfred Cup nine days ago. Jamie Walker’s injury saw him replaced by Glenn
Whelan, making his Hearts debut.

If you have read previous Celtic-Hearts match reports in The Edinburgh Reporter you’ll also know what is coming next. Hearts, as is their wont under Levein, were content to soak up the pressure at Celtic Park. It took 40 minutes for Hearts to register their first shot on target. By this time the Maroons injury jinx had struck again – defender Michael Smith limping off to be replaced by Jamie Brandon. And Celtic were already a goal up. Christophe Berra and Craig Halkett were caught out by Bayo who shot past Hearts keeper Pereira to put the champions in front.

It
was the same story in the second half. Damour was all too easily dispossessed by
Christie who fed McGregor who fired past the Hearts keeper from around 20 yards
to double the hosts lead.

2-0
quickly became 3-0. Ajer set up Bayo who had the easiest of chances. Indeed, it
was all too easy for the champions and an all too familiar meek showing from
Hearts in Glasgow. It could have been worse but Bayo was denied a hat-trick when
his header bounced off a post.

Those
Hearts fans who had hung around until the 80^th minute were at least
rewarded with a goal. Sean Clare was fouled in the penalty box by Brown. Conor
Washington took the resultant penalty kick – and saw his effort saved by Celtic
keeper Forster. However, the Northern Ireland international drove home the
rebound for what was nothing more than a consolation.

Hearts
remain without a win in the Ladbrokes Premiership this season, albeit we’re
only three games in. But, going back to last season, it’s now 10 league games
without a win. And only four league wins in the whole of 2019.

Prior
to the game, Hearts owner Ann Budge said she believes Craig Levein ‘is doing a
great job’. The ‘piles of Hearts fans who might disagree with me’ as Mrs Budge put
it may become mountain sized if things don’t improve soon.

Celtic: Forster, Julien, Bitton,
Brown, Bayo (Griffiths, 78′), Christie, Ntcham (Johnston, 69′), Bolingoli, Ajer
(Ralston, 87′), McGregor, Forrest.

Hearts: Pereira, M. Smith
(Brandon, 18′), Berra, Clare, Washington, Mulraney (White, 81′), Whelan, Damour
(Ikpeazu, 70′), Halkett, Irving, Hickey.

Referee: Willie Collum

Att: 58,763

Top People: Those Hearts supporters who made the journey west
knowing they were going to witness the same old story – and some had paid £33 for a seat with an
unrestricted view. On reflection, the £30 seats with a restricted view sounded
more sensible…