Hearts moved three points clear of the chasing pack after a 2-1 victory at Parkhead over the champions, Oisin McEntee bulleting a header into the net to secure the three points after a late Celtic surge.
The Hoops will regret switching off in the first half for Hearts’ opener and failing to defend a coroner for the second as the Jambos moved on to 35 points. Celtic have 32 but have a game in hand.
Earlier, Celtic started with Schmeichel, Scales, Trusty, Nygren, Yang, Tounekti, Engels, Maeda, Hatate, McGregor, Tierney while the visitors fielded Schwolow, Halkett, Shankland, Braga, Steinwender, Milne, Findlay,m Magnusson, McEntee and Kyziridis.
Wilfred Nancy, Celtic’s new manager, made a few tweaks to his formation and was given a noisy welcome by home fans as the rain poured down on the Parkhead pitch, and his counterpart, Derek McInnes, also made changes following the 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock in midweek.
The play was scrappy in the early minutes but Celtic broke and Maeda latched on to long ball from Tierney on the left side but fluffed his shot and, seconds later, a ball over the top of the Jambos rearguard saw the Japanese forward in an even better position but he sent the ball weakly wide. No wonder he looked to the sky.
Hearts had failed to impose themselves on their hosts who continued to power forward, and Tounekti was the next to bring a save out of Schwolow as the green machine maintained their pressure.
Nancy was agitated on the sidelines, urging Celtic forward and Hearts struggled to find their men or to clear their area as The Bhoys enjoyed 68 per cent of the possession.
McInnes patrolled the touchline in his dugout area, his head covered by a hood to protect him from the rain, but his men were continuing to sturggle to stem the green tide which washed towards them.
Kounekti was next to threaten, forcing a corner on the left and a misplaced Kyziridis flick put the Men in Maroon in trouble again. Nygren forced another corner. Engles sent the ball short but the opportunity was wasted.
The Jambos could not find a foothold in the game as Celtic stroked the ball around, seeking a breakthrough. Braga operated on the left and Kyziridis on the right with Shankland in the middle, but the trio were starved of the ball.
Essentially, it was one-way traffic but, for all Celtic’s dominance, they were wasteful in the final third. Nancy made notes as Hearts struggled to get up the pitch towards Schmeichel, but, at least, they were still level.
Another Celtic corner with Engles delivering and this time he went long, Schwolow punching clear, and, at last, Hearts broke, but Kyziridis was forced backwards. The ball eventually ended up with Milne after a slick one-two and the former Partick Thistle player delivered a fine cross into the Celtic box which was cleared with Shankland lurking.
Then, McEntee failed to get the ball past the first defender when fed by Shankland in a good position, and it was tough going for the league-pacesetters who were forced back. Steinwender cleared but only to Engles who fired wildly wide when in a good position.
Shankland did well to shield the ball midway in his own half as The Hoops controlled play, switching from side to side, but Magnusson picked up the ball and fed Shankland again. The skipper failed to control it and Celtic broke again.
Kyziridis broke up the move but his ball upfield landed at a green and white shirt. Cue further pressure but, thankfully for Hearts, Celtic’s build-up play was not matched by efficiency in the final third.
Yang then earned a yellow card for tugging Milne’s shirt, the first of the afternoon, a brief respite, but Milne joined the Japanese for a foul on the same player seconds later. Celtic wasted their free-kick chance.
At last, a break from Hearts, and Kyziridis and Milne linked only for Shankland to be brushed off the ball into the box and failed to get a shot on goal. If was a rare incursion into the home box as the clock ticked on towards the break.
Braga broke and tested Tierney down the right. The former Arsenal player sent the ball out for a corner. Milne was on set-piece duty on the right but his flighted ball failed to cause any danger, but at least Hearts stayed in the Celtic half.
Eventually the ball fell free after Milne scuffed his shot and Braga (pictured left) robbed McGregor. The Portugal-born player turned and hooked it home wide of Schmeichel for an unlikely opener. Time 42min 47sec. Braga took a bow as the song Radio Braga echoed around the stadium. Hearts fans rejoiced in the rain, Celtic fans were stunned.
Their favourites powered forward seeking an equaliser and Devlin mopped up another attack. Nancy looked on and then nipped up the tunnel as the boos rang round Celtic Park and The Hoops rued the early chances passed up by Maeda who wore a bandage over a head wound.
Could Hearts maintain that slender lead? Second half, same story, Celtic on the offensive, but Hearts mounted an attack down the left. It petered out after Magnusson lost control of the ball and Celtic raced forward, but their move fizzled out inside the Jambos box. Frustrated Nancy cupped his hands to his face.
Back came Celtic with McGregor pulling the strings, moving the ball from side to side, seeking a weak point in the Hearts defence. Maeda fed Engles who failed to hit the target, then it was the turn of Hearts to caress the ball over the sodden surface and it eventually fell to Magnusson, who had sneaked in at the back post, from a Shankland cross. The Icelander was put off by a Celtic defender.
McCowan was made ready for Celtic to replace Tounekti as manager Nancy worked on his tactics board and Steinwender was booked for a foul on Engles. Scrappy and frantic, but absorbing none the less.
At last, Hearts broke free and Shankland tested Schmeichel at the near post, forcing a corner and McEntee then pounced, sending a magnificent header into the net. Precision from distance and Schmeichel had no chance. Signal joy in Maroon. Time 64min. Score 2-0. Celtic fans stunned. Nancy pointing, gesticulating from the bench.
Halkett came to the rescue as Engles strode forward and Schwolow got down low to smother. McCowan fired high as Celtic buzzed around the Jambos box and Nancy had a quick conference with McGregor on the sidelines, the tactics board – with blue and red counters – being used.
Hearts prepared their first changes – Kingsley and McCart on for Milne and Kyziridis – as Kyziridis popped up on the left but failed to test Schmeichel as frustration became evident among home fans around the packed stands. They forced a corner and Shankland left his offensive beat to help out.
Yang crossed but Maeda was not on the same wavelength as Nancy folded his arms and paced up and down in the dugout seeking a solution. He then sat down to move the counters around on his white board.
More changes for the Jambos, Kent for Halkett and Braga off, Kabore on and some Celtic fans had seen enough as they moved towards the exits. They quit as Celtic stepped-up their offensive, moving the ball quickly. Scales was found inside the Jambos half and the big defender sent a hopeful ball looping into the box. Key comfortable Schwolow catch.
Tierney sent a dangerous ball from the left into the penalty spot area but up popped Devlin to defend. Shankland departed for Borchgrevink to make an appearance and shore up at the back to protect the lead.
Goalkeeper Schwolow, whose mistake allowed Kilmarnock to claim a point in midweek, saved point blank from another cross from the left and the rebound was slammed against the bar. Two big escapes as the clock moved onto 87 minutes.
Scales wasted another promising situation with a poor pass as the defender was allowed the room as Hearts erected a maroon wall inside their own half. Magnusson broke but his pass to Kabore was intercepted and Celtic switched wings before another cross came in.
McCart was injured defending stoutly as four minutes of injury time was signalled. McInnes urged his men to stay solid and McCart cleared a McCowan cross then Tierney picked up a loose ball inside the box after a poor clearing header and the Scotland man fired a left-foot shot low into the net. Time 93 minutes.
A VAR check was taken but the goal stood. Hearts survived for a historic win and they move clear of the Parkhead men after completing a league double over the champions.
