It took two late goals from Jamie Lindsay and Kieran Tierney to earn an experienced Celtic side a 3-1 win over Hearts.
Leigh Griffiths, Beram Kayal, Alexsandar Tonev and Nir Bitton were all in the starting XI as Ronnie Deila watched from the stand at Cappielow.
Griffiths was the most impressive of the first team players on show, scoring from close range in the 43rd minute before being replaced by Sam Wardop in the 68th minute.
It looked like Hearts might escape with a draw until Lindsay scored in the 84th minute before Tierney let loose with an incredible 90 yard clearance from his own penalty area that sailed high over former Sevco stopper Scott Gallacher into the net.
Celtic produced a succession of first half corners but it took until just before the break for the hoops to score when Griffiths netted from close range following a Tonev pass.
Most of Celtic’s play was channeled down the right flank with Paul McMullan enjoying plenty of possession without supplying the killer ball.
With Hearts happy to sit back Celtic were constantly pushing forward but struggling to find a way through the maroon defence.
It seemed only a matter of time before the deadlock was broken but when it did come it was at the wrong end. A harmless back-pass from Calum Waters caught Leo Fasan off guard with the ball trundling under the keepers boot and into the net.
Celtic continued to push forward forcing more corners but when the equaliser arrived it came from open play. Kayal pushed forward before releasing the ball left to Tonev, the midfielder continued his run into the box but Tonev’s pass was met by Griffiths who steered the ball into the net from eight yards out to send the teams into the break on level terms.
Joe Thomson replaced Kayal at the break with the hoops pushing strongly but other than a low shot from Griffiths in the 51st minute that Scott Gallagher pushed wide for a corner the Hearts goal remained well protected.
After that early onslaught the pace of Celtic’s play dropped off with Tonev and Griffiths replaced by Tierney and Wardop midway through the second period.
With time running out the hoops pressure paid off when Lindsay got on the end of a great three man move. Watters opened up the Hearts defence with a precise through ball for Tierney who hit the bye-line then squared the ball back for Lindsay who planted a low shot beyond Gallagher from 15 yards out.
In stoppage time Kierney scored an amazing goal from his the edge of his own penalty area! Hearts struck a free kick into the hoops box with the ball cleared to Tierney who let rip to send his clearance come shot flying beyond Gallacher caught in no mans land 30 yards from goal as Hearts chased an equaliser.
As the teams left the pitch Hearts coach Ross Jack had an angry confrontation on the pitch with the referee.
CELTIC:Â Fasan; Lindsay, Kelleher, Findlay, Waters; Kayal (Thomson 46), Bitton, Henderson; McMullan, Griffiths (Wardrop 68), Tonev (Tierney 59)
SUBS:Â Hart, Donnelly, McCart, Â Breslin