Battling bhoys fight back to oust Hearts in cup thriller
Celtic staged a great second half comeback to see off Hearts on the road to Hampden.
Trailing to a Dale Carrick goal just before half time the game appeared to slipping away from the visitors until two goals in the 76th and 79th minutes from Bahrudin Atajic and substitute Jamie Lindsay turned the tie around.
The old Celtic spirit was alive and well as John Kennedy’s side took their first steps in the defence of the trophy that they’ve won for the last three seasons.
Joe Chalmers, Marcus Fraser, Stuart Findlay, John Herron and Jackson Irvine returned to the side after missing the last two matches due to international commitments.
Hearts 1-2 Celtic
Paddy McNally joined Findlay in the centre of defence with Fraser starting the match anchoring the midfield before switching to right-back in a reshuffle that saw Darnell Fisher move into the centre and Mikey Miller move into right midfield.
John Herron came close to giving Celtic the perfect start in the second minute but was unable to get his header on target from a Chalmers corner.
The game quickly settled down with neither side taking any risks at the back. Around the 20 minute mark Glen Daniels was called upon to make two good saves before Jamie Walker blazed a shot over the bar.
Miller had a shot deflected over for a corner in the 32nd minute but the visitors were struggling to cut through the Hearts midfield leaving Atajic racing after loose balls.
Just before the interval Hearts took the lead when Carrick headed past Daniels from eight yhards out following a cross from the left.
Celtic started the second half on the front foot with Denny Johnstone leading the line and Jamie Lindsay playing in centre midfield with Miller and McNally replaced.
Fraser Mullen and Walker were booked as Hearts dropped further and further back to defend their lead.
Despite Celtic’s pressure chances were few and far between until Atajic sent a spectacular scissor kick back across goal from Lindsay’s cross in the 76th minute.
Three minutes later Lindsay was the hero as he exchanged passes with Atajic at the edge of the penalty box then slotted a low shot under the onrushing Jack Hamilton into the net.
Hearts were unable to put Celtic under any real pressure in the last ten minutes with the only downer for the visiting support a late injury to Herron
HEARTS: Hamilton: King, McHattie, McKay, McGhee, Mullen, King, Tapping, Carrick, Holt, Walker.
SUBS: Millar, Nicholson, Oliver, Keegan, Gordon
CELTIC: Daniels: Miller (Lindsay 46), Findlay, McNally (Johnstone 46), Chalmers: Fisher, Kidd, Fraser, Irvine, Herron (O’Connell 89): Atajic
SUBS: Hart, McMullen