Celtic took a massive step towards a fifth successive title win by beating Hearts 3-1 at Celtic Park today.
Patrick Roberts was brought into the starting XI by Ronny Deila and took full advantage of the opportunity with two goals either side of the interval to send Celtic seven points ahead of Aberdeen with seven matches left to play.
Derek McInnes’ side are in action tomorrow at home to Hamilton Accies with Celtic completing their pre split fixtures away to Dundee on Tuesday and Motherwell a week today.
Deila made five changes to the side that started at Kilmarnock a fortnight ago but it was Hearts that struck first when Sam Nicholson opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a shot that Craig Gordon couldn’t get near.
Celtic were back on level terms in the 15th minute when Gary Mackay-Steven controlled the ball just inside the penalty box then drilled a low drive across Neil Alexander into the net.
Just past the hour mark Celtic went in front when Roberts raced into space to collect a pass from Rogic before his shot past the approaching Alexander.
Three minutes into the second half Roberts extended Celtic lead with a great shot curled around Alexander after coming in off the right flank to pick up a lay off from Stefan Johansen.
Hearts refused to give up on taking something from the match but with a two goal cushion Deila was able to substitute Leigh Griffiths with Colin Kazim Richards given a run for the last 13 minutes.
CELTIC: Gordon; Lustig, Sviatchenko, Boyata, Tierney; Brown, Johansen; Roberts, Rogic (Bitton 45), Mackay-Steven (McGregor 68); Griffiths (Richards 77)
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GOAL: Mackay-Steven evens the score to 1 – 1. See all the goals and chances here https://t.co/o3hq6psuvz pic.twitter.com/hk88HPykOP
— Scottish Sun Sport (@scotsunsport) April 2, 2016
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GOAL: Roberts’ beauty wouldn’t be out of place in El Clasico tonight. Get all the goals here https://t.co/o3hq6psuvz pic.twitter.com/7WeGI3SE3K
— Scottish Sun Sport (@scotsunsport) April 2, 2016
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GOAL: Roberts with his second to make it 3 – 1 to Celtic. See all the goals and chances here https://t.co/o3hq6psuvz pic.twitter.com/VmzO6uE9yK
— Scottish Sun Sport (@scotsunsport) April 2, 2016
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