Summary

  • Christie drills in after bright start by Hearts & Ntcham converts Forrest cutback

  • McGregor effort disallowed after break

  • Celtic go five points clear of Rangers at top

  • Only a single goal keeping Hearts above bottom side Hamilton

  1. 'Reasonable start from Hearts'published at 19:56 GMT 18 December 2019

    Hearts 0-0 Celtic

    Allan Preston
    BBC Scotland summariser on Sportsound

    Quote Message

    It's been a reasonable start from Hearts. They are in the faces of Celtic but how long can they do that for? It'll be a tough shift

  2. Postpublished at 9 mins

    Hearts 0-0 Celtic

    The first corner of the evening goes the way of Celtic. Ryan Christie swings it in and a header from Christopher Jullien is knocked to safety by a defender in maroon.

  3. Postpublished at 6 mins

    Hearts 0-0 Celtic

    Craig Wighton does well to knock a cross down into the path of Oliver Bozanic and the Australian's shot from 18 yards is comfortably gathered by Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster.

  4. 'Hearts need crowd behind them'published at 19:50 GMT 18 December 2019

    Hearts 0-0 Celtic

    Pat Bonner
    Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound

    Quote Message

    Hearts need to try keep the ball in the opposing half and win free-kicks, corners and throw-ins. They need to test Celtic defensively and get the crowd behind them

  5. Postpublished at 3 mins

    Hearts 0-0 Celtic

    A lively start from Hearts as the home side press for an opening. Lots of energy but no early glimpse of goal.

  6. 'Players need to show Stendel they want to be here'published at 19:46 GMT 18 December 2019

    Hearts 0-0 Celtic

    Allan Preston
    Former Hearts winger on BBC Sportsound

    Quote Message

    It's a fresh start for the Hearts players. Some of them are fighting for new contracts. They need to show the manager they want to be here. It starts tonight

  7. KICK-OFFpublished at 19:45 GMT 18 December 2019

    Hearts 0-0 Celtic

    And away we go...

  8. Lennon aims to strengthen in 'one or two areas'published at 19:41 GMT 18 December 2019

    Hearts v Celtic (19:45)

    When asked about the disharmony at Hearts, Neil Lennon adds: "It's strange, they have a good squad of players. They've already drawn against Rangers here so we need to be wary of that. We are not expecting a walk over. It will be physical and it'll be a good tempo.

    "They [Hearts] look like they have legs in the team and more energy. It's important we start the game well and put them under pressure when we can."

    With January approaching, Lennon went on to talk about the prospect of adding to his squad, telling BBC Sportsound: "You are always looking to strengthen.

    "We want to do that in one or two areas with quality, because January is very difficult to do really good business."

    Celtic boss Neil LennonImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Celtic boss Neil Lennon answers the questions from BBC Scotland's Brian McLauchlin

  9. 'A big game in the context of the season'published at 19:39 GMT 18 December 2019

    Hearts v Celtic (19:45)

    Speaking pre-match to BBC Sportsound, Celtic manager Neil Lennon has been praising his side's attitude, saying: "They have a great winning mentality. We know we can have a bump along the way but the response since (the loss to) Livingston has been perfect.

    "We've got a big game tonight. This is a big game in context of the season, so it's important that we focus our minds and prepare properly, but they [the players] do that very well."

  10. Pitch less than perfectpublished at 19:38 GMT 18 December 2019

    Hearts v Celtic (19:45)

    Allan Preston
    Former Hearts winger on BBC Sportsound

    Quote Message

    There was a million pounds spent on the pitch here and it doesn't look like it. There are bare patches and it looks bumpy.

  11. Summer stroll for Celticpublished at 19:37 GMT 18 December 2019

    Hearts v Celtic (19:45)

    This is the second meeting of the clubs this season. Celtic eased to a 3-1 victory over Hearts back in August, with Callum McGregor drilling in a great, long-range strike. Vakoun Bayo was claiming the first and third goals that day but they went down as own goals from Christophe Berra and Craig Halkett.

    Conor Washington's late goal, a rebound after Fraser Forster saved his penalty, was mere consolation.

    Callum McGregor scored in a 3-1 win over HeartsImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor was on target when the sides last met

  12. A glimmer of hope for Hearts?published at 19:35 GMT 18 December 2019

    Hearts v Celtic (19:45)

    Hearts have only managed three home wins in 2019. But they have enjoyed some recent success against Celtic at Tynecastle.

    The teams met six times last season, with the Edinburgh side winning the first of those encounters thanks to a volley from Kyle Lafferty.

    The Northern Irish striker was also on target when Hearts stunned Celtic 4-0 in December 2017, bringing to an end the visitors' 69-game unbeaten domestic run.

    Kyle LaffertyImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Kyle Lafferty is playing for Sarpsborg in Norway after leaving Hearts for a return to Rangers

  13. Lennon has upper hand on Heartspublished at 19:31 GMT 18 December 2019

    Hearts v Celtic (19:45)

    Under Neil Lennon, Celtic have won each of their last 12 league games against Hearts, scoring 33 goals while conceding just five in this run since a 2-0 loss in October 2011 during his first spell in charge.

  14. Can Hearts unsettle Celtic?published at 19:29 GMT 18 December 2019

    Hearts v Celtic (19:45)

    Pat Bonner
    Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound

    Quote Message

    Celtic are superb when they see plenty of the ball but where they can come unstuck is when a team goes right up against them

  15. Celtic on a roll...published at 19:27 GMT 18 December 2019

    Hearts v Celtic (19:45)

    Celtic are looking for nine in a row to stretch their lead at the top of the Premiership to five points.

    The champions, on a quest for a ninth successive title, have won their last eight league outings, keeping clean sheets in six of those matches. They have also lifted the League Cup for the fourth year running and qualified top of their Europa Leage group since a shock loss to Livingston in early October, so it's been quite the hot streak.

    Neil Lennon's men didn't have much trouble at home to Hibs on Sunday and now they switch their attention to the maroon half of Edinburgh.

    Celtic manager Neil LennonImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Celtic manager Neil Lennon has lost just one league match this season

  16. Relegation a real worry for Hearts - Mackaypublished at 19:24 GMT 18 December 2019

    Hearts v Celtic (19:45)

    Hearts visit Hamilton on Saturday and former skipper Gary Mackay thinks this is "a pivotal" week for his old club.

    "If we go into the Christmas period after the two games we have sitting bottom, which in reality could happen, then there will have to be a lot of soul searching done by everybody within the football department and boardroom," he told BBC Sportsound on Monday.

    "They're not really expected to do anything against Celtic but if they go to Hamilton with the same attitude as they showed on Saturday, there's only going to be one outcome and it's not a Hearts draw or victory

    "They have to show more passion for the jersey they're wearing and understand that there's not many clubs that can turn out 16,500 supporters when you're sitting bottom of the Premiership."

    When asked if Hearts looked like a side that could be relegated, the ominous reply was: "Absolutely."

  17. Levein not a morning person these dayspublished at 19:21 GMT 18 December 2019

    Hearts v Celtic (19:45)

    Hearts had their AGM yesterday, with chairwoman Ann Budge admitting she made a mistake by not replacing Craig Levein as manager in the summer.

    She also said Levein and former assistant Austin MacPhee might not see out their contracts, which end in May.

    One shareholder asked if the former Scotland manager, sacked from his duel role as manager and director of football in October, is still around on a daily basis, with Budge explaining that he stays away in the mornings while MacPhee, who will help with recruitment and video analysis, will work from home.

    "I've made slight changes so there can be no suggestion that he [Levein] is interfering with the first team," Budge added.

    Former Hearts manager Craig LeveinImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Former manager Craig Levein continues to help with the academy - but not in the mornings

  18. Frimpong a force of naturepublished at 19:17 GMT 18 December 2019

    Hearts v Celtic (19:45)

    The fresh-faced Jeremie Frimpong may look like one of the ballboys who has just sneaked on, but the teenage full-back must be one of the first names on the team-sheet for Celtic gaffer Neil Lennon.

    The right-back was tremendous at the weekend, scoring against Hibs and bombing up and down the wing all day with real menace.

    "I don't want to big him up too much but everyone is seeing it with their own eyes," said Lennon on Sunday.

    "His level of performance is outstanding. He has pace, power, end product. He's been magnificent since he came in the door."

    Jeremie Frimpong at TynecastleImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Jeremie Frimpong looks nice and relaxed as he turns up at Tynecastle

  19. 'Hearts need to come together as one'published at 19:14 GMT 18 December 2019

    Hearts v Celtic (19:45)

    Allan Preston
    BBC Scotland summariser on Sportsound

    Quote Message

    Hearts need to galvanize themselves as a group. The supporters the players and the staff. They all need to come together as one

  20. No dream start for Stendelpublished at 19:11 GMT 18 December 2019

    Hearts v Celtic (19:45)

    Hearts manager Daniel Stendel did not get off to a great start, with his team booed off on Saturday following a 1-0 home defeat to St Johnstone, who had been bottom of the league.

    The German said afterwards that the job of reviving the Edinburgh club will be "more hard work than I expected", adding that the players were "too nervous, too hectic".

    With just two wins from 17 league games, only Hamilton are below Hearts now and that's on goal difference.

    Hearts manager Daniel StendelImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Hearts manager Daniel Stendel suffered a sobering loss on his debut