O’Neill hails hotshot Hartson

Celtic 4 Hearts 2

The Welsh striker fired a treble as the champions closed the gap on Rangers at the top of the Premier League to a single point with a 4-2 victory over plucky Hearts at Parkhead. But the Welsh international’s third also earned praise after his brilliant volley gave the Hoops a 3-2 lead in a pulsating clash.

Mark de Vries had given the visitors a shock fourth-minute lead before Hartson equalised a minute before the break. However, the Tynecastle forward struck again before Hartson rounded Roddy McKenzie two minutes later. A superb volley by the Welshman put Celtic ahead before Henrik Larsson clinched the points which closed the gap behind Rangers to just one point.

But O’Neill was left purring after Hartson’s three-goal haul.

He said: “I was concerned when Hearts scored the first one and the second.

“We were a goal down before we even got started but the team has got the ability to come back and Hartson scored some great goals.

“Jimmy Greaves and Denis Law used to take goals like his second and his third was a dream.

“It was a great win for us and it was a really excellent match. We played very well but I knew it was going to be tough. Dundee set the standard here a few days ago and somebody reminded me it was our ninth game in 32 days so we had to get some energy from somewhere especially at 2-2.

“But Hartson came up with a fantastic goal, which was worthy of winning any match and I was delighted to see the fourth go in to give us a bit of cushion.

“It was a splendid match and I’m sure that those who stayed to the end left thoroughly satisfied.”

De Vries stunned the home crowd and emergency goalkeeper Magnus Hedman with a goal in the fourth minute.

The Swede had not played since September 1 but was drafted into the side seconds before kick-off after Robert Douglas had sustained a calf injury in the warm up.

The Scotland number one was already due to have a hernia operation next month but now looks set for an extended winter break.

O’Neill said: “Rob hurt the back of his calf and just didn’t have the time to get back out and see if he was all right.

“So the doctors took the decision early and Magnus came in with Jonathan Gould coming onto the bench which was cleared by Hearts.”

Meanwhile, Hearts head coach Craig Levein could not hide his disappointment at not taking anything from a game to which his team had contributed so much.

Levein said: “I am really proud of the way the guys tried to play today.

“That is as good as we have played in the time I have been here.

“But there is a big lump in my throat and the disappointment’s there so I’m finding it hard to swallow.

“So to get nothing out of the game is a little bit disappointing.”

CELTIC: Hedman, Valgaeren, Balde, Laursen, Agathe, Lambert, Sutton, Petrov, Thompson, Larsson, Hartson.

HEARTS: McKenzie, Maybury, McKenna, Pressley, McCann (Mahe 82), Weir, MacFarlane (Hamill 79), Stamp, Boyack (Simmons 74), Valois, de Vries.

Referee: Hugh Dallas