GLASGOW, 17 October 2004 — Celtic enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 win at home to Hearts yesterday as the visitors paid a heavy price for trying to frustrate the Scottish Premier League leaders.
Goals from Henri Camara, Juninho and John Hartson stretched Martin O’Neill’s side lead over their Old Firm rivals to eight points, for 24 hours at least, with Rangers travelling to Motherwell today. Hearts had set out to make things difficult for the Parkhead side with 4-5-1 formation and in the early stages there were few opportunities at either end.
After 19 minutes Camara thought he had opened the scoring for Celtic when he headed home a Stilian Petrov free-kick but the Senegal international had strayed into an offside position and his effort was ruled out.
Hearts then had a good opportunity to take the lead after a good run through the middle on 23 minutes by Alan Maybury ended with the Irish international playing a well weighted pass through to Paul Hartley.
Though the home side were dominating possession, and despite some lovely touches by Brazilian Juninho, they were struggling to create any clear-cut chances.
It took them until six minutes to force Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon into action. French wing-back Didier Agathe’s cross from the right was dummied by Camara and Hartson fired in a shot from 12 yards which was well blocked by the Scottish international number one. Celtic finally found a way through the packed Hearts rearguard on 41 minutes in spectacular fashion.
Dundee won 3-1 at home to Kilmarnock with goals from Steven Robb, John Sutton and Iain Anderson overturning Kris Boyd opener.
Goals from Hibernian’s Garry O’Connor and Steven Fletcher gave the Edinburgh side all three points in a 2-0 win at home to Dundee United.
Aberdeen won 3-1 when they were the visitors at their own ground against lodgers Inverness Caledonian Thistle. The win came courtesy of a Derek Adams brace, the second from the spot, and a Darren Mackie penalty with Roy McBain scoring for Caley. Livingston got all three points at home to Dunfermline with A 2-0 win. Goals came from a Scott Wilson own goal and a strike from Robert Snowgrass.
