Celtic come from behind to win 2-1 at Hearts

Champions Celtic beat Hearts 2-1 yesterday to restore their 17 point lead over rivals Rangers in the Scottish Premier League.

Former Hearts captain Steven Pressley was made Celtic skipper in just his third match since his switch due to the absence of the suspended Neil Lennon.

Hearts took a first half lead thanks to a 30-metre shot from Lithuanian striker Saulius Mikoliunas but Celtic stormed back in the second period and levelled through Dutch forward Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink on 59 minutes.

Jiri Jarosik then scored the winner with nine minutes left with a fierce low shot from the edge of the box which flew across keeper Craig Gordon into the right side of the net.

Celtic now top the SPL standings on 59 points from 24 games while Rangers remain second with 42 from 24 following their 5-0 thrashing of Dundee United on Saturday in new manager Walter Smith's first game in charge.

Premier League

Hearts-Celtic 1-2
Kilmarnock-Hibernian today