Celtic survived a late scare to return to the top of the Scottish Premier yesterday with an entertaining 1-0 win over Hearts at Parkhead.

Despite it being their worst start to a season since 1998, the Hoops knew a win would move them to the summit of the SPL and they had been on top before the game was delayed for five minutes to allow treatment to Hearts keeper Jamie MacDonald who was stretchered off unconscious following a challenge with Charlie Mulgrew.

After the game resumed Hearts missed a golden chance to take the lead when striker Callum Paterson fired wide from close range after good work from Andy Driver.

Georgios Samaras smashed a volley off the post before handing Celtic a 34th-minute lead when he sent an angled shot squirming through the legs of replacement keeper Peter Enckleman.

Hearts improved in the second half and nearly grabbed a stoppage-time equaliser when Driver sent a shot wide but they couldn’t prevent the Hoops winning their third game in a row to move two points clear of Hibernian at the top of the table.

MacDonald’s game was to last just 10 minutes after he was stretchered off to be replaced by Enckleman following a collision with Mulgrew as they both went for Emilio Izaguirre’s cross.

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