Celtic 3 Hearts 1
A Patrick Roberts double helped Celtic to a 3-1 win over Hearts and took the Hoops seven points clear at the top of the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership.
Jamie Walker fired the visitors ahead in the sixth minute of a feisty, absorbing lunchtime encounter at Parkhead before Gary Mackay-Steven levelled after quarter of an hour with a fine strike.
Roberts, on loan from Manchester City since January, had the Hoops ahead at the interval with his first senior goal and the 19-year-old grabbed his second four minutes after the restart to clinch the points.
Hearts' finished with ten men with Juwon Oshaniwa sent off in injury time for picking up a second yellow card.
Celtic have played the same number of games as second-placed Aberdeen who have the opportunity to reduce the deficit at home to Hamilton on Sunday.
However, games are running out for the Pittodrie men to catch the leaders.
This was a tough test in more ways than one that Ronny Deila's side came through ahead of their visit to Dundee on Tuesday.
Roberts' performance is a reminder to young Irish winger Jack Byrne just how much competition he faces for a place at Man City.
The Norwegian freshened his side up after the international break, with Dedryck Boyata, Stefan Johansen, Tom Rogic, Roberts and Mackay-Steven coming into the starting line-up.
Jambos boss Robbie Neilson also made five changes with captain Alim Ozturk, Igor Rossi, Oshaniwa, Prince Buaben and Sam Nicholson returning.
The third-placed Tynecastle men took an early lead after Parkhead stopper Erik Sviatchenko was held off by striker Juanma at the edge of the box and when the ball fell to Walker he hammered high past keeper Craig Gordon.
Celtic played through some growing anxiety among their fans before Mackay-Steven levelled.
When Roberts' cross was knocked out by Juanma, the former Dundee United winger steadied himself before drilling his a shot from 22 yards into the corner.
The game sped from end-to-end and after Alexander blocked a Griffiths effort with his legs, Ozturk clipped the top of the bar with a curling free-kick.
Ten minutes before the break Celtic were ahead, Rogic cleverly slipping in Roberts who confidently dinked the ball over Alexander from ten yards.
There was a lot of pushing and shoving between players from both sides when Rogic and Oshaniwa clashed, the Hearts player booked for his troubles when it had all calmed down.
Five minutes after the restart Hearts keeper Neil Alexander had no chance when Roberts curled a shot from 16 yards past him and into the far corner.
Chances were made and missed at both ends - Gordon made a great finger-tip save from substitute Abiola Dauda's header with two minutes remaining - before Oshaniwa (above) was shown a second yellow in the third minute of injury time for a foul on Bitton.
