Heart of Midlothian 0-4 Celtic
- Published
Celtic keep treble dreams alive with comprehensive win
Morgaro Gomis is sent off in the opening minutes
Virgil van Dijk scores Tynecastle double
John Guidetti nets controversial penalty
Celtic swept into the fifth round of the Scottish Cup at the expense of 10-man Hearts at Tynecastle.
Morgaro Gomis was sent off inside 10 minutes for a two-footed challenge on Scott Brown, and a Virgil van Dijk shot gave Celtic a half-time lead.
John Guidetti won and despatched a disputed penalty before an Anthony Stokes strike and a second from Van Dijk increased Celtic's lead.
Kris Commons also had a goal ruled out near the end in a one-sided encounter.
Hearts will feel aggrieved at a number of decisions, but Gomis's early red card left them with a mountain to climb against the Scottish Premiership champions, who now make it seven wins in a row in domestic competitions.
Nir Bitton made his first start for Celtic since the 1-1 draw with Motherwell over two months ago, replacing the injured Charlie Mulgrew as part of three changes for the visitors.
One-time Hearts hero Craig Gordon received a good reception from the home support on his Tynecastle return, his first game in Gorgie since May 2007.
It took just 90 seconds for him to be called into action, as James Keatings turned well and fired low at goal.
Hearts were up for it, but maybe too much, and their enthusiasm got the better of them as Gomis was red-carded before the game had properly got going.
The Jambos skipper for the day lunged at Brown with both feet off the ground, and referee Willie Collum saw no option but to send him off.
Celtic now had the edge, but the defence in front of Neil Alexander were doing their job, with a range of deflected efforts the best Ronny Deila's men could muster.
Their resistance crumbled when Stokes' shot-come-cross spun towards Van Dijk who just had to direct it towards the near post for the opening goal.
It should have been a second for the Dutch defender when he was gifted an opportunity a yard from goal, only to somehow lift the ball over the bar.
There was controversy five minutes into the second half when Guidetti hit the turf inside the box after a challenge from Brad McKay.
Collum pointed to the spot on the advice of the assistant referee to the fury of the Hearts players who felt the Swedish striker had tumbled of his own accord.
Guidetti scored the penalty and two minutes later Celtic had a killer third when Stokes drilled a daisy-cutter into the far corner.
As Hearts heads dropped, Celtic began to find their rhythm. Van Dijk bulleted a Stefan Johansen corner into the net for number four.
There was still half an hour to play and the fear from the home side was a repeat of the 7-0 defeat Celtic inflicted on Hearts in the Cup last season, but the avalanche of goals did not arrive.
Commons hammered a loose ball into the net after the goalkeeper fumbled Aleksandar Tonev's shot, but this time it was ruled out.
Gordon remained largely unchallenged in the Celtic goal as Deila's men cruised it, though 18-year-old Robbie Buchanan drove a late shot just wide.
- Published30 November 2014
- Published30 November 2014
- Published30 November 2014
- Published30 November 2014
- Published28 November 2014