Celtic must better utilise Kyogo Furuhashi’s talents, says manager Ange Postecoglou, despite the striker taking his season’s tally to 25 goals in the comeback win over Hearts.
Postecoglou’s side marked his 100th game in charge by preserving their nine-point Scottish Premiership lead, but were matched by much-changed Hearts for an hour.
Josh Ginnelly’s header stunned Celtic before Daizen Maeda slid in a first-half equaliser then Kyogo and Sead Haksabanovic completed the recovery.
Celtic’s eighth straight league win edges them closer to a second title in succession, while Hearts’ five-point cushion in third place remains intact after Hibernian’s thrashing by Rangers.
Postecoglou has never suffered a home defeat in domestic football as Celtic manager, but Hearts threatened to ruin his big night with a positive approach that disrupted the hosts’ rhythm.
When Celtic needed a hero, Kyogo again stepped up. The Japan forward teed up Maeda’s strike then dispatched his 20th league goal of an impressive campaign to calm the growing unease among the home support.
“He’s been unbelievable for this club,” Postecoglou said of Kyogo. “We didn’t use him well at all. He makes fantastic runs and sometimes I get really frustrated that after 18-20 months we still don’t see them.
“The beauty of it is he doesn’t get frustrated, he just keeps making those runs. He was an outstanding contributor again.”
While injury and illness prompted Hearts to make six changes, Postecoglou had shuffled his pack too and stand-in right-back Anthony Ralston – making his first start since December – was caught out as the visitors seized the early initiative.
Andy Halliday galloped into space and delivered a peach of a cross for the stooping Ginnelly to plant a header past Joe Hart at the far post.
The goal was initially ruled offside before being given following a VAR check, and Celtic’s equaliser followed suit.
It came after Postecoglou’s men gradually roused themselves. Liel Abada scuffed wide and Kyogo headed over before Maeda slid in the equaliser from his fellow Japan striker’s cross after Ralston’s defence-splitting pass down the right-hand channel.
Maeda had been Celtic’s sharpest operator, but soon departed injured and was followed by Hearts scorer Ginnelly before half-time.
Maeda’s replacement, Jota, rattled a post with a bouncing effort from distance and Ralston sent an overhead kick too high, but Celtic were far from their fluent best until Hearts’ high-pressing exertions took a toll in the final half hour.
Kyogo broke the visitors’ resistance, lashing home Aaron Mooy’s pass after Jota dispossessed Cammy Devlin, and substitute Haksabanovic curled a delicious strike high into the net to leave Celtic needing seven wins from their remaining 10 games to guarantee the title.
Celtic dig deep to quell Hearts – analysis
Celtic have blown plenty of teams away this season, but had to show grittier qualities to wear down a vibrant Hearts.
Perhaps with Saturday’s Scottish Cup tie against Hearts in mind, Postecoglou made four changes – including both full-backs – and it contributed to his side’s stilted start as they struggled for cohesion.
However, their strength in depth helped turn the tide and Haksabanovic will hope his memorable strike earns him a start at the weekend.
Greg Taylor is a fitness doubt for that tie, but Alexandro Bernabei did little to enhance his case to dislodge the Scotland left-back, while the impressive Maeda’s loss would be a further blow.
Hearts deserve credit for their for their brave approach and they gave Celtic a taste of their own medicine for long spells. Pressing high and refusing to drop deep, Robbie Neilson’s men were neat in possession and threatening on the counter.
The pace of Ginnelly was a potent weapon before his injury-enforced departure.
However, Hearts’ couldn’t keep up the ferocious tempo and they will rue the second goal when Devlin was caught in possession and Celtic ruthlessly took advantage.
Still, the performance will strengthen Hearts’ belief they can progress in the cup at Celtic’s expense. The return of Shankland – who Neilson rates as “touch and go” – plus fellow regulars Barrie McKay and Robert Snodgrass would further bolster those hopes.
What did they say?
Celtic manger Ange Postecoglou: “We had to work hard for the points as we weren’t at our fluent best.
“We looked disjointed at the start and had to earn it, but the boys showed have again shown a really strong mentality and scored three excellent goals to get the job done.”
Hearts manager Robbie Neilson: “There’s a lot of positives to take. For 80 minutes we were outstanding.
“The players put Celtic under a massive amount of pressure and you could see the crowd starting to turn. But we got beaten and we want to come here and win.”
What’s next?
Part two of the double-header. The sides meet again on Saturday, although the action switches to Tynecastle, in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals (12:15 GMT).
Source – BBC Sport
