Celtic defy the ugly conditions to showcase the beautiful game

On an ugly evening in a beautiful city Celtic produced a performance more in keeping with the setting than the weather last night. In doing so Celtic re-established their nine-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premier Division and teed themselves up nicely for an Old Firm double feature this week. Henrik Larsson, who else, was responsible for the attractive damage with a sweet hat-trick, his 33rd, 34th and 35th goals of the season coming in the fourth, 69th and 83rd minutes. Hearts were swept aside by the green blizzard and have now conceded 18 goals against Martin O'Neill's side this season.

O'Neill was understandably delighted, but he has lost one of the mainstays of his side, Joos Valgaeren landing awkwardly and being carried off on a stretcher with a suspected fracture of his left ankle. Valgaeren's injury is so serious O'Neill thinks it could be the end of his season.

The game took place in the football equivalent of a child's toy snowstorm, which, while it may have looked picturesque on the television, was somewhat different if you were here. Bleak was the word.

Larsson's opener, though straightforward, could hardly have been any simpler. From an outswinging free-kick on the left by Alan Thompson, Larsson sped in front of his supposed marker Grant Murray and planted an emphatic header beyond Antti Niemi in the Hearts goal.

But if that was Celtic's good news then the bad stuff was not far behind. A minute later Valgaeren jumped for a routine challenge with Gordon Durie and fell in obvious pain.

The injury did not interrupt Celtic's rhythm however. With Neil Lennon the aggressive emblem of the team, in the sixth minute Larsson threatened again with a shot.

Hearts, meanwhile, were nowhere. But then Scott Severin gradually got a toehold in midfield and from it the home side began to mount attacks along their right. From one, in the 24th minute, created by Robert Tomaschek's skill and determination, Andy Kirk, signed from Glentoran, should have done better with his near post swivel and shot.

Presumably Craig Levein, the Hearts manager, emphasised the importance of keeping things at 0-1 for as long as possible at half-time while trying to nick an equaliser. But Hearts lacked the necessary guile to break Celtic down and were indebted to a great Murray challenge on Sutton on the hour to prevent them slipping further behind.

Sadly for Hearts, shortly afterwards Tomaschek did not display the same commitment when attempting to tackle Thompson, who looked up to see Larsson speeding in front of Murray, and the Swede delivered an exceptional first-time finish.

Any hope of a Hearts revival melted there and then and Larsson completed his hat-trick with some more slick footwork to round off an Agathe centre. And a memorable night for Celtic in the capital.

HEARTS: Niemi, Murray, Pressley, Petric, Flogel, Tomaschek, Cameron, Severin (Boyack 58), McAnespie (Juanjo 63), Durie (McSwegan 79), Kirk. Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Makel. Booked: Durie, Petric, Juanjo.

CELTIC: Douglas, Vega, Valgaeren (Boyd 6), Mjallby, Agathe, Lambert, McNamara, Lennon, Thompson (Moravcik 85), Larsson (Smith 85), Sutton. Subs Not Used: Gould, Burchill. Booked: Sutton, Smith. Goals: Larsson 4, 68, 83. Attendance: 13,077.

Referee: K Clark (Scotland).