TONY MOWBRAY is watching his title quest being undermined by negligent defending and if the Celtic manager’s strikers do not convert the chances laid in front of them, the danger of pick-pocketing remains.
Hearts, 2-1 winners, were the grateful recipients of Celtic’s carelessness, collecting three points from a match in which they were outplayed for long spells.
That was more notable given the visitors played for an hour with 10 men, Gary Caldwell dismissed for the professional foul that triggered Hearts’ equalising goal from Michael Stewart.
“There were plenty of positives for us but obviously the big negative is that we picked up no points,” said Mowbray, who refused to single out his defenders for criticism other than an admission that he was “disappointed” with the nature of Ismael Bouzid’s winner. An eight-day spell has prompted a potentially significant momentum shift towards Rangers in the title race.
In that period, Walter Smith’s team have scored 12 goals in three matches and overturned a five-point deficit with Celtic and they are now four points in front at the top of the league.
Such an outcome appeared highly unlikely in the early stages here, Georgios Samaras sending Celtic in front after Scott McDonald’s header had rebounded from the Hearts goalframe right to his strike partner’s feet.
Guardian Service
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