Hartson's heartsome display for the future

Celtic - 4 Hearts - 2:SOCCER/Scottish Premier League: John Hartson helped himself to a fantastic festive hat-trick as the champions turned up the heat on Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League.

Mark de Vries had threatened to gatecrash Celtic's Christmas party by firing an in-form Hearts side in front and on level terms during an epic six-goal cracker at Parkhead.

But the man-of-the-match Welshman pounced in some style before Henrik Larsson added another, which was harsh on the visitors who had played more than their part.

The result helped Celtic to close the gap on Rangers to one point, but things did not start too well for Martin O'Neill's men as they suffered a blow just seconds before-kick-off when goalkeeper Robert Douglas seemed to sustain a hamstring injury in the warm-up.

The Scotland star, who must also have a hernia operation in the New Year, was replaced in goal by Magnus Hedman for his first start since September 1st.

But the first thing Hedman did was pick the ball out of his net after Hearts took a shock lead after just three minutes.

Steven Boyack whipped in a decent cross and De Vries headedpast the Swede from six yards.

Celtic took over from the restart and Larsson soon had the ball in the Hearts net when he headed Paul Lambert's cross emphatically into the corner, but the celebrations were cut short by the linesman who controversially flagged for offside.

It was only a temporary setback and Roddy McKenzie could do nothing to prevent his side going level in the 22nd minute.

Alan Thompson curled in a left-foot corner and Hartson was left alone in the six-yard box to head the ball into the net. And the Welshman bagged his 16th goal of the season just before the break.

Petrov squeezed the ball through to him and, with the Hearts defence appealing for offside, he rounded the goalkeeper to slide the ball into an empty net.

The Celtic supporters were celebrating when news filtered through from Fir Park, but that seemed to distract the home side as Hearts stunned them into silence with the leveller.

Jean-Louis Valois and Boyack linked up well and De Vries sprung the offside trap before firing low past Hedman.

But in an amazing couple of minutes, Hartson bagged his hat-trick in sensational style. The striker hit a brilliant right-foot volley from Thompson's cross past McKenzie and into the bottom corner.

And Larsson killed them off in the 72nd minute when he coolly rounded McKenzie before sliding the ball into an empty net.

Celtic were threatening to run riot as Chris Sutton's header was cleared off the line, but that would have been tough on Hearts, who had come up against a man in hot form.

"Jimmy Greaves and Denis Law used to take goals like his second and his third was a dream," Martin O'Neill said afterwards.

CELTIC: Hedman, Valgaeren, Balde, Laursen, Agathe, Lambert, Sutton, Petrov, Thompson, Larsson, Hartson. Subs Not Used: Maloney, Mjallby, Smith, Crainey. Booked: Thompson. Goals: Hartson 22, 44, 68, Larsson 73.

HEARTS: McKenzie, Maybury, McKenna, Pressley, McCann (Mahe 82), Weir, MacFarlane (Hamill 79), Stamp, Boyack (Simmons 74), Valois, de Vries. Subs Not Used: Gordon, Severin. Booked: McCann. Goals: de Vries 4, 66.

Referee: Hugh Dallas (Scotland).