Celtics title hopes took another dent after surprise 2-0 loss to Hearts at Tynecastle.
Second-half strikes from Rudi Skacel and Ryan Stevenson saw off Neil Lennon’s side, who had midfielder Kris Commons sent off for a crude challenge on Adrian Mrowiec inbetween the two goals.
The defeat leaves Celtic languishing in third place 10 points behind leaders Rangers, albeit with one game in hand.
There was pressure on Lennon before the game after champions Rangers beat Hibernian on Saturday, but all eyes were on the Hoops boss for other reasons, the Irishman having being attacked at the touchline the last time the Parkhead side visited Ediburgh in May.
As a consequence of that security was beefed up and one fan was ejected from the Hearts section of the ground before the game.
Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov, the Russian-born Lithuanian businessman, was in attendance, two months after his last visit to Tynecastle for a game which signalled the end for previous manager Jim Jefferies.
In the fourth minute Celtic keeper Fraser Forster made a good save from Stevenson who had escaped his marker to get in a header.
Moments later, Hearts skipper Marius Zaliukas struck the post with a left-footed shot from the edge of the box.
Celtic roared back and in the 20th minute they should have taken the lead when James Forrest’s cross from the right found Mohamed Bangura but his close-range header was brilliantly saved by Jamie MacDonald.
MacDonald then made a fine block from Commons’ powerful drive from just inside the box.
But Hearts took the lead with a fine strike by Skacel in the 58th minute.
Jamie Hamill’s high ball from the right fell out of the air and, when it broke from David Templeton, the Czech midfielder arrowed in a unstoppable left-footed drive from the edge of the box to give Forster no chance.
There was more trouble for Celtic in the 65th minute when Commons was sent off for a reckless challenge on Mrowiec.
Celtic reshuffled and threw everything in search of an equaliser, while leaving themselves open to the counter-attack.
Hearts had to defend desperately at times but in the 80th minute Stevenson made it 2-0 when he ran on to clever back-heel from Templeton and drove high past Forster from 10 yards.
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