Everton 1-2 Bournemouth: Toffees Horrible Home Form Drags On

Bournemouth defeated Everton 2-1 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, making it six games since the Toffees last tasted victory at their new home. Iliman Ndiaye scored his first goal for the hosts since returning from winning AFCON with Senegal, converting a late first-half penalty which was cancelled out by a three minute second period salvo from Rayan and Amine Adil to see all the points travel back to the South-coast. Everton’s misery was compiled when Jake O’Brien was dismissed shortly after falling behind, making a comeback less probable. Bournemouth are now level on points with David Moyes’ side, and have only suffered league defeat in 2026 at the hands of league leaders Arsenal. Thierno Barry, who has enjoyed an upturn in form since scoring his first for Everton in their last win on home turf, should have netted his sixth of the campaign on the half hour mark with his rebound from James Garner’s saved free-kick. Alas, the Frenchman fired wide from close range. Everton found a breakthrough with three minutes of the half remaining courtesy of a spot-kick. Jarrad Branthwaite was fouled by eventually goalscorer Rayan, and Ndiaye’s penalty nestled into Djordje Petrovic’s bottom-left corner. However, a torrid ten minutes for the Blues flipped the game on its head. Just after the hour, left-back Adrien Truffert wicked right foot cross was met by Rayan at the far post, with the 19-year-old’s header turning him from zero to hero. The Brazilian has two goals and one assist in three games since making the switch in January from Vasco de Gama. And just over 200 seconds later, another header put Bournemouth in the driving seat. A deep free-kick was nodded across the six-yard box by James Hill and headed goal bound by Moroccan Amine Adil, giving the Cherries lead in a swift turnaround. Things went from bad to worse for Everton when defender Jake O’Brien seen red for a last man challenge on Adil just moments after he put his side in front. The Irishman will miss his side’s next fixture at home to Manchester United in just under two weeks, having not won in front of their own fans in over two months since dispatching former gaffer Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest there in early December. Any dropped points from that match will see Bournemouth leapfrog them into 8th place, as they travel to West Ham, who coincidentally drew with Manchester United this evening, two days before. EVERTON: Pickford 5, Mykolenko (Keane 90+3) 4, Branthwaite 6, Tarkowski 5, O’Brien 2, Gueye 5, Garner 6, George 3 (Armstrong 2), Dewsbury-Hall 5, Ndiaye 6, Barry 3 (Beto 62′ 2) BOURNEMOUTH: Petrovic 5, Jimenez 6, Hill 8, Senesi 6, Truffert 7, Scott 6, Toth 4 (Knal 58′ 3), Rayan 6 (Smith 90+3), Christie 5 (Cook 80′ 1), Adil 8 (Brooks 80′ 1), Evanilson 4 (Kroupi 58′ 3)

Celtic Complete Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Signing

Celtic have signed former Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on a free transfer. The 32-year-old has been without a club since having his contract terminated at Turkish side Besiktas in August last year and has been maintaining his fitness by training at former club Arsenal. Reports suggested Mikel Arteta was weighing up a short-term deal for Oxlade-Chamberlain amid an injury crisis, but no offer materialised. Oxlade-Chamberlain told club channels: “Speaking with the manager, it just felt like the perfect fit for me and I feel like I can come in and help out the lads. “Just talking to the manager, and Shaun Maloney as well, who told the expectations on the club and what it means to play here, what our targets are that he’s going to push me.  “It’s exactly what I need. I need another challenge and lucky enough at a massive club like this. And they can help me get back to where I need to get to and, more importantly, I need to help the team achieve the goals that we want to do.” The ex-England international’s career began at Southampton before moving to Arsenal a week before his 18th birthday. He spent six years at the Emirates, where he won three F.A Cups, and then switched to Liverpool. He enjoyed the most successful period of his career at Anfield, winning the Premier League in 2020, and the Champions League in 2019, where he would stay until 2023 before moving to Besiktas. Amassing 35 caps for England, two of Oxlade-Chamberlain’s seven goals for his country have came against Scotland, including the opener in a 3-1 victory in a 2014 friendly at Celtic Park.  Celtic’s next game is at home against Livingston, which could see Martin O’Neill hand his newest recruit a debut either in the starting eleven or from the bench. 

“They Knew in That Dressing Room What They’d Done” – Kenny Dalglish Exclusive on Parkhead Return

Celtic hero Kenny Dalglish lifted the lid on what went wrong upon his return to Celtic Park as Director of Football in 1999, speaking exclusively on The Warm-Up, presented by William Hill.  The Parkhead legend’s comeback overseen the ill-fated tenure of John Barnes as manager, with Dalglish quick to remember that his fellow Liverpool icon enjoyed a successful start to life in Glasgow. However, the 74-year-old revealed that he was apprehensive in showing Barnes support to avoid undermining him. Speaking to The Warm-Up, Dalglish said: “They asked me to make recommendations, and that [appointing Barnes] was one I made. “He had the second best start of any Celtic manager, at that time. They went to Aberdeen first game of the season and won 5-0. “Really, I didn’t know when to help him. I could maybe have helped him, and maybe I should’ve helped him, then I’m saying I don’t want to show up in front of the boys. I didn’t want to try and feel like I was trying to do that [undermining] because I never. “So I suppose that was my mistake.” Dalglish would step in as interim manager until the end of the season following Barnes dismissal after an infamous home 3-1 defeat to Inverness Caledonian Thistle, and pulled no punches on how he felt about the players he inherited. “They were disgraceful. Well there’s an example, the last game of the season, there was eight or nine boys making their debut. “I didn’t regret going back. I regretted not helping maybe more than I could have, but I was trying to do it in John’s best interests. “When he left, I think they knew in that dressing room what they’d done. And if they never they got told anyway.” ‘King’ Kenny’s first role in management came as player/manager at Liverpool in 1985. Replacing Joe Fagan after the Heysel Stadium disaster, Dalglish took the reins at Anfield despite having three years left of a four-year playing deal, to the disbelief of himself and his wife Marina. “They [chairman and chief executive] said “we want to offer you the manager’s job” and I put the phone down. “And I said to Marina, they’ve just been on the phone there, they want to offer me the manager’s job. “She went ‘why?’. I says I don’t know, I was doing alright as well in the games! “I still don’t know why [they offered him the job]. I said yes, but if I’m garbage I’m going back to being a player, that was the first thing I said to them.” His first season ended with the club’s first double, pipping city rivals Everton to the league title by two points, in a season which seen Dalglish select himself and score the winner on the final day, before making the Toffees runners-up again in the F.A Cup final. As a player, he is revered at club and international level, amassing 102 caps and scoring 30 goals for Scotland, both of which are still national records. With current Scottish captain Andrew Robertson hot on the heels of his record with 90 current caps, Dalglish has some friendly advice for another Liverpool legend. “I think he should retire from international football! “It would be nice if we would [break the caps record], wouldn’t it? “I’ll let him have it!” Dalglish talks on the above and much more on the full episode of The Warm-Up, brought to you by William Hill, including breaking through after the Lisbon Lions at Celtic under Jock Stein, as well as a hilarious story with host Chris Sutton fancying himself at centre-half during Dalglish’s time as Blackburn Rovers boss. Kenny Dalglish features on The Warm-Up, the William Hill SPFL’s weekly preview show. Check out the full episode: https://www.youtube.com/@WilliamHillSPFL

Celtic Sign Junior Adamu on Loan Until End of Season

Celtic have signed SC Freiburg striker Junior Adamu on loan until the end of the season, with an option included to later make the move permanent. The Austrian International has scored one goal in nine Bundesliga appearances this season, and becomes the Parkhead side’s third arrival this window. And the 24-year-old is relishing the chance to revive his form that earned him a move to Germany in 2023. He told Celtic’s official website: “I’m very excited to be here and I can’t wait to get started. “I want to give my best for this club and try and win the title, and also the cup, and to score a lot of goals and help the team, and I also want to improve as a player. “I’ve spoken with the manager and he’s given me good motivation, and I trust him, he’s given me that trust, he’s told me how the system is and I feel the connection is really strong. “I’m dangerous in the box and hungry for goals. That’s what the manager sees in me and I want to show that on the pitch. “I can’t wait to be in the stadium. I’ve seen a lot of videos and it looks amazing and I can’t wait to get started.” Adamu is the second striker brought in on loan in January for Celtic after Tomas Cvancara signed from Borussia Monchengladbach last week. Both will be eyeing for a start on Wednesday night as the Hoops travel to face Aberdeen. Johnny Kenny has left on loan for Bolton Wanderers, meaning Martin O Neill’s two loan frontmen and Kelechi Iheanacho now make up Celtic’s attacking options.

Livingston 0-2 Motherwell: Maswanhise Magic Worries Bottom of Pile Livingston

Tawanda Maswanhise scored his 17th and 18th goals of the season as Motherwell strolled to a 2-0 win over bottom of the league Livingston at the Home of the Set Fare Arena. The attacker moves clear of next highest scorers in Premiership golden boot race, as rumours of his future rumble before Monday’s transfer deadline.  It now means that Livingston have went twenty two games without a win in the Premiership, equalling a record low in this division this century. In a half that was one-way-traffic for the visiting side, the hosts had a glaring opportunity to score the opener inside two minutes. Stevie May combined with Scott Pittman to knock the ball over to an unmarked Connor McLennan, but he was denied excellently by Calum Ward as his extended arm put the ball out for a corner. The league’s top scorer Tawanda Maswanhise resumed his usual business less than five minutes in when he was was picked out perfectly by midfielder Elijah Just. The New Zealand international’s pinpoint cross was met with a looping nod from his Zimbabwean teammate to give the Steelmen an early advantage. Just could have been provider for Maswanhise again 24 minutes in had he chosen to be. A long ball from the Motherwell backline seemingly out of nowhere seen the pair through in a 2 vs 1, with Just opting to go for goal rather than pick out the goalscorer again. His effort however, curled off of the post. Maswanhise would grab his second though just four minutes later. Daniel Finlayson’s clearance failed to go beyond Callum Slattery just outside the Livingston box. The Motherwell number eight slipped in his frontman, who made it two for him and the ‘Well with a lovely opened-body curled finish into the bottom right corner. It is the thirteenth goal in the league this season for the 23-year-old, which puts him two clear of both Celtic’s Benjamin Nygren and injured Hearts’ captain Lawrence Shankland. The foot came off the gas for Motherwell in the second half, threatening with far less frequency than they did in the first with a wayward effort from Ibrahim Said and tame strike from hat-trick hunter Maswanhise.  Livingston nearly found a way back into the game with just over twenty minutes to play. Connor McLennan’s cross from the left travelled the width of the Motherwell six-yard-box, but could not be met by Scott Pittman, despite a sliding attempt to.  Calum Ward nearly gifted the home side a way back into the match on the 73rd minute. The goalkeeper’s lacklustre pass out was halted by the foot of Robbie Moorhead, yet the heaviness of the touch allowed Ward to recollect and spare his blushes, keeping a shutout on the cards.  Tawanda Maswanhise left the field to a standing ovation from the away support, who will be hoping he is still playing in claret and amber for their visit to Dundee this Wednesday, amid intense speculation linking him with moves to Celtic, Rangers and Blackburn Rovers.  Defeat for Livingston today coinciding with a Kilmarnock win at home to Aberdeen sees them fall further behind the Rugby Park side at the foot of the table, with the gap now standing at six points. Twenty-two Premiership matches since David Martindale’s side last tasted victory when they defeated Falkirk on the second day of the campaign. If they fail to beat John McGlynn’s side on Wednesday evening, they overtake Hamilton Academical’s unwanted record of most games without a win from 2010/11.  Jens Berthel Askou’s men continue to pull up trees as they move further ahead of Hibernian in fourth place, with the Easter Road club not in action until a home fixture against Rangers tomorrow. They make a trip North to face Dundee on Wednesday, before turning their attention to an away Scottish Cup tie against manager-less Aberdeen.  LIVINGSTON: Prior 5, Fati 4  (Lawal 77’ 1), McGowan 4 , Pittman 6, Muirhead 4 (Tamm 77’ 1), McLennan 5 (Smith 77’ 1 ), May 4 (Zimmerman 67’ 4), Finlayson 3, Danso 5 (Sylla 67’ 1), Tait 4, Brenet 5 MOTHERWELL: Ward 6, O’Donnell 6, Sparrow 6, Slattery 6, Fadinger 5, McGinn 6, Maswanhise 9 (Mbule 76’ 1), Just 8 (Nicholson 64’ 2), Koutroumbis 5 (Gordon 85’ 1), Priestman 5, Said 6 (Bjorgolfsson 64’ 2)

Kenny Dalglish Exclusive – Anfield Legend’s Advice for Scotland Captain Robertson

Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish has wished that Scotland captain Andrew Robertson stays at Anfield until the expiry of his contract this summer. The left back’s deal in Merseyside runs out at the end of this season, with rumoured interest from Tottenham Hotspur being reported this month for a cut-price transfer. But compatriot Dalglish revealed exclusively on The Warm-Up, presented by William Hill, that he hopes the 31-year-old remains at the Premier League holders until the summer to ensure of a fitting send-off. Dalglish said: “I hope he stays where he is, because he’s been brilliant for Liverpool. “He’s a decent fella—he’s done a great job. “I don’t know if he’s going to move on from Liverpool. It may be best to just let it run its course. When his contract is up, it’s up. “And if he has to go somewhere else, it will be sad. I hope the Liverpool supporters get the opportunity, if he is going to go, to say cheerio to him.” The Scotland captain joined Liverpool from Hull City in 2017, but had faced stiff competition this season for playing time since the Reds signed Hungarian Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth last summer. Spurs have already made their interest clear, and there have been murmurs of a move back to his homeland to boyhood heroes Celtic, who released Robertson at youth level. Dalglish talks Andy Robertson and more on this upcoming episode of The Warm-Up, brought to you by William Hill, where footballing icon is joined by Kris Boyd, Steven Naismith and Chris Sutton for a comprehensive conversation covering his early days growing up in Glasgow and his journey through Jock Stein’s Celtic and Liverpool – becoming arguably the greatest player Scotland has ever produced. On Monday 2nd February, the full episode will be published – including stories of Kenny’s early days at Celtic, how his Dad became one of the only people to ever stand up to Jock Stein, being part of a Tartan revolution at Liverpool before successfully moving into management. Kenny Dalglish features on The Warm-Up, the William Hill SPFL’s weekly preview show. Check out the full episode here from Monday: https://www.youtube.com/@WilliamHillSPFL

“It Probably Will Go Down To The Last Couple of Games” – Callum McGregor

Celtic captain Callum McGregor admits that the title race may go down to the wire after his side missed a chance to cut the gap on leaders Hearts yesterday in a 2-2 draw at Tynecastle. The defending champions were ahead twice thanks to goals from Benjamin Nygren and Hyun-jun Yang, but a late Claudio Braga equaliser after an Austin Trusty sending off meant the gap between the sides remained at six points. And with Rangers’ revival under Danny Rohl bringing them above Celtic into second place, McGregor believes the three-horse-race will go to the final stages of the season. He said: “I think if everyone is sensible about it then it probably will go down to the last couple of games. “We know where we are, we know where we need to be, and today you know, you have to stay in touch, and given the circumstances, a point is a decent result. “We are a little bit disappointed that we don’t hang on, but you know that Hearts are going to come strong, they’re strong on set-pieces, they have been all season. “So you know that the game is always in the balance but that fighting mentality, we showed it on Thursday night, we showed it again today, and we’ll need it for every game between now and the end of the season, that’s for sure.” Celtic received their second red card in as many matches when Austin Trusty was sent down the tunnel after a VAR review with Celtic leading 2-1. McGregor feels that there would be less questions being asked had official Steven McLean shown the red initially, rather than having his decision being overturned. “It’s probably one if he gives a red off the bat, you’re probably not too surprised. “But when he gives the yellow, I think the only question is ‘is that an obvious enough error to then go to the monitor?’, I’m not sure.” There has been speculation surrounding the midfielder’s future at Parkhead, with reports linking him away with an astonishing reunion with former Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers in Saudi Arabia. When quizzed on the rumours, McGregor was straight to the point. “No, no. I’m here.” The 32-year-old rarely made media appearances throughout the ill-fated reign of axed gaffer Wilfried Nancy, and conceded that it has been a more ‘struggling’ period as a Celtic player for him. “It’s certainly not been easy, but I don’t think that’s been the case for anyone. “When you’ve been so successful and you win so much and then you go through a spell where you’re sort of struggling and the team are struggling, then of course it’s difficult. “But that’s gone now, we have to draw a line under it and move forward, and I think the reaction again since Martin [O’Neill] and Shaun [Maloney] and Fozzy [Mark Fotheringham] and the guys that have come back in has been first class. “It’s now about what we do between now and the end of the season.” Celtic face FC Utrecht of The Netherlands this Thursday in the Europa League knowing that a win guarantees them a spot in the next round of the competition. Their next domestic encounter takes place at Celtic Park on Sunday in the form of John McGlynn’s Falkirk.

“If We Show More Quality, We Win The Game” – Derek McInnes

Hearts manager Derek McInnes feels his side lacked a percentile in quality needed to win in their 2-2 home draw with Celtic. The league leaders came from behind twice against the defending champions to earn a point, with the second equaliser coming once Celtic were reduced to ten men following a red card to defender Austin Trusty. And McInnes feels that his team’s chance creation and control of the game was best of the two sides. He said: “There’s two sides to it. I think when you come from behind twice against a team of Celtic’s quality, there’s always a bit of pride and you want your players to show a bit of perseverance that we did. “But I do think in terms of chances created and how the game played out, I thought we had the better, and more, chances to win the game. “Celtic had a tough game on Thursday night and I think that factored into them, but I thought our energy that we put into the game, our connection from everybody really in terms of effort was there. “And I spoke at half-time to try bring a bit more quality – and if we show more quality, we win the game. We’ve not won the game because of that.” McInnes was irate after Celtic’s opener with a member of Celtic staff’s reaction, which seen the Hearts manager inside the Hoops dugout. The 54-year-old was coy to delve deeper into the incident, but did explain briefly. “That’s one place I’ll not be going! [The Celtic dugout] “It’s nothing to do with Martin [O’Neill] or Shaun [Maloney], it was just one of their inexperienced coaches that got a bit carried away. “That’s all I want to say on it.” Hearts were without captain and top goalscorer Lawrence Shankland today as well as midfield duo Beni Baningime and Cammy Devlin, and McInnes was pleased that their absences were not too hard felt. “There’s no two ways about it, on Sunday/Monday we were all a bit despondent when we get the news on injuries, but overcoming these challenges is part of it. “It’s good that we’ve got boys that have been waiting on the sidelines who played their part today, like [Landry] Kabore who makes us play a bit differently.” Hearts remain six points ahead of Celtic but Rangers reduced their lead at the summit to four points after defeating Dundee 3-0 at Ibrox. The Jambos boss is relishing the title race as the season moves into it’s final fifteen games. “I’m delighted we are where we are. We’ve been there a while now, I think it’s four months now, it’s not a purple patch. “I’m enjoying where we are, but we are well aware that there’s big clubs and good teams are desperate to be where we are, and we’ve got to be ready for that challenge as we go along.” Hearts have three away games in their next four, starting with a trip to Tannadice this Saturday. Their next three games after come against St. Mirren away, Hibs at home and Rangers away. Coming out of these with as few battle scars as possible, might be the difference in a potential historic Heart of Midlothian season.

‘VAR re-refereeing the Game’ – O’Neill Unhappy With Trusty Red Card Call

Interim Celtic manager Martin O’Neill believes it was the wrong decision for Austin Trusty to be sent off following an on-field review. The American defender was initially given a yellow card by referee Steven McLean following his challenge on Landry Kabore in Celtic’s 2-2 draw away to Hearts, but VAR official John Beaton recommended an on-field turnover of decision and sent McLean to the monitor. The yellow was upgraded to a red, with Trusty deemed to be the last man. However, O’Neill disagrees with the need for VAR to interfere. He said: “I do have an argument with the red card. “The referee has given a yellow card and he’s sent over, obviously VAR re-referee the game, and it is no more a red card than a blue card – which don’t exist I don’t think. “First of all, the ball is going away from goal, so the player has to get hold of that and control it. “And secondly, more importantly, is that we’ve got someone in the cover. That’s what the referee saw in the first place, and it puts you under severe pressure in the last twenty odd minutes.” Trusty saw red when the score was at 2-1, with Hearts forward Claudio Braga netting the all important equaliser in the 87th minute. Defeat would have seen Celtic fall nine points behind the league leaders, and O’Neill believes a point a piece was an honest outcome. “They [Hearts] might’ve had the opportunity with us down to ten men and having played on Thursday night, there might have been that chance [of a Hearts win], “But in the overall take of the game, a draw probably is a fair result.” Celtic’s injury list grew by one name as Kieran Tierney was substituted off a moment before Trusty’s sending off. O’Neill is unaware of the extent of it just yet, and in unsure if he will make the Europa League contest fixture with FC Utrecht. “I’ll have another look. He [Tierney] is pretty sore, I’ll see how he is for Thursday.” When asked who would step in to replace him with Marcelo Saracchi also unavailable, O’Neill responded: “Me, coming in there, comeback! We will probably have to just shift somebody over.” Celtic face FC Utrecht of the Eredevisie on Thursday night, knowing a win guarantees them a place in the next round of the Europa League, before turning their attention back to the league with the visit of Falkirk on Sunday.

Hearts 2-2 Celtic: Fiery Drama at Tynecastle Cauldron Ends Even

Hearts came back from behind twice to earn a point in a 2-2 epic against title holders Celtic. Benjamin Nygren gave Celtic the lead from a free-kick inside seven minutes, before second half goals from Stuart Findlay and Claudio Braga either side of a Hyun-jun Yang tap in ensured both sides left Tynecastle with a share of the points.  It is the second time in three days Celtic have drawn 2-2 with a man down, after defender Austin Trusty was shown a straight red before Hearts’ second equaliser.  Nygren’s opener came inside seven minutes after he was fouled by Hearts debutant Marc Leonard on the edge of the box. The Swede stepped up, and curled one into the top right corner to become joint top scorer of the Premiership so far this season. It is the first time Celtic have scored a direct free kick in the league since January 2021, when David Turnbull netted against Hibs. Landry Kabore felt he should have had a penalty 23 minutes in after he went down dragging an effort way wide. No VAR check was required however, despite a swarm of protests from the Hearts players and fans. The hosts were gifted a golden opportunity to restore parity with around ten minutes of the half remaining. Austin Trusty failed to play a bouncing ball back to his goalkeeper with his knee or thigh which slipped Alexandros Kyziridis through one on one. The Greek winger could not beat the extended leg of Kasper Schmeichel, who produced a fantastic save to keep his side in front. The equaliser would come for Hearts though three minutes after the restart. Debutant Leonard’s inswinging corner to the back post was met by Stuart Findlay, as the centre half rose highest to nod home his sixth goal of the season. Kyziridis had the chance to make amends for his glaring miss 55 minutes in when a flicked-on header fell into his path, but a last-ditch tackle from Liam Scales inside the area brought the Hearts attack to a halt. Just as the hosts looked to have gained the upper-hand on the defending champions, they were stung by a Hyun-jun Yang tap in. After tremendous combination play from Daizen Maeda and new signing Tomas Cvancara down the left hand side, the Czech forward put it on a plate for Yang to fire Celtic ahead with less than half an hour to go.  It came just a minute or two following Cvancara having a looping header hit Craig Gordon’s crossbar, and a minute or two before the new recruit was booked and subsequently subbed off. Quite the five minutes for the attacker.  Audible disbelief could be heard around Tynecastle when referee Steven McLean brandished a yellow card for Austin Trusty after he brought down Landry Kabore with around fifteen minutes to play. He was sent to the VAR monitor and would send Trusty off, wit the American adjudged to be the last man and denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.  Celtic had just brought off an injured Kieran Tierney for Dane Murray a moment prior, with Anthony Ralston then being brought on for Yang to further re-arrange an already makeshift backline.  With less than seven minutes to play there was a scramble inside the Celtic box that you were just anticipating to be brought to an end by the sound of Hearts fan raptures. A point-blank stop from Schmeichel again nearly creeped beyond him, but the Dane and Arne Engels made sure it only went passed for a corner.  But the league leaders would level proceedings with three minutes of regulated time to go. Oisin McEntee headed down a ball from a set-play, and Claudio Braga was in the right place to unleash a rocket passed Schmeichel to give the home side the equaliser just before the fourth official’s board confirmed an additional eight minutes to play.  Blair Spittal clipped the bar deep into injury time after the ball fell to him first time just outside the box. It was always rising, but hearts would have been in the mouths of many a Celtic supporter.  The draw means that things only get tighter at the top of the table. Celtic are now third still six points behind leaders Hearts, but a win for Rangers over Dundee means the Ibrox side sit second now four points behind the Jambos.  Celtic have European matters to take of at home to Utrecht on Thursday before they are back in action domestically at home to Falkirk on Sunday. As for Hearts, they are on the road Saturday as they will hope to seize the opportunity of going further ahead of Celtic before they play, travelling to Tannadice to face Dundee United.  HEARTS: Gordon 5, Halkett 7, McCart 5 (McEntee 71’ 3), Braga 7, Kabore 5 (Wilson 90+4 1), Steinwender  4 (Spittal 86’ 1), Milne 5, Findlay 6, Magnusson 4 (Kerjota 71’ 2), Leonard 5, Kyziridis 5   CELTIC: Schemichel 7, Scales 6, Trusty 3, Nygren 6, Cvancara 5 (Tounekti 60’ 2), Yang 5 (Ralston 77’ 2), Araujo 6, Engels 6, Maeda 4, McGregor 5, Tierney 5 (Murray 73’ 1)