Celtic 3 Hearts 0 RECAP: The champions strut their stuff in season best display

Brendan Rodgers is relishing next week’s clash with Rangers after his side moved six points clear at the top with a 3-0 win against Hearts.

That victory has piled pressure on their city rivals to maintain their title challenge when they welcome Kilmarnock to Ibrox tomorrow.

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It was a big afternoon for the champions., who are continuing to pick up steam at the right time in defence of their crown.

Here at the biggest talking points from Celtic’s 3-0 win against Hearts.

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We are deep into second half added time here.

The Celtic support are making plenty of noise as they get ready to celebrate a big three points.

Lawrence Shankland has had a quiet afternoon on the chances front.

And his latest effort at goal shows you how frustrated he may well be.

He gathered on the corner of the box but his effort flys both high and wide.

Another smart save from Joe Hart to deny Hearts and keep his clean sheet intact.

A big moment with just under 15 minutes of action to go in this one.

Both sides have turned to the bench for fresh legs.

Celtic have brought on Tomoki Iwata, Adam Idah and Daizen Maeda.

Hearts also freshen things up with Oda and Barrie McKay taking to the field.

Brendan Rodgers urges the crowd to continue roaring Celtic on.

We are into the final 20 minutes.

We are into the final 30 minutes here in Glasgow’s east end.

The Hoops have been pressing for that third goal but have found a Zander Clark in the Hearts goal in inspired form.

The next goal in this one really will be crucial.

And you certaintly feel it match has more than the two strikes we’ve seen so far..

Zander Clark really is keeping Hearts alive.

A superb passing move ends with Matt O’Riley getting a shot off but he’s denied by a diving save before the Hearts No1 keeps out a second follow up effort.

He’s conceded twice but he’s made four or five big saves for his side here.

Cammy Devlin is yellow carded for a lunging tackle.

Matt O’Riley sees the tackle coming but a real needless challenge from the Hearts man in a dangerous position.

Nicolas Kuhn finds O’Riley out wide who superbly cuts across the ball on the half volley into the danger zone with Kyogo inches away from contact as Zander Clark gathers.

The visitors enjoy a nice spell with the ball and pop it around.

But a cross into the box drifts into the hands of Joe Hart.

Bar his superb first half stop, the veteran No1 has not had too much to do yet this afternoon.

Celtic are out the traps earlier looking for that game-killing third goal.

Kyogo and Reo Hatate link up inside the penalty area but Zander Clark turns the ball away with his feet.

Matt O’Riley then tries from the edge of the area but the deflected shot goes out for a corner.

Time to get those half-time refreshments.

That was a non-stop 45 minutes and you would put your money on for more of the same.

As things stand Celtic will move six points clear at the summit ahead of Rangers’ clash with Kilmarnock tomorrow.

Kyogo is on the hunt for a hat-trick this afternoon and he was not far away from it.

After popping the ball side to side the Hoops force the opening but Zander Clark pulls off a stunning diving save to deny the Japan international.

Huge moment at the end of the half from the Hearts No1.

We are into the additonal time at the end of the first half.

It’s been an eventful opening 45 minutes.

Zander Clark pushes a low Matt O’Riley effort away after great football from the hosts.

He’s kept his side in it in the final moments of the first half.

Celtic have enjoyed the bulk of the ball in the last couple of minutes.

Nicolas Kuhn and James Forrest have both been direct in their running.

The Hoops’ double hero from last week draws a foul on the edge of the area.

Matt O’Riley’s delivery was well kept in by Laim Scales and the Hoops kept up the pressure but in the end it is well defended.

Good pressure from the home side.

We into the final 10 minutes of the first half here.

Incredibly we’ve already had 11 corners in the match as both teams look to attack and cause problems.

Kyogo’s two goals remains the difference with the Hoops star man looking back to his best this afternoon.

Two chances two goals.

That’s all Kyogo has needed this afternoon with the Hoops in control at the halfway point of the first period.

Hearts will be shellshocked to find themselves with a huge mountain to climb.

They’ve played quite well in the opening period but it seems every chance the Hoops create is going in the net.

It is the first caution of the afternoon and it goes to Hearts.

Lawrence Shankland is the man in the book.

Cameron Carter-Vickers has a good chance from a corner to double Celtic’s advantage but his header goes over.

He will be disappointed not to have tested Zander Clark.

James Forrest keeps the pressure on and earns another corner.

But the visitors clear the danger after good defending from Frakie Kent

Joe Hart shows his class with a brilliant diving save to deny Cammy Devlin.

The veteran has come up with a lot of big saves in this title race.

That could prove to be another vital one in the early exchanges at Parkhead.

Hearts once again find joy down the right attacking side and earn a corner.

The Jambos challenge but the Hoops clear for a third set piece in opening ten minutes.

But once again the home defence stand tall and clear the danger.

Lawrence Shankland has scored three times against Celtic this season.

And with just over a minute on the clock he was close to No4.

The Hearts skipper collected the ball on the edge of the box but his shot was blocked and out for a corner.

Fast start for the visitors!

Brendan Rodgers delivers his pre-match views to BBC Scotland ahead of facing Hearts.

We are at the point in the season where every game is exciting, we know what we have to do. The players are feeling good. Three of our last four games are at home. We’re in a really good place, now we have to perform. There’s no doubt, we look to perform well today, get the result, then that’ll always put pressure on a rival.

It’s a huge boost. (Daizen Maeda return) We were a wee bit concerned when he first had his injury. He hasn’t missed a lot of time, it looks like he’s never been away.

We are edging closer and closer to kick-off.

Stick with us as we bring you all the key updates from this huge Scottish Premiership clash.

This is the time to grab that cup of tea before strapping yourself in for the next 90-plus minutes.

He has been a real stalwart this season. He has played a lot of games, a lot of minutes. When lots of the players were breaking down earlier in the season he was there for us the whole time. So I’m delighted for him because last summer it was probably in doubt where he was going to play.

Hopefully this summer he can end a winner and an international football player, having signed a new deal. It’s a great reward for his work over the course of the season.

I am really pleased for him, because he loves being here. He’s dug us out of a hole for a lot of this season when we have had a lot of inconsistencies in that position. I’m delighted he feels rewarded for that.

Liam Scales has been a surprise package at Celtic this season and he will be hanging around long-term.

His future was up in the air in the summer before an SOS call ended with him being an ever-present for Brendan Rodgers.

He has been rewarded with a new four-year deal with the champions already eyeing up the next player they want to tie down.

That man? Greg Taylor. Rodgers make his feeling clear in his press duties ahead of facing Hearts.

I would love to keep Greg here. It’s something we have spoken on. It’s obviously with the club and the agent to try and resolve. But in the meantime Greg’s focus is very much on the team. I really like him as a person, he is a good guy and very hungry and committed and professional. He sacrifices a lot in his life to be a footballer and that’s the kind of people you want here. So, yeah, hopefully something can be resolved on him.

We are just 35 minutes away from the action getting underway at Parkhead..

Both sets of players are going through their pre-match preparations ahead of the 3pm kick-off.

As we told earlier, Daizen Maeda will start on the BENCH for Celtic this afternoon.

His appearance on the team sheet will come as a real boost to the Hoops faithful with a big few weeks on the horizon.

Having those results against Celtic in the past builds confidence. We’ve went on to build confidence. Tomorrow will be slightly different because of the stage of the season we’re at. The outcome of these games have big impacts.

I’m sure with Celtic being in pole position for the title, they’ll want to come and tick this game off. One slip in a title race can cost you. When you play the Old Firm, you’ve got to be comfortable with understanding the whole game.

You need to understand the dynamic of the crowd and how you can effect that. Your defensive actions have to be good because you’re going to have to defend at times. But when you have possession, you need to be able to go and give a bit back because you can’t afford to give it away. If you do that right, you can turn the home crowd in your favour and upset things in your favour.

Hearts have done well this season. We played a very good game against them earlier in the season. For various reasons, the other two were not so good, but this is us at home now in the final stretch of the season, super-motivated and hungry to play well, and if we can do that and play well, then we want to be able to pick up three points.

The fans play a huge part and I think that has been the difference over the last few months – how everything has been connected – because they, along with ourselves, the staff, our connection to the team, it’s a real extension of what we see on the field, and that support they give the team is unrivalled when everyone’s onside and they’re with us. So to have that in three of the last four games at home will be special.

We’ll also need that patience as well because teams are not going to turn up and roll over, so we’re going to have to be patient in the stands as well as on the field, but obviously looking to play our game with that speed and tempo, and causing difficult moments for the opposition. But to play at home, on the pitch, with the crowd, hopefully we can take that advantage with us.

Kenny Miller reckons Celtic should move for Adam Idah – but only if the price is right.

Speaking to BoyleSports who offer the latest Old Firm odds, the former Hoops striker delivered his view on his loan spell and what his old should do in the summer with regards to his future.

I think he has added something, bringing pace and power up top. You can go back to that last Old Firm game at Ibrox, where Rangers changed to high-line to chase the game, then Idah came on for Kyogo to be a more physical presence.

There’s no doubt that a player who plays the way he does, with the attributes he has, is always going to be a handful and he has displayed that since arriving at Celtic. He may not have been first choice, but he has had to compete with Kyogo, who is without a doubt first-choice after the impact he’s made in two years at Celtic. On the big occasions, he has been the go-to guy, be it Old Firm games, Cup finals etc.

Any time Idah has started ahead of him, he’s always been under more pressure to perform because of the fact he is replacing Kyogo. I think he has done pretty well since coming in, and I think Celtic would look to retain him if the price was right. However, I think it may end up being just too much money for them – especially if he’s still viewed as second-choice behind Kyogo.

Lawrence Shankland will have his eyes firmly set on 30 goals this season.

The Hearts skipper has 21 in the Scottish Premiership with 28 in all competitions for the Jambos.

A lot of talk has surrounding the Scotland international and his future with his deal entering the final 12 months and no word on an agreement in the capital.

But he has blocked out all that noise to produce once again when it matters.

He will be key to any hopes of a Hearts upset once again in Glasgow and Celtic fans will be more than wary if he gets a sight at goal after scoring three times against the Hoops already this season.