It was another successful trip to Edinburgh for Neil Lennon as Celtic beat Hearts after first-half goals from Ryan Christie and Olivier Ntcham.
The hosts started the stronger as they pressed Celtic high up the pitch with Lennon’s side struggling to get any real passing together, not helped by pretty poor Tynecastle pitch.
However, against the run of play, it was Celtic who grabbed the lead after 17 minutes.
Brilliant hold-up play followed by a back-heel from Edouard found Christie who simply stroked the ball into the corner from outside the box for an excellent goal.
Daniel Stendel’s team pushing high up the pitch left them awfully short at the back with both Edouard and Forrest going through but missing two great chances.
Minutes later, just before half-time, Forrest did far better to beat Christophe Berra and send a ball across that was thumped home by Ntcham for 2-0.
After the break, Edouard should have made it three but a terrific block from Aaron Hickey stopped the frenchman from close range.
Just after that chance, the striker had another from Callum McGregor’s close but his header flicked off the post a Hearts continued to far too open at the back.
McGregor was next to go close but Joel Pereira did well to narrow the angle and block.
Both teams began to tire as the game reached its closing stages.
Here’s how we rated the player’s after this evening’s 2-0 win.
Fraser Forster: 7
Not much to death with other some dangerous crosses into his box.
Jeremie Frimpong: 7
Wasn’t getting forward as much as he usually would but was solid nonetheless.
Christopher Jullien: 7
Didn’t allow the Hearts attack many opportunities in the air.
Kristoffer Ajer: 7
Coped well although he wasn’t overly tested.
Jonny Hayes: 6
Looked sluggish on the ball and continued to lose out to his opposite number, however, he defended well against Mulraney and Clare’s pace.
Scott Brown: 7
Took a while to get into the game but revelled in the battle as Celtic began to cruise to victory.
Callum McGregor: 7
Struggled to keep the ball as Hearts pressed early but soon found his feet.
Found Edouard with some excellent balls in the sebomnd period.
Should have scored himself as he went through but the Hearts goalie was able to block.
Ryan Christie: 7
Superb technique to bag yet another goal this season.
Tried to rush his passes too much but settled down after the first goal.
Olivier Ntcham: 7
Did well to keep his effort under the bar for the second with the coming quickly towards him.
Moved the ball around well found good space.
James Forrest: 7
Missed a glorious chance for a second goal with a poor finish but did well to assist Ntcham.
Exploited the gaps in Hearts’ defence with his pace.
Odsonne Edouard: 7
Sublime flick to put Christie in for his goal.
Should have had one of his own with two good chances into the second half.