Celtic kept pace with Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League after an edgy 1-0 win over Hearts in Glasgow on Saturday.
Victor Wanyama’s first goal for the club sealed the points at Celtic Park, but Neil Lennon’s men were later relieved when their goalkeeper Fraser Forster denied Eggert Jonsson from the penalty spot when time was almost up.
The Bhoys had earlier seen Rangers go seven points clear of them with a 2-0 win at Hibernian but the deficit was back at four by 5pm, following a game in which Celtic started well. Gary Hooper had a good early chance to put them in front, but he toe-poked wide of Marian Kello's goal.
The Slovakian goalkeeper then held a thumping effort from Anthony Stokes, but as the first half wore on the visitors had come to terms with Celtic’s probes and were frustrating them.
That all meant that it was 0-0 at the break, and the away side went close early in the second half when Forster had to turn Ian Black’s free-kick behind for a corner.
Scott Robinson also went close with a 30-yard shot for Paulo Sergio’s side, while at the other end Kello had to keep out an effort from Celtic midfield man Beram Kayal.
The Bhoys were inches from the lead when James Forresst ghosted down the right wing and sent in a cross to Stokes, but this time the Irishman’s header came back off the bar.
The deadlock was finally smashed in the 72nd minute as Adrian Mrowiec got in the way of Charlie Mulgrew’s free-kick. The loose ball bounced to the edge of the D where Kenyan Wanyama fired, almost effortlessly, into the top corner of Kello’s goal, breaking his Bhoys duck in the process.
Georgios Samaras headed wide as Celtic failed to bag a second, before Wanyama almost undid his earlier good work when he was penalised for handball in the Celtic area.
However, Icelander Jonsson was brilliantly denied by Forsster as the home side held on for all three points.