SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE - HEARTS 0 CELTIC 2:MAYBE Celtic have written off European progress after all. Any thoughts Gordon Strachan's side had one eye on Wednesday's visit of Manchester United were dismissed within 20 minutes in Edinburgh, reports Ewan Murray.

Goals from Shaun Maloney and Gary Caldwell amid arguably Celtic's most impressive opening of the season negotiated this tricky hurdle. The visitors had the luxury of missing a second-half penalty, even if their manager left Tynecastle in grumpy mood.

Hearts took 83 minutes to register a shot on target and such failings rankled with one of their followers who became involved in a spat with Strachan as he left his post-match press conference. An agitated Celtic manager told onlookers he had been called "an arsehole" by the fan who had just left a hospitality suite. No formal complaint was lodged but Hearts will be investigating the incident.

Marius Zaliukas' dismissal amid the incident that led to Paul Hartley firing a spot-kick wide on 51 minutes compounded Hearts' misery. "It was hard until the two goals went in," said Strachan. "Wednesday is a different game and we need to find a plan for that."

Fortune was on Celtic's side, with Caldwell using an arm to keep the ball in play before heading home his goal. Maloney's strike was more straightforward. Janos Balogh punched an Andreas Hinkel free-kick to the feet of the player who swerved a half-volley into the net. Guardian Service