On This Day in 2019, Celtic travelled to Edinburgh to face Hearts. Days after Brendan Rodgers decided to leave for Leicester City, Neil Lennon was parachuted in on an interim basis with the brief to carry the team towards a third Treble.
The scene was set for the Irishman, a midweek trip to the cauldron of hostility Tynecastle. Lennon was merely a figurehead on the bench that night given John Kennedy, who repelled Rodgers’ offer to move to the Premier League, had picked the team. Celtic were depleted due to injuries (No McGregor, Rogic, Ntcham, Christie) and Euan Henderson was forced to start in the middle of the park. It was the youngster that helped get Celtic ahead thanks to a delightful pass through for Oli Burke. The Scotland Internationalist broke at pace, enticed the Hearts goalkeeper and defender before sliding the ball to James Forrest, who kept pace and scored.
Celtic went in at the break 1-0 ahead and also a man ahead after Brandon was sent off for an elbow on Toljan. Hearts equalised through a penalty, needlesly given away by Kris Ajer after a slack pass from Scott Bain. Bozanic slotted away and Craig Levein’s Hearts were dreaming of a winner.
Instead, as Hearts decided to camp themselves into their half with the idea clearly being to draw Celtic out, defend their point and try to hit on the break if possible. Celtic dutifully obliged and threw balls into the Hearts box hoping to get a second ball to break or a shot away. Hearts keeper Zlamal appeared to be doing all he could to break the flow of the game.
With the game in injury time, Scott Brown scooped a cross into the box. It was a great delivery that floated over the defenders head and allowed Odsonne Edouard to beat the offside and slam home. This goal sparked wild celebrations in the Celtic end. The players and maanger saluted the Roseburn Stand at FT, recognising what a momentous result this was given the circumstances.
Celtic: 29. Bain, 2.Toljan (Lustig 86′), 20. Boyata, 35. Ajer, 63. Tierney, 8. Brown, 6. Bitton, 49. Forrest, 52. Henderson (Edouard 62′), 11. Sinclair (Weah 81′), 25. Burke
Substitutes: 1. Gordon, 4. Hendry, 15. Hayes, 22. Edouard, 23. Lustig, 30. Weah, 73. Johnston
