Hearts 1-2 Celtic: Scott Sinclair grabs winner on Hoops debut

Scott Sinclair scored a classy winner less than 24 hours after signing for Celtic to hand Brendan Rodgers a 2-1 victory over Hearts in their Scottish Premiership opener.

The 27-year-old attacker completed his move from Aston Villa on Friday and came off the bench to score on 80 minutes after Jamie Walker had cancelled out James Forrest's opener.

Forrest curled home an excellent strike on nine minutes from outside the box and the hosts looked in control until Walker was brought down in the box by Kieran Tierney and then stepped up to fire in the spot-kick before half-time.

Hearts had started bullishly, with striker Connor Sammon one of three new signings making their league debuts along with Faycal Rherras and Tony Watt, who showed what promise he brings to Robbie Neilson's team.

Sammon flashed a couple of shots wide of the target but Celtic's first real break conceived the first goal, with Stuart Armstrong bursting up the left and feeding the ball inside to Forrest, who picked out the far corner with aplomb.

Watt, who joined Hearts from Charlton earlier in the summer, should have equalised when he was picked out at the far post with just the keeper to beat from four yards, but headed wide of the far post.

And at the other end, Leigh Griffiths went close to opening his account when he lobbed 'keeper Jack Hamilton but missed the target.

Hamilton made a good save to deny Forrest before Walker was felled on 37 minutes and then converted coolly to the left of Craig Gordon, who had to save at full-stretch from Watt to ensure his side went in 1-1 at half-time.

Griffiths forced Hamilton into two more saves before Sinclair arrived off the bench after the hour-mark and immediately looked lively.

For his goal, he exchanged passes in midfield and then galloped 50 yards into the six-yard box to turn in Griffiths' low cross from the left hand side in classy fashion.