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Celtic march on at Hearts

Maloney and Caldwell on target in 2-0 win

Last updated: 2nd November 2008

Maloney: Opening goal

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Celtic returned to the top of the Scottish Premier League table with a 2-0 victory over Hearts.

Rangers had climbed above Celtic on goal difference after beating Inverness 5-0 on Saturday but Gordon Strachan's men responded with a seventh consecutive league win.

Shaun Maloney broke the deadlock after just seven minutes as he half-volleyed home from 25 yards out.

Celtic doubled their lead in controversial fashion on 20 minutes as Gary Caldwell appeared to control the ball with his hand before scoring, after goalkeeper Janos Balogh had saved brilliantly from Barry Robson.

Hearts battled hard in an effort to get back into the game but their forays forward were sporadic and unconvincing and Celtic's defence held firm.

The champions could even afford to miss a penalty six minutes into the second half after Marius Zaliukas had been shown a straight red for a last-ditch foul on Scott McDonald, Paul Hartley sending his spot-kick wide of the target.

The result leaves Hearts in eighth place and without a win in their last five games, while Celtic can now turn their attention to Wednesday's UEFA Champions League clash against Manchester United.