A first half penalty was cooly slotted away by Alan Thompson - his third goal from the spot in three attempts.
Hearts were hard to break down and played on the counter attack - similar to their strategy at Tynecastle a couple of weeks ago. Although both teams failed to create many goalscoring opportunities, it was a hard battle, in which a single goal was enough to secure the 3 points.
All the talk nowadays is of goal difference, but today was a day in which the 3 points were essential, and the pressure is now on Rangers to beat Kilmarnock tomorrow. With Hearts losing today, Kilmarnock should take an incentive, and tomorrow's game won't be as easy as some Rangers fans are wishing it to be.
Today, however, Celtic got the 3 points necessary to move 3 points and 2 goals ahead at the top of the SPL.
Celtic:
Broto - 8
Valgaeren - 6
Balde - 7
Mjallby - 7
Thompson - 7
Agathe - 6
Lennon - 9
Lambert - 7
Petrov - 7
Larsson - 7
Sutton - 8
Celtic-Mad Man of the Match: Neil Lennon