THE combination of courage and quick thinking by Joe Hart denied Hearts an opening goal at Tynecastle on Saturday – and set up Celtic for the breakthrough strike inside half a minute.
CQN’s match reporter wrote over 40 paragraphs detailing his summary of a pulsating, see-sawing encounter in Edinburgh that saw the champions emerge victorious with three precious points following a 4-3 triumph in an exhausting 90-plus minutes.
However, amid the VAR controversy and refereeing carnage in the capital, the 35-year-old 75 times-capped Celtic keeper hardly rated a mention.
MAKING A POINT…the reliable Joe Hart.
CQN would like to apologise unreservedly for not giving the experienced shotstopper the credit he so richly merited.
Our scribe has looked again at the match and now highlights the incident that became a massive turning point in the confrontation.
Hart had already made a smart save down to his left from a Barrie McKay snap shot when he was called upon again to show why Ange Postecoglou rates him so highly since the former Manchester City No.1 arrived in a bargain £1million move from Spurs in August last year.
SAVED…Joe Hart dives to save at the feet of Robert Snodgrass.
ON THE LOOK-OUT…Hart searches for a team-mate after denying Snodgrass.
ON THE MOVE…Aaron Mooy accepts the throw from Hart and prepares to play in Reo Hatate.
ON A WING AND A SLAYER…Hatate passes the ball out to James Forrest.
ON THE RUN…Hatate knocks the ball out to Mooy after reciving a pass from Forrest who heads into the box.
TOUCH AND GO…Mooy picks out Hatate as he moves to the wing with Anthony Ralston about to join proceedings.
CHARGING AHEAD…Ralston races past Alex Cochrane after running onto the pass from Hatate.
JUST IN TIME…Ralston fires the ball across from the byeline.
DANGER SIGNALS…Forrest lurks as the Hearts defence attempt to cut out the cross.
HEAD BHOY…Forrest gleefully nods the ball into the empty net after Ralston’s cross had spun into the air.
CAPITAL SHOW…James Forrest is about to be congratulated by Daizen Maeda as the ball nestles in the Hearts net.
The former international ace had been told by the London club’s new manager Nuno Espirito Santo he would never play again in the first team. That blunt verdict could have shredded the confidence of a lesser professional.
Hart, instead, decided to fight on to show his worth and accepted the challenge of solving a position that had become a major headache for Celtic.
Santo delivered his harsh message in July after arriving from Wolves the previous month. He was sacked on November 1 after losing five of the first seven leagues games of the season. Three days later, Hart put in a superb performance as the Hoops beat Ferencvaros 3-2 in a Europa League match in Budapest.
HEADS I WIN…James Forrest gets in front of Hearts defender Toby Sibbick and nods into the inviting net with keeper Craig Gordon grounded at his near post.
THAT’S MY BHOY…Giorgos Giakoumakis congratulates James Forrest on the breakthrough goal in the remarkable 4-3 victory. Images courtesy Sky Sports.
So, with that sort of determined outlook, Hart plunged at the feet of Hearts midfielder Robert Snodgrass to block a close-range shot, get back to his feet and quickly get a move in motion to turn defence into attack.
He picked out Aaron Mooy with a perfect throw and the Australian shifted it on to Reo Hatate. The Japanese international swept it out to James Forrest on the right. He popped it back to Hatate who transferred it on to Mooy.
The pair combined again with the ball returning to Hatate. Anthony Ralston made a brilliant blindside run to accept a pass from the cultured middle of the park performer, hit the byline and fired in a low cross at the near post.
EURO STAR…Joe Hart talks to the media before tonight’s Champions League encounter against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Craig Gordon and defender Orestis Kiomourtzoglou went for it at the same time. The ball spun into the air and there was Forrest arriving with impeccable timing to nod in the vital first goal.
From the save at one end to the ball ending in the hosts’ net the entire move took a total of only 29 breathtaking SECONDS.
A belated apology and huge round of applause to our last line of defence who has become our first line of attack.
Joe Hart is no Ordinary Joe, that’s for sure.
* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Celtic v Shakhtar Donetsk this evening – only in your champion CQN.
