Hearts made two changes to the side that faced Kilmarnock at Tynecastle midweek. Marian Kello failed to shake the shoulder knock he took during Tuesday's game and Marius Zaliukas returned to the defence in place of Gary Glen and in turn Ismael Bouzid took up the role of striker.
Hearts started the match well and found themselves one up inside the opening five minutes. Suso embarked on a lone run from the half way line which saw him weave in and out of the Celtic defence and then unleash a sublime shot low into Boruc's right hand corner. A great solo effort from the Spaniard.
Celtic stepped it up a gear after going a goal down but Hearts responded well in defence. Celtic came closest through a Shaun Maloney free-kick from 30 yards out, which rattled off the junction of the bar.
Celtic were throwing everything they had at Hearts and Balogh had to be on high alert to thwart the numerous efforts. Hearts suffered a blow when Marius Zaliukas had to be substituted after picking up and injury, Novikovas was brought on his place and Bouzid returned to the defence.
A clearance from Balogh was misjudged by Caldwell, allowing Driver free reign down the left. The winger then curled the ball round Boruc and as the ball trickled towards the goal Caldwell recovered just in time to clear the ball off the line. Hearts seemed to have weathered a Celtic storm and almost a two goal half time lead.
After the break Celtic took over the reigns. The home side fired themselves level inside 10 minutes through former Hibs striker Chris Killen. Balogh had saved a long range effort from the Celtic man which looked to be going out for a corner, however as the ball trundled along the goal-line Maloney's quick cross from the left was met with vengeance from Killen who headed home from a few yards out.
Moments later McGeady looked to have sent Celtic ahead with a rocket fuelled shot towards goal which fortunately for Hearts rattled off the top of the bar. Maloney was substituted for Celtic which was testament to how well Craig Thomson had played in this match, again the youngster showing that nothing seems to faze him.
As Hearts struggled to get a foothold in the match in the second half, the most notable effort was a good piece of link up play between Novikovas and Lee Wallace down the left hand side but Wallace just couldn't dig the ball out to have a shot on goal. Obua also came close with a long range effort which was hit with so much power ... it broke a panel on the digital advertising boards.
Celtic had a penalty claim waved away by referee Dougie McDonald in the last 10 minutes after Lee Wallace's challenge on Killen. The Celtic players were admant it should have been a spot kick and were visibly aggrieved by the decision.
There was more late drama four minutes into stoppage time after Lee Wallace, content to let the ball drift out of play for a goal kick, was totally flummoxed as the linesman awarded Celtic a corner. The resulting corner was whipped in and in a cruel twist of fate headed home by Glenn Loovens.
Celtic had chances to score long before this and Hearts also had chances to wrap the game up at 1-0. All in all for Hearts a devastating end to a game that they had put so much into.
Man Of The Match: Craig Thomson