TURNING WATER INTO FINE

Bhoys put squeeze on Jambos as they edge closer to title and popping the champagne

- 

THEIR spirit may have been dampened by Watergate and an Old Firm defeat.

But Celtic are still going to skoosh the Premiership title.

After recovering from their derby loss to see off Hearts yesterday, it's only a matter of time before it's champagne bottles they're popping.

The champions might have looked edgy early on against the Jambos maybe even a bit fragile after that Rangers game.

But it didn't take long for Brendan Rodgers' team to find a rhythm and get their swagger back.

A brace from red-hot Daizen Maeda and a goal from Jota secured another three points en route to their fourth straight league flag.

There's a reason why Celtic get the chance to dine at Europe's top table every year. It's because when it comes to the bread and butter games in Scotland's top flight, no one can get near them.

They proved it again here.

Rodgers was able to call on his captain Callum McGregor as he returned from injury.

He was badly missed in the Old Firm defeat and the difference he made yesterday was tangible.

Yet initially it was Hearts who played on the front foot.

Gaffer Neil Critchley seemed to take a leaf out of Rangers' book by going with a back five and pressing the home side high up the pitch.

They tried to hound Celtic into mistakes by deploying two strikers and skipper Lawrence Shankland in behind them. It worked for the first quarter of an hour, with Celtic looking a little rattled.