HEART STOPPER

Breathless top-of-the-table showdown lives up to hype as never-say-die Jambos twice come back from dead

- MICHAEL GANNON AT TYNECASTLE

DEREK MCINNES gave Celtic players the glare before kickoff - then set his sights on the title after salvaging a late point.

Claudio Braga pounced with three minutes left to deny Celtic a win they would have scarcely deserved from a Tynecastle epic.

McInnes was also involved in a bust-up with the Hoops bench while Auston Trusty's red card left Celts having to hang on with 10 men for the final quarter.

Just like Bologna in midweek, Martin O'Neill's side got pegged back and had to settle for a draw.

And just like Italy, it was a result he would have taken in a heartbeat.

It was blood and thunder in Gorgie and you couldn't take your eyes off it for a second as Celts twice led, only to get reeled in both times to leave this thrilling title race wide open. It was the Hoops who got off to a stunning start when Benjamin Nygren won a free-kick 25 yards from goal and then curled a cracker past Craig Gordon.

McInnes was fuming at some of the celebrations in the Hoops dugout but his side gradually found their way into the game.

The Jambos should have been level when Alexandros Kyziridis got in behind after Trusty got himself in a tangle but Kasper Schmeichel bailed out the defender with a brilliant block.

Even so, the keeper could not keep the Jambos out when Stuart Findlay thumped home his header at the back post from Marc Leonard's corner three minutes into the second half.

Celts were on the ropes but stunned Gorgie with a deadly second after a devastating run by new Bhoy Tomas Cvancara.