Hearts 0 Celtic 2:A clever strike by Shaun Maloney and a controversial goal from Gary Caldwell gave Celtic a comfortable win over 10-man Hearts at Tynecastle and took them back top of Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Rangers had gone top on goal difference yesterday with a 5-0 home win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle but the champions stormed back in impressive fashion in Gorgie.

After just seven minutes Maloney volleyed the ball back over the head of Janos Balogh after the Jambos keeper had punched clear an Andreas Hinkel free-kick before Caldwell appeared to use a hand in doubling the visitors' lead from close range.

The champions could even afford to miss a penalty six minutes after the break after Marius Zaliukas had been shown a straight red for a 'last-man' foul on Scott McDonald, Paul Hartley sending his spot-kick wide of the target.

Although there was some dubiety surrounding Caldwell's goal and even allowing for the extra-man advantage they enjoyed for most of the second half, this was as convincing a victory as the Parkhead side have recorded in Gorgie for many a year.

The win will stand them in good stead, if anything can, for their Champions League Group E rematch with Manchester United at Parkhead on Wednesday.

The visitors got off to the perfect start in the seventh minute when they took the lead after Jambos' midfielder Michael Stewart had fouled Barry Robson on  the right-hand side.

Hinkel floated the free-kick into the Hearts box and Balogh appeared to punch to safety — but the ball went only as far as Maloney and from 25 yards out, he quickly and intelligently volleyed over a crowd of bodies and in to the net.

The Tynecastle side responded positively but with a little too much haste although referee Craig Thomson ignored Bruno Aguiar's claim for a penalty after his free-kick from the edge of the box had struck the Celtic wall.

Celtic, calm and composed, had a firm grip of the game and they doubled their lead in the 20th minute following a Hartley corner from the right which Robson met to send a header towards the top corner.

Scott McDonald redirected the ball from close range and Balogh brilliantly saved but then Caldwell appeared to keep the ball in play with his hand before he stuck it in the net.

Andrew Driver sent a free-kick from 25 yards just wide of Artur Boruc's left-hand post moments after which denied the Gorgie side a quick reply.

The game grew increasingly bad tempered with both sets of supporters baiting each other and at one point police went in to one of the stands housing Hearts fans to remove an offensive banner.

Celtic were defending with a great deal of resilience and the home side and their supporters grew frustrated at their unsuccessful attempts to get back in to the game.

Deividas Cesnauskis limped off in the 34th minute to be replaced by Saulius Mikoliunas but by the time Thomson blew the whistle for half time, there was still no sign of a comeback.

Hearts' task became increasingly difficult in the 51st minute when Zaliukas was red-carded for a 'last-man' foul on McDonald inside the box after the  Australian international had latched on to a Cillian Sheridan head-flick from Boruc's clearance.

Former Hearts player Hartley took responsibility for the spot-kick but drove wide of the target — but the Hearts supporters were less happy just before the hour when Jamie Mole replaced the tiring Christian Nade.

In the 65th minute Aiden McGeady came on for Maloney, seconds after Celtic were denied a penalty claim after Robson tumbled in the Hearts box following a challenge by Tynecastle skipper Christophe Berra.

It was too easy for the champions who settled in to cruise control to take them through to the final whistle.

The Jambos' forays were sporadic and unconvincing, Berra heading an Aguiar corner wide with 15 minutes remaining and thereafter the game petered out.