VAKOUN Issouf Bayo scored twice on his first start for Celtic as the Parkhead club defeated Hearts 3-1 at home to reclaim top spot in the Ladbrokes Premiership from Rangers.
Bayo, a £2 million signing from Dunajska Streda of Slovakia back in January, netted in both halves as Neil Lennon’s side maintained their 100 per cent record in the league in the 2019/20 campaign.
The 22-year-old, preferred to Leigh Griffiths in attack for the triple treble winners, could easily have bagged a hat-trick, but he headed a James Forrest cross onto the post late on.
Celtic will go into the first Glasgow derby of the season at Ibrox next Sunday ahead of their city rivals on goal difference thanks to the comfortable triumph.
Neil Lennon made four changes to the team which had beaten AIK in the first leg of the Europa League play-off at Parkhead on Thursday night.
Nir Bitton took over from Jozo Simunovic at centre half, Olivier Ntcham started in midfield as Mikey Johnston was rested and Bayo made his first start as Odsonne Edouard dropped to the bench.
The most interesting name in the starting line-up was Fraser Forster, the Southampton keeper who returned to Celtic on a season-long loan on Thursday, who was given the nod ahead of Craig Gordon.
Forster is unable to play in the rematch against AIK in Stockholm next week, but his manager decided, perhaps with one eye on the league game against Rangers, to pitch him straight in.
Craig Levein made one change to the side that defeated Motherwell at Fir Park in the Betfred Cup nine days earlier. Glenn Whelan came in for the injured Jamie Walker. But Michael Smith went off injured in the first half and was replaced by Jamie Brandon.
The visitors contained their hosts well early on without really doing anything of note going forward and Bayo had little chance to justify his selection.
The Ivorian came into the game more as the game progressed, however, and did well to get on the end of a Ryan Christie corner in the 26th minute and force a save from Hearts keeper Joel Pereira with a header.
He opened the scoring three minutes later after James Forrest had cut the ball back into the Hearts six yard box. He outmuscled Christophe Berra and turned the ball beyond Pereira from a few yards out.
Forster came out of his penalty area to clear the ball six minutes before half-time and ended up being caught in possession by Loic Damour and then fouling the Hearts midfielder. He was yellow carded by referee Willie Collum for that offence.
But the former England internationalist, who was playing just his second competitive match in 20 months, atoned for his lapse in concentration shortly after that when he saved a long-range Aaron Hickey attempt.
Callum McGregor added a second nine minutes into the second-half after being supplied Ryan Christie. The Celtic midfielder unleashed a powerful low shot from fully 25 yards out that left Periera with no chance.
Bayo bagged his second on the hour mark after edging ahead of Berra and diverting a Kritoffer Ajer delivery beyond Pereira with the slightest of touches.
The rangy forward, who had made just three brief appearances as a substitute, was soon having his name chanted by the delighted Celtic supporters. He is lightning fast and doesn’t shy away from the physical aspect of the game either. He was given a standing ovation when he was replaced by Griffiths in the 78th minute.
Lennon, who put on Johnston for Ntcham and Anthony Ralston for Ajer, now has real competition for places up front with Bayo, Edouard and Griffiths all fit and available for selection.
Collum awarded Hearts a penalty when he ruled that Scott Brown had pulled down Sean Clare in his own area with 10 minutes remaining. Conor Washington saw his initial effort saved by Forster, but he pounced on the rebound to notch a consolation goal for the visitors.
The Tynecastle club remain rooted to the bottom of the Premiership table with just a point from their opening three games.
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