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"Lithuanian" Edinburgh "Hearts" club in Saturday's 10th round of the Scottish "Premier" League matches in Glasgow did not succumb to the home team "Celtic" and retained the top spot in the tournament table, dispelling skeptics' predictions that they continue to be serious contenders for the championship title. Having won the first eight championship matches, "Hearts" managed to snatch a point in the 9th round only after a dramatic battle against "Falkirk", and as the away match against "Celtic", who had just three points less, approached, many doubted whether the capital club's excellent start to the season would continue. At ""Celtic Park" stadium, where the visitors, including the recovered from injury E. Jankauskas, had S. Mikoliūnas on the bench and D. Česnauskis was not registered, had the initiative at the start of the match and threatened the opponents' goal several times. Nevertheless, the visitors broke through in the 12th minute - after a pass from N. Lennon, C. Beattie's header wrongfooted the substitute "Hearts" goalkeeper S. Banks and rolled into the net. Shortly after, "Celtic" nearly doubled the score, but B. Balde's header from a distant crossbar hit the bar. However, "Hearts" did not give up and soon after a mistake by defender P. Telfer, R. Škacel received the ball and beat "Celtic" goalkeeper A. Boruc to equalize the score. Later, good opportunities to take their team forward were wasted by E. Jankauskas, who, after a pass from R. Neilson, broke free one-on-one but shot over the goal. The second half was again started more actively by the visitors, but their goalkeeper S. Banks had to save his team after a dangerous long-range shot from "Celtic". Playing just under an hour, after receiving a pass from E. Jankauskas, R. Škacel had a chance to score, but his attempt was blocked by the goalkeeper. Later, S. Banks excellently saved a strong penalty shot from S. Maloney, and attempts by M. Pošpišil and J. Hartson to score with their heads were inaccurate. At the end of the match, "Celtic" pressed the opponents from Edinburgh, but they held on and secured a well-deserved draw. At least until the match tomorrow between Glasgow "Rangers" and "Dundee Utd", Edinburgh "Hibernian" rose to third place, recovering at home after a deficit of two goals in the first half and after an impressively played second half, during which they scored four times, defeating "Kilmarnock". The league newcomer "Falkirk" is gaining momentum, winning a minimal derby against the "Dunfermline" team away and earning their second victory of the season. One goal advantage also won "Motherwell", defeating the underdog "Livingston" at home, while the match between "Inverness CT" and "Aberdeen" ended in a draw. 10th round results: 1 - 1 12' [1 - 0] Craig Beattie 15' [1 - 1] Rudi Skacel 0 - 1 39' [0 - 1] Darryl Duffy 66' Craig Ireland ("Falkirk") sent off 4 - 2 6' [0 - 1] Simon Ford 40' [0 - 2] James Fowler 53' [1 - 2] Gary Caldwell 60' [2 - 2] Guillaume Beuzelin 79' [3 - 2] Guillaume Beuzelin 80' [4 - 2] Derek Riordan 1 - 1 54' [0 - 1] Jamie Smith 72' [1 - 1] Graham Bayne 1 - 0 20' [1 - 0] Richie Foran
