Ryan Christie netted with the champions’ first shot on target in the 28th minute and Olivier Ntcham doubled the advantage with an expert first-time finish five minutes before the break.
The visitors had further chances but Hearts gave new boss Daniel Stendel some encouragement with the way they kept on trying to get back into the game after losing their shape for the period between the opener and half-time.
The result ensured Celtic utilised one of the games that was rearranged from their Betfred Cup run with Rangers now on a game in hand. Hearts avoided going bottom by one goal but face basement side Hamilton on Saturday.
Stendel made five changes after his side delivered a limp display in a 1-0 home defeat by St Johnstone in his first match. Joel Pereira, Jamie Brandon, Craig Wighton and Loic Damour came in and Jake Mulraney returned from suspension, while right-back Michael Smith moved into midfield. Jamie Walker missed out completely.
Christie and Jonny Hayes came back from injury for Celtic, who struggled to get the ball down from the start, although Ntcham was an exception.
Stendel got the effort and fight he had demanded as Hearts started on the front foot, turning the Celtic defence whenever they had the chance.
It was pretty basic stuff but the long-suffering home fans roared their approval and Oli Bozanic managed a couple of decent efforts – a low shot that Fraser Forster held and a header which glanced not far wide.
The Australian also squandered some set-pieces and Hearts found themselves behind against the run of play.
James Forrest played a one-two with Odsonne Edouard to put Hearts on the back foot before Christie took over and drilled a 20-yard strike just inside the post.
Forrest had drifted inside limping right-back Brandon and Stendel swapped him for Sean Clare, who was booed on by a small section of the home fans. Despite Smith’s presence, Clare lined up at right-back and Celtic began cutting open the home defence at will.
Edouard was sent clear after Callum McGregor dispossessed Smith but the Frenchman took a heavy touch. Forrest missed the target after a one-two with Ntcham left him one-on-one with Pereira.
Hearts were exposed again moments later when Scott Brown won the ball and released Forrest, whose low cross from the left was swept home first time by Ntcham.
Stendel replaced Bozanic with Glenn Whelan at half-time and his team rediscovered their early impetus with Clare coming close after a positive run into the box.
Hearts also delivered some decent balls into the box but they were living dangerously at the back.
McGregor was flagged offside after netting from close range and Edouard headed against a post before forcing a good save from Pereira after being left unmarked from a free-kick.
Stendel was forced into another change on the hour mark when Mulraney limped off and Pereira came to the hosts’ rescue again after Forrest played in McGregor.
Hearts rallied and pushed Celtic back for much of the final quarter without troubling Forster.
Neil Lennon impressed with Celtic approach as they move five points clear
Celtic manager Neil Lennon was delighted to see his team put pressure on Rangers by going five points clear in the Ladbrokes Premiership.
The champions overcame a slow start to beat Hearts 2-0 in a rearranged clash at Tynecastle.
Ryan Christie netted in the 28th minute with Celtic’s first effort on target and Olivier Ntcham swept home 12 minutes later after a flurry of chances.
Rangers have a game in hand but the cushion potentially gives Celtic the platform to go further clear before the winter break with the top two meeting on December 29.
Lennon, whose side host Aberdeen on Saturday, said: “It gives them a couple of days’ rest and we look forward to a difficult game at the weekend. And it puts pressure on the rest of the teams around us to win their games.
“I can’t ask any more. That’s what we set out to do – win the game, and we’ve done that with a bit of style as well.
“I was so pleased with a lot of the performances. More importantly the manner we approached the game because we knew Hearts would be up and at it, and they were.
“So we saw that off and once the game opened up we were very, very good.”
Lennon added: “I can’t ask any more apart from putting even more of an emphatic scoreline on it.
“We had two great chances before half-time and we had great chances in the second half. If we had gone three or four up we could have maybe run riot.
“But the intensity and quality of our play at times was outstanding on a very difficult surface.”
New Hearts manager Daniel Stendel felt his team’s performance was a clear step in the right direction after a disappointing debut defeat by St Johnstone.
Hearts never seriously troubled Fraser Forster but they had Celtic on the back foot for much of the opening period and kept pushing for a goal until the end.
“We wanted to change our performance, especially from Saturday, and we did it well, especially in the first 20 minutes,” Stendel said.
“It was hard to accept being 1-0 down with their first shot on goal but that’s what happens when you make mistakes against a team with the quality of Celtic.
“The reaction was good, especially in the second half, we not only defended our goal, we tried to play on the front foot. Maybe we lacked quality and a bit of luck in the final third to create real, big chances but we tried.
“I think we deserved to score a goal, but Celtic deserved to win. But we gave all we could give in terms of fight and mentality.
“It was a good feeling, especially for me, that we can have so much support from the fans.”
Heart of Midlothian 0-2 Celtic - Lennon: Celtic in a good place
Ryan Christie netted with the champions’ first shot on target in the 28th minute and Olivier Ntcham doubled the advantage with an expert first-time finish five minutes before the break.
The visitors had further chances but Hearts gave new boss Daniel Stendel some encouragement with the way they kept on trying to get back into the game after losing their shape for the period between the opener and half-time.
The result ensured Celtic utilised one of the games that was rearranged from their Betfred Cup run with Rangers now on a game in hand. Hearts avoided going bottom by one goal but face basement side Hamilton on Saturday.
Stendel made five changes after his side delivered a limp display in a 1-0 home defeat by St Johnstone in his first match. Joel Pereira, Jamie Brandon, Craig Wighton and Loic Damour came in and Jake Mulraney returned from suspension, while right-back Michael Smith moved into midfield. Jamie Walker missed out completely.
Christie and Jonny Hayes came back from injury for Celtic, who struggled to get the ball down from the start, although Ntcham was an exception.
Stendel got the effort and fight he had demanded as Hearts started on the front foot, turning the Celtic defence whenever they had the chance.
It was pretty basic stuff but the long-suffering home fans roared their approval and Oli Bozanic managed a couple of decent efforts – a low shot that Fraser Forster held and a header which glanced not far wide.
The Australian also squandered some set-pieces and Hearts found themselves behind against the run of play.
James Forrest played a one-two with Odsonne Edouard to put Hearts on the back foot before Christie took over and drilled a 20-yard strike just inside the post.
Forrest had drifted inside limping right-back Brandon and Stendel swapped him for Sean Clare, who was booed on by a small section of the home fans. Despite Smith’s presence, Clare lined up at right-back and Celtic began cutting open the home defence at will.
Edouard was sent clear after Callum McGregor dispossessed Smith but the Frenchman took a heavy touch. Forrest missed the target after a one-two with Ntcham left him one-on-one with Pereira.
Hearts were exposed again moments later when Scott Brown won the ball and released Forrest, whose low cross from the left was swept home first time by Ntcham.
Stendel replaced Bozanic with Glenn Whelan at half-time and his team rediscovered their early impetus with Clare coming close after a positive run into the box.
Hearts also delivered some decent balls into the box but they were living dangerously at the back.
McGregor was flagged offside after netting from close range and Edouard headed against a post before forcing a good save from Pereira after being left unmarked from a free-kick.
Stendel was forced into another change on the hour mark when Mulraney limped off and Pereira came to the hosts’ rescue again after Forrest played in McGregor.
Hearts rallied and pushed Celtic back for much of the final quarter without troubling Forster.
Neil Lennon impressed with Celtic approach as they move five points clear
Celtic manager Neil Lennon was delighted to see his team put pressure on Rangers by going five points clear in the Ladbrokes Premiership.
The champions overcame a slow start to beat Hearts 2-0 in a rearranged clash at Tynecastle.
Ryan Christie netted in the 28th minute with Celtic’s first effort on target and Olivier Ntcham swept home 12 minutes later after a flurry of chances.
Rangers have a game in hand but the cushion potentially gives Celtic the platform to go further clear before the winter break with the top two meeting on December 29.
Lennon, whose side host Aberdeen on Saturday, said: “It gives them a couple of days’ rest and we look forward to a difficult game at the weekend. And it puts pressure on the rest of the teams around us to win their games.
“I can’t ask any more. That’s what we set out to do – win the game, and we’ve done that with a bit of style as well.
“I was so pleased with a lot of the performances. More importantly the manner we approached the game because we knew Hearts would be up and at it, and they were.
“So we saw that off and once the game opened up we were very, very good.”
Lennon added: “I can’t ask any more apart from putting even more of an emphatic scoreline on it.
“We had two great chances before half-time and we had great chances in the second half. If we had gone three or four up we could have maybe run riot.
“But the intensity and quality of our play at times was outstanding on a very difficult surface.”
New Hearts manager Daniel Stendel felt his team’s performance was a clear step in the right direction after a disappointing debut defeat by St Johnstone.
Hearts never seriously troubled Fraser Forster but they had Celtic on the back foot for much of the opening period and kept pushing for a goal until the end.
“We wanted to change our performance, especially from Saturday, and we did it well, especially in the first 20 minutes,” Stendel said.
“It was hard to accept being 1-0 down with their first shot on goal but that’s what happens when you make mistakes against a team with the quality of Celtic.
“The reaction was good, especially in the second half, we not only defended our goal, we tried to play on the front foot. Maybe we lacked quality and a bit of luck in the final third to create real, big chances but we tried.
“I think we deserved to score a goal, but Celtic deserved to win. But we gave all we could give in terms of fight and mentality.
“It was a good feeling, especially for me, that we can have so much support from the fans.”