Hearts draw at Celtic to stay top

Hearts stayed top of the Scottish Premier League with a battling 1-1 draw at Celtic yesterday.

Craig Beattie put Celtic ahead on 13 minutes but three minutes later Rudi Skacel took advantage of sloppy defending to equalise in front of 60,108 fans - the Glasgow club's biggest home crowd of the season.

Hearts remain top with 26 points from 10 games. Celtic are second with 23, also from 10 games.

Hearts manager George Burley told BBC Radio Scotland: "It was a very competitive game and there was some good football.

"You don't get any easy games. But we are a team that doesn't give up easily and hopefully we can keep it going."

Hibernian moved third with 19 points from 10 games courtesy of their 4-2 home win over Kilmarnock.

Champions Rangers are in fourth with 16 points from nine matches and play Dundee United today at Tannadice.

Livingston remain bottom with two points from 10 games following a 1-0 defeat at Motherwell where Richie Foran scored on 21 minutes.

Motherwell manager Terry Butcher said: "It was pay-back by Richie because he gave away the penalty at Aberdeen a few weeks back."