At time up the joy of Neil Lennon and his new management team was unrestrained. Walking slowly towards a joyous travelling support Celtic's returning emperor was back amongst his people, cupping two hands to his ears to drink in the moment.
Facing the loss of two points against a Hearts side reduced to ten men by a foolish red card for Jamie Brandon in the final seconds of the first half winner from the £9million substitute Odsonne Edouard in the 91st minute must have felt like a dagger through the heart to Rangers fans heading for their cars after an easy win over Dundee.
The faces might change, but the outcome here felt pretty familiar. The process of airbrushing of Brendan Rodgers from Celtic folklore began with a dramatic climax at a tough old venue. New manager, same old Celtic was the cry.
At time up the joy of Neil Lennon and his new Celtic management team was unrestrained
Odsonne Edouard's 91st minute goal was celebrated wildly by Lennon and his coaching staff
It was Lennon's first match since returning to Celtic to replace the departed Brendan Rodgers
On a night when Tynecastle pulsated with raw emotion, the Hearts fans kept the coins in their pockets before welcoming the former Hibs boss back to Edinburgh with a chant comparing him to an intimate part of the female anatomy. The visiting support continued their embarrassing obsession with songs about the IRA.
The football was fast, furious, harum scarum. By the end, Celtic remained eight points clear at the top after Edouard slammed Scott Brown's cross low into the net with almost the last kick of the match.
It was a sore defeat for Hearts in the end. On a night when the formidable Uche Ikpeazu battered their defence all over the pitch, the champions had a tough old 90 minutes. Dedryck Boyata almost gifted the home team a goal with his obligatory cock-up and Craig Levein's side rattled the visitors to the point of breakage.
The ten men were within seconds of the unlikeliest of points after responding to a brilliant Celtic opener from James Forrest in 36 minutes with a leveller from the penalty spot early in the second half. It was a calamitous affair for Celtic goalkeeper Scott Bain, a slack pass to Kristoffer Ajer in his own area forcing the Norwegian into a rash challenge on the tigerish Arnaud Djoum.
Hearts substitute Ollie Bozanic sent Bain the wrong way from 12 yards and Lennon's return looked destined to end both in anti-climax and the loss of two points. We should have known better.
After a deeply unsettling 24 hours this was a joyous win for Celtic at a difficult venue. Their opening goal came just as Hearts had the scent of blood in their nostrils.
Hearts (4-2-3-1): Zlamal; Godinho (Dikamona 85), Souttar, Berra, Brandon; Lee, Haring; Djoum, Naismith (Bozanic 46), Clare; Ikpeazu (Vanecek 80)
Unused subs: Doyle, Shaughnessy, Keena, Cochrane
Goal: Bozanic pen 56
Bookings: Haring 13, Djoum 33, Naismith 43
Red card: Brandon 45
Celtic (4-2-3-1): Bain; Toljan (Lustig 86), Boyata, Ajer, Tierney; Brown, Henderson (Edouard 62); Forrest, Bitton, Sinclair (Weah 81); Burke
Unused subs: Gordon, Hendry, Johnston, Hayes
Goals: Forrest 36, Edouard 90+1
Bookings: Brown 35, Toljan 75
Celtic remain eight points clear after Edouard slammed Scott Brown's cross low into the net
Edouard celebrates after grabbing a stoppage time victory for Celtic at Tynecastle
Celtic had looked as though they were going to be denied by 10-man Hearts on Wednesday
Young Euan Henderson kept his starting place in the absence of Callum McGregor, Ryan Christie, Tom Rogic and Olivier Ntcham and justified that call with the most composed pass of the match.
Sending Scott Sinclair haring up the left flank, a quick ball
