Parkhead's new penalty king Alan Thompson fired the champions three points clear of Rangers at the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League with his third consecutive spot kick as they avenged the shock defeat at Tynecastle last month.

All eyes were on Neil Lennon, who responded superbly to his attack in Glasgow's west end on Wednesday night.

But it was his team-mate who stole the headlines by scoring his third goal in four games.

With just two games remaining now for Celtic and three for Rangers the players are bound to feel the pressure, but the home side should have added to their goal tally, which is now two better than Rangers.

Celtic almost made the perfect start in the eighth minute through in-form Stilian Petrov.

Paul Lambert found the Bulgarian in space and he ran before blazing a fierce drive just past the angle from 25 yards.

The game at Tynecastle was fresh in Hearts' memory and Celtic goalkeeper Javier Sanchez Broto prevented them taking a shock lead two minutes later.

Kevin McKenna got away from the sluggish Mjallby and struck a powerful low shot from 12 yards which the Spaniard did well to stop.

Henrik Larsson could have settled any nerves in the 15th minute when Thompson picked him out in the area, but his glancing header flew wide.

Celtic looked uncharacteristically out of sorts in defence at times and Alan Maybury fired wide from the edge of the box from Paul Lambert's clearance.

But the home side upped the tempo and Robbie Neilsen got a vital touch on Larsson's shot after he charged onto Bobo Balde's long punt downfield.

The Swede would have put Celtic ahead in the 22nd minute, but for the brilliance of Tepi Moilanen in the Hearts goal.

Larsson beat the offside trap and latched onto Petrov's through ball, but the on-loan Preston goalkeeper somehow got a glove to his effort to turn it over the crossbar.

The home side were soon starting to lose patience with referee Mike McCurry, who booked Steven Pressley for a reckless challenge on Petrov.

Celtic were given a glorious opportunity to take the lead from the spot in the 28th minute after Pressley pushed Sutton and Thompson blasted the ball past the goalkeeper.

That lifted the Hoops players and supporters and they threatened to add to their lead as Lambert almost played Larsson clean through, but his pass had too much pace.

Petrov was booked for dissent in the 43rd minute before Moilanen made another great save to keep his side in the game.

Thompson's low left-foot shot looked destined for the bottom corner, but the outstretched hand of the Finn touched the effort around the post.

Hearts came out looking for the equaliser and McKenna got a back-header on Neilsen's long throw, but he failed to find the power or direction to trouble Broto.

The Spaniard has been in inspired form in the absence of Robert Douglas and Magnus Hedman and he made his save from Neil MacFarlane's 30-yard shot look easy.

At the other end Sutton was looking for a penalty after he appeared to be fouled by Maybury, but the referee waved away Celtic protests.

Petrov tried adding to his goalscoring run, but his shot from just inside the box was comfortably held by Moilanen.

Moilanan needed to be alert again on the hour when he raced off his line to prevent Thompson from getting on the end of Larsson's through ball.

The visitors made another change moments later with McKenna going off and Stephen Simmons going on in his place.

Celtic's failure to kill Hearts made for an anxious finale and the home fans were relieved to see Maybury's long-range strike whistle just over.

Simmons had a great chance to stun the ground into silence with nine minutes remaining, but he slashed his shot wide from six yards.

Two minutes later and Didier Agathe came within inches of putting Hearts out of the game when he crashed a powerful shot against the crossbar from Larsson's through ball.

But the tense expressions on the fans' faces soon became smiles at the final whistle as the pressure was once again heaped on Rangers.

Teams

Celtic: Broto, Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren, Agathe, Lennon, Lambert, Petrov (McNamara 90), Thompson (Smith 71), Larsson, Sutton.

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Maloney, Crainey.

Booked: Petrov.

Goals: Thompson 29 pen.

Hearts: Moilanen, Maybury, Pressley, McKenna (Simmons 62), Neilson, Boyack, Stamp (Janczyk 45), Severin, Valois, MacFarlane, Weir (Kirk 71).

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Mahe.

Booked: Pressley, Maybury.

Att: 58,175

Ref: M McCurry (Scotland).