It certainly wasn’t the fixture Heart of Midlothian would have picked after going into the international break with six defeats on the spin, but there were signs that Steven Naismith’s side can still turn things around.

Were it not for VAR and on-field decisions had stood, Hearts would have had the chance to take the lead from the spot and Celtic would have been denied theirs.

As it turned out, Arne Engles's penalty gave the home side the lead Hearts conceded a second to substitute Luke McCowan, who finished off a quick counter when Naismith’s men were committing bodies forward.

It leaves Hearts bottom of the table after five Scottish Premiership matches with just one point from a possible 15.

Beni returns

The big news ahead of kick-off was that Beni Baningime was back in the starting XI, his first appearance of the season. Though Frankie Kent took ill ahead of the game, meaning he dropped to the bench and Kye Rowles returned as Naismith switched to a back three.

Baningime showed what the team have missed in his absence on a couple of occasions: advancing with the ball under pressure. Including midway through the first half when he drew a foul from Nicolas Khun who received the first booking of the game as a result.

He was part of a three-man midfield that stifled most of Celtic threats when they were forced inside.

After winning the ball, Hearts would quickly look to find Kenneth Vargas in behind, but it didn’t work and meant just one or two passes for the visitors before surrendering possession again.

Solid first half

The opening 45 minutes had a bit of everything you need to get a result at Celtic Park, in a defensive sense anyway: good defending, the opposition to have a bit of an off-day and a splash of luck.

As expected, Celtic took full control of possession and while they were drowned out for the first 10 minutes or so, after that there were periods where Hearts were cut open and Kyogo Furuhashi should have added to his impressive tally of goals against the Jambos when he squandered a 1v1.

On another day, the Japanese puts that away but Hearts regrouped and there were saves from Craig Gordon, a vital challenge from Gerald Taylor on Daizen Maeda – who was kept quiet by the Costa Rican – and an even more important last-ditch block from James Penrice on the half-time whistle.

Stephen Kingsley and Malachi Boateng stopped a number of dangerous attacks between them.

The moment of luck came when Engles, making his first start for Celtic after his record-setting £11 million move from Augsburg, clipped the inside of the post with a vicious strike before the ball spun to safety.

Luck runs out

After half an hour in which Hearts had failed to shoot or win a corner, and had just 25% of the ball, they were awarded a penalty when Liam Scales was adjudged to have handled it with an outstretched arm.

However, after consulting with his VAR team at length, and then checking the screen for another significant amount of time, whistler Colin Steven gestured that the decision was to be overturned.

Still, it gave Hearts some impetus and they started to carry more of a threat. There followed some possession in the Celtic half and final third and a danger from set pieces, while Lawrence Shankland tested Kasper Schmeichel from range.

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Luck had completely run out by the time the referee went to his monitor for the second time, this time after the restart. It wasn’t exactly the same as the earlier decision, Penrice’s arm was more outstretched, but it felt like rough justice.

Almost a dream debut for Drammeh

Much like the first, the Hearts backline remained steadfast in the second period and there was a bit more of an attacking threat as the half wore on – but again very little to test the Celtic keeper.

Taylor continued to win his individual battle with Maeda before the Japanese international was replaced and was now beginning to have some joy further up the pitch.

Naismith made use of his five changes, firstly sending on Cammy Devlin and Musa Drammeh – the latter for his competitive debut.

The game continued to open up and the 22-year-old Spaniard came close to stabbing an equaliser with around 10 minutes to go, but he didn’t get enough purchase on the strike. It came from a wonderful ball from Blair Spittal, who had replaced a tiring Penrice by that point.

Hearts were punished for not taking their opportunity and, in the final minutes of the 90, substitute Luke McCowan sealed the three points with his first goal for his new club.