Petrov keeps Celtic on title trail
GLASGOW, Scotland, (Reuters) -- Unbeaten leaders Celtic stayed on course to regain the Scottish Premier League title after Stilian Petrov secured a 1-0 win at Hearts.
Third-placed Hearts matched Celtic for the majority of an absorbing contest at Tynecastle but Petrov's 27th minute strike was enough to keep the visitors 11 points clear of champions Rangers.
Celtic have 58 points after their 19th win in 20 games.
"I knew it would be tough and it was a great win for us," said O'Neill.
"We had to battle as hard as we could but Hearts realized also that we weren't going to give up the struggle."
O'Neill reserved praise for Slovakian Varga, who joined last year for nothing from English first division side Sunderland.
"I think Stan has been absolutely terrific and you wonder now how he was ever let go by Sunderland," added O'Neill.
Ten players were booked, five from each side, in a match that was fiercely contested without ever being bad tempered.
However, Hearts could be in trouble with the Scottish Football Association after Celtic goalkeeper Robert Douglas was struck by a coin from the home crowd.
Scott Severin was unlucky with a few long-range efforts for Hearts early on, while Paul Hartley should have netted with a header for the home team. They were made to pay when Petrov fired a venomous strike through keeper Craig Gordon's legs.
"I'm sad because we put so much into the game and didn't take anything from it," said Hearts manager Craig Levein, who will look to avenge the defeat when they host Celtic in next month's Scottish Cup fourth round tie.
"There wasn't a bad Hearts player today and with a bit of luck we might have won it."
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