YOU CAN'T KEEP GOOD TEAM DOWN

DEFIANT Stephen McManus last night hailed Celtic's second comeback win on the the trot and claimed: We never know when we're beaten.

The Hoops stopper cheekily laid claim to the incredible 95th-minute winner despite it being a clear own goal from Jambos No.1 Craig Gordon.

But whatever name goes down in the record books the three points go on Celtic's total.

And from a game that looked dead and gone when Hearts took the lead with just 17 minutes left they're three points that might be title winners at the end of the season. Gordon Strachan's side did exactly the same from a goal behind against Kil-marnock two weeks ago at Rugby Park.

And McManus said: "We never thought it was gone, no. There's a good feeling in the dressing-room.

"We all said it after the game. Every time we go behind we're always confident we can get another goal, whether it's an equaliser or a winner. The self belief is there and it's great to have.

"We came from a goal down a fortnight ago against Kilmarnock and we've done it again. You need that character.

"You're not going to play every single league game and win it comfortably. There will be weeks when you start slow and the opposition comes at you - there will be weeks when you dominate.

"But three points is all that matters and that's what we got.

"Sure, when you're looking at the clock and the minutes go into the 80s you'd settle for a point but you need to have the belief you can get something."

That something was more than the Hoops could have dreamed of after being second best for long spells to a Hearts team who shut down their midfield superbly and took the lead through Andrius Velicka leaving McManus for dead and drilling home from the edge of the box. It looked a cert that the Jambos - the only side to beat Celtic in the league this year - had their third triumph in a row over them in the bag.

But Jiri Jarosik's equaliser and Gordon's bizarre own goal winner widened the gap between them at the top to 13 points.

However, McManus insists Celts might need every one of those over the next 25 games.

He said: "It's a nice cushion but that's all it is. There will be a time where we hit a dip and don't pick up as many points as we'd like.

"But we won't get complacent. We'll stay professional and see what happens.

"It was a decent win, that's all I'll say. I won't be shooting my mouth off that we won.

"Our performance wasn't what it should have been.

"Credit to Hearts. They came with a game plan and did well.

"Then I was lucky enough to pop up with the winner. Aye, too right I'm claiming it! Centre-halves don't get up there too often so I'm taking everything I can get.

"Okay, I thought it wasn't quite going to make it into the net! But it's one of those things. Sometimes you can hit a 20 yarder and Craig Gordon can pull off a world beater of a save and other times you sclaff one and it goes in.

"I couldn't even see the ball go in because there were bodies in front of me."

Taken from the Sunday Mail