GLASGOW (Reuters) - Champions Celtic came from a goal down to beat Hearts 2-1 on Sunday and restore their 17 point lead over rivals Rangers in the Scottish Premier League. With Neil Lennon suspended, former Hearts captain Steven Pressley was made Celtic skipper in just his third match since switching clubs.

Hearts took a first half lead thanks to a 30-metre shot from Saulius Mikoliunas. The Lithuanian striker picked up the ball just over the halfway line and pounded forward before unleashing a dipping shot which struck the right post and went into the net. Hearts dominated for long spells and Paul Telfer had to hook Roman Bednar's header off the line on 41 minutes.

However, Celtic stormed back in the second period and levelled through Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink on 59 minutes. The Dutch striker was on hand to turn the ball over the line from two metres out after Craig Gordon had parried an angled shot from substitute Craig Beattie across goal. Jiri Jarosik then scored the winner with nine minutes left with a fierce low shot from the edge of the box which flew across keeper Gordon into the right side of the net.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan celebrated the victory but said their form was far from impressive. "We don't play brilliantly but we keep plugging away, he told BBC radio. "But the beautiful game is hard to play at this time of the year for a variety of reasons."

Hearts manager Valdas Ivanauskas told Setanta TV: "We needed to score a second goal, but Celtic are too clever and too experienced a team to make mistakes. We are five points behind Rangers, but the season is long. Our target is second place."

Celtic now top the SPL standings on 59 points from 24 games while Rangers remain second with 42 from 24 following their 5-0 thrashing of Dundee United on Saturday in new manager Walter Smith's first game in charge.