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As new signing Kyogo Furuhashi entered the fray late in the second half, misty-eyed Celtic fans would have been dreaming of 2016, Brendan Rodgers and Scott Sinclair's dramatic opening-day winner.

There was to be no fairytale ending to Ange Postecoglou's first Premiership game in charge. For instead of a late Celtic winner it was Hearts who produced match-winning moments at the death.

First defender John Souttar climbed high to head home Michael Smith's swirling free-kick.

John Souttar's 89th-minute header gave newly promoted Hearts all three points against Celtic

Ange Postecoglou cut a frustrated figure as the Hoops conceded a late winner at Tynecastle

And then goalkeeper Craig Gordon, the man between the sticks at the other end five years ago, pulled off stunning stoppage-time saves to deny James Forrest and Carl Starfelt.

Offered a sizeable wage cut to remain a Celtic player last summer, the evidence suggests that the 38-year-old remains a far better bet than any of the keepers currently on the Parkhead books.

Having decided to twist on his goalkeeper by dropping Vasilis Barkas for the midweek Champions League defeat in Denmark, Postecoglou kept Scott Bain in goal for this one the keeper's questionable positioning saw him scramble in vain to get near Souttar's header.

There were no Celtic fans here to witness this, each of the 5272 tickets signed off by City of Edinburgh Council being placed in the hands of a home supporter and, as the stadium announcer likes to advise they made some noise .

Before we got down to business there was the small matter of the trophy presentation and flag unfurling to commemorate Hearts' Championship title win of last season.

Perhaps wisely there was no sign of either SPFL chairman Murdoch MacLennan or chief executive Neil Doncaster for the ceremony as Hearts chair Ann Budge was joined by ceo Andrew Mackinlay for the formalities.

Yet no amount of staged pyrotechnics were ever likely to silence the fireworks as the Hearts support booed the capture of a title they felt unfairly forced into contesting .

With some disgust the support voiced their opinion of the circumstances that saw the club relegated following a vote to curtail the previous campaign.

The locals were treated to their own brand-new face in Beni Baningime, a midfielder with Premier League experience in his legs for previous club Everton.

Operating right in the heart of the action he looks a tidy, street-wise addition to Robbie Neilson's team.

In front of Bain, Postecoglou had boosted the average age of his defence by leaving out Dane Murray and Stephen Welsh.

Gary Mackay-Steven had earlier put Hearts in front as he finished off a flowing team move

In came Starfelt for his debut following his transfer from Rubin Kazan alongside Nir Bitton, back after his European suspension.

Freshly-released from quarantine following his transfer from Japan's Vissel Kobe, 26-year-old Furuhashi was given a seat on the bench.

It should have been Celtic who drew first blood after some enterprising play between Odsonne Edouard and Greg Taylor down the left carved out a chance for David Turnbull. Normally a clean striker of the ball, the former Motherwell man, sliced his effort into the ground and wide.

For all the chat around Kyogo's readiness or otherwise, it was easy to forget that Starfelt too might be undercooked following his own period in isolation.

The Swede had one training session with his new team-mates on Friday and the Hearts forwards looked under clear instructions to get at him.

Starfelt was unconvincing in the concession of the opening goal but he was not a lone culprit. And credit must go to his opposite number John Souttar for stepping in to intercept a loose ball and then possessing the instincts to shuttle the ball forward to Josh Ginnelly, who burrowed straight at – and through – Starfelt and into the box.

Anthony Ralston (left) equalised for the visitors after a fine second-half dribble and finish

The winger fed Liam Boyce, who made a meal of getting the ball out of feet but Bitton's block on the eventual shot merely serviced Gary Mackay-Steven with a tap-in at the back post.

Postecoglou started with Liel Abada on the right and James Forrest on the left but, with Michael Smith and Alex Cochrane tucking in to form a back five on one of the divisions narrowest pitches, neither could make headway.

Odsonne Edoaurd and Callum McGregor both worked their former colleague Craig Gordon but their efforts, in common with Ismaila Soro's long-ranger close to half-time were straight and easy for the keeper to deal with.

Hearts' openings were more promising but the finishing awry with Smith and Cochrane skewing shots wide and Boyce heading over.

Celtic's equaliser came from a most unexpected source. Postecoglou has been encouraging his full-backs to step inside and knit play a role, that has not seemed particularly suited to Tony Ralston. Until now.

But it was Souttar who had the last laugh as the fans - and his team-mates - went crazy

Collecting a pass from Soro, the right-back swapped passes with Edouard before sensing his chance to move forward. One by one, the Hearts challenges failed to meet the defender as he strode past Stephen Kingsley, Souttar and finally Baningime before slotting a composed left-foot finish past Gordon.

It was his first goal since December 2018 and bore hallmarks of Edouard at his best.

Andy Halliday had a pop at restoring Hearts lead but, though powerful, his shot was straight at the gloves of Bain.

With a quarter of an hour remaining both benches threw on some extra firepower.

First to emerge was Hearts' towering striker Armand Gnanduillet, whose presence immediately helped tee up a headed chance for Souttar. Bain saved impressively to his right.

Instead of a late Celtic winner it was Hearts who produced match-winning moments at the death

For Celtic it was time for Furuhashi and Ryan Christie to spice things up and it was the latter who threatened first, arriving at the end of a sweeping move involving Edouard and Forrest to curl a shot that Gordon punched clear.

It was Hearts who found the killer blow. Bitton didn't do enough to challenge Souttar's leap and the header back across goal found the net to a thunderous roar.

That noise was matched in reaction to Gordon's outstanding block to deny the in-rushing Forrest and the goalkeeper added his final touch of class to push away a Starfelt header.