The Tynecastle side Move 8 Points Ahead Clear at the Pinnacle After Lawrence Shankland's Spot-Kick Sees Off Celtic
We did not witness at their home ground, as it's far too early for such landmarks. What this match did emphasise is that Hearts possess a real strong chance of disrupting Scottish football's long-standing title duopoly. Make that an eight-point lead for the maroon side over their rivals, whom they comfortably swatted aside. Catch them if you can.
Key Moments in the Latter Period
Three second-half minutes were key, following a tight first half that was fiercely fought. What was so notable after they took a 3-1 lead was how untroubled the closing stages of the game was for the home side. Kyziridis scored Hearts’ second, drifting inside before thumping a right-footed shot past the motionless the Celtic keeper. More joy followed in the stands, Dane Murray bringing down Braga for a penalty that Shankland tucked away. Brendan Rodgers appeared frustrated; his problems are mounting.
Fans start to rejoice after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) puts Hearts 2-1 up against Celtic.
The Visitors' Fightback
Celtic bounced back from Hearts’ rapid start. The defender, who endured a torrid afternoon, scored an own goal due to haste when trying to deal with a ball into the box. The Hoops worked their way into the game, leader McGregor, scoring a Kieran Tierney cutback for level terms.
Stubborn Defence
The Hearts goalkeeper Schwolow, who had denied from Benjamin Nygren in the first half, blocked an Engels shot which deflected off Magnússon. Halkett stopped a Shin Yamada attempt in added time. Hearts were otherwise untroubled as the clock ticked down. “We remain resolute” has become the favoured chant at the ground. It's hard to ignore the noise.
- Complete analysis to follow.
