Rampant Heart of Midlothian Outclass Meek Celtic to Move 8 Pts Clear

Hearts striker seals statement win
Lawrence Shankland put the seal on Hearts' statement win

Key points

  • Hearts' attacking duo earn Hearts win and propel them eight points clear at summit
  • Callum McGregor equalized early Murray own goal
  • Hosts extend 13 league matches without defeat for the first occasion in over two decades

The dominant Edinburgh side powered eight ahead of Celtic at the summit of the Scottish top flight to bolster their early title credentials and worsen the malaise around the Celtic team.

A superb goal from Kyziridis and a spot-kick from Shankland gave Derek McInnes' side a 3-1 lead that the title holders could not recover from.

Dane Murray - one of three youngsters in the Celtic XI - scored an own goal early on to put the home side ahead at a energetic their home ground, and it was the 22-year-old's foul that led to the penalty.

Callum McGregor's classy first goal of the season had quickly cancelled out the first goal, and the Swedish attacker almost put Celtic in front, choosing placement over power and allowing Alexander Schwolow to save from close range.

But the unstoppable Hearts side seized control again to hand Celtic to successive league defeats for the first time since last year.

It also gives the Edinburgh side a significant lead at the top of the table.

The previous occasion they were this far ahead was in the 2005-2006 season under George Burley, when they ended as runners-up - one of just four occasions that a team has failed to win the title after building such an advantage in the past 27 years.

McInnes, whose Aberdeen side were second to Celtic on four occasions, has been at pains to downplay championship discussions, as Hearts seek their first top-flight crown since the 1960s.

The Celtic boss has experienced this previously at the club - both flawless and stuttering starts to a season. He's never ended as runner-up.

But on the weekend's performance, this Edinburgh outfit showed they deserve serious consideration.

Analysis: Hearts Take Advantage of Weakened Celtic

The Edinburgh side started with the confidence of a side unbeaten in the league this season - the popular attacker poked a cross in for the striker to fire off target.

The Glasgow team didn't aid their cause with some unusual sloppiness in possession and they faltered under their first real examination.

A headed effort from Braga was tipped onto the woodwork by Kasper Schmeichel and Shankland's return ball was diverted goalwards by the hapless defender, in for the absent center-back.

Celtic grew into the contest and started stringing passes together. From a flowing attack, Sebastian Tounekti released the full-back to set up McGregor, who slotted home.

Key moment from Hearts vs Celtic

Aside from the Nygren chance, the visitors struggled to create much for lone frontman Jonny Kenny or his substitute Yamada amid the unavailability of injured forwards Kelechi Iheanacho and Daizen Maeda.

The home team regained their intensity and adaptability in creating chances in the opposition half. The Greek forward, one of the finds of the club's scouting network, fired a low shot past the goalkeeper from the just outside the area.

Immediately after, Murray tripped Braga in the inside right channel and Shankland converted. And it could've been an more comprehensive victory, had replacement Ageu not been stopped by the shot-stopper.

Celtic's second half was partially encapsulated in two incidents involving big-money recruit Engles.

The set-piece from Engles delivery was in sharp opposition to his midweek exploits in the Europa League win over their Austrian opponents and the Belgium international was then yellow-carded for a cynical foul.

What They Said

The Hearts manager: "You see how hard the players work, the togetherness. That's not always enough to win games week in, week out.

"What we have got, is skillful players. You're witnessing it from multiple individuals who have been here before. Recent additions are eager to show that.

"We're in a positive moment at the minute, but it's just one win. It's crucial for us to keep winning. We've got much work ahead, loads to do. After the first two rounds is typically a benchmark of your standing."

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "The second goal was disappointing from our perspective. We didn't move when the ball went back as a line so when they play it, they ought to be caught offside but weren't. We have got to do better with the shot.

"There's still so many points to play for. It's still so early. It's only nine games in. Obviously, being eight adrift is not what we would want. The positive is there's so many games to play.

"We now have to focus on the present and look to find more consistency and better performance in our play."

Upcoming Fixtures for Both Sides?

The Glasgow club are back at home on midweek against promoted side Falkirk (evening kick-off). At the same time in the top division, the Edinburgh outfit are at St Mirren.

Player of the Match

Jersey: 89 A. Kyziridis
Average rating 8.65

Team Ratings

  • Jersey: 89 Alexandros Kyziridis - Score: 8.65
  • Number: 9 L. Shankland - Score: 8.40
  • Jersey: 4 Craig Halkett - Average Rating: 8.30
  • Jersey: 10 Cláudio Braga - Average Rating: 8.27
  • Number: 14 Cameron Devlin - Score: 8.22
  • Jersey: 6 B. Baningime - Score: 8.16
  • Jersey: 19 S. Findlay - Average Rating: 8.07
  • Number: 3 Stephen Kingsley - Average Rating: 8.06
  • Number: 18 Harry Milne - Score: 8.05
  • Number: 25 Alexander Schwolow - Score: 8.04
  • Number: 31 Owen McEntee - Score: 7.74
  • Jersey: 40 Ageu - Score: 7.35
  • Jersey: 7 E. Kabangu - Average Rating: 7.22
  • Jersey: 22 Theodor Magnússon - Average Rating: 7.05
  • Jersey: 15 M. Steinwender - Score: 7.01
  • Jersey: 5 Jamie McCart - Average Rating: 6.82

Celtic Player Scores

  • Number: 42 Callum McGregor - Score: 4.02
  • Jersey: 1 Kasper Schmeichel - Average Rating: 3.85
  • Number: 63 K. Tierney - Score: 3.68
  • Jersey: 23 Sebastian Tounekti - Score: 3.56
  • Number: 5 L. Scales - Average Rating: 3.43
  • Jersey: 51 C. Donovan - Score: 3.34
  • Number: 8 B. Nygren - Average Rating: 3.28
  • Jersey: 27 Arne Engels - Score: 3.24
  • Number: 49 James Forrest - Average Rating: 3.10
  • Number: 14 Liam McCowan - Score: 3.09
  • Number: 41 R. Hatate - Average Rating: 3.05
  • Jersey:
Eddie Evans
Eddie Evans

A seasoned gambling analyst with over a decade of experience in casino gaming and strategy development.