Powerful Hearts Overpower Struggling Celtic to Move Eight Pts in Front
Match summary
- Hearts' attacking duo secure victory for the hosts and send them eight ahead at the top
- Callum McGregor cancelled out the early own goal by Dane Murray
- Hosts extend 13 games without defeat for the first occasion in 27 years
The dominant Edinburgh side powered eight points clear of Celtic at the summit of the Scottish Premiership to bolster their early championship claims and deepen the malaise around Brendan Rodgers' side.
Alexandros Kyziridis' fine strike and a spot-kick from Shankland gave Derek McInnes' side a two-goal advantage that the title holders could not recover from.
The young defender - one of three youngsters in the Celtic XI - scored an own goal in the early stages to put Hearts ahead at a energetic Tynecastle, and it was the 22-year-old's foul that led to the penalty.
Callum McGregor's classy first goal of the season had swiftly equalized the first goal, and the Swedish attacker almost put Celtic in front, choosing placement over power and allowing the Hearts keeper to save from close range.
But Derek McInnes' irrepressible Hearts seized control again to consign Celtic to back-to-back losses for the first time since last year.
It also gives the Hearts a significant lead at the summit.
The previous occasion they were so far clear was in 2005-06 under their former manager, 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 last three decades.
The Hearts coach, whose former team were runners-up to the champions on multiple times, has been working hard to play down title talk, as the club seek their maiden league title since 1960.
Rodgers has experienced this previously at the club - both perfect and shaky beginnings to a season. He's yet to finish second best.
But on the weekend's performance, this Edinburgh outfit showed they deserve serious consideration.
Match Analysis: The hosts Take Advantage of Depleted The Visitors
Hearts started with the self-assurance of a side undefeated in the league this season - the popular attacker delivered a ball for Shankland to stab wide.
Celtic didn't aid their cause with some uncharacteristic carelessness in possession and they faltered under their initial test.
Claudio Braga's header was tipped onto the woodwork by the Celtic keeper and the follow-up from Shankland was diverted goalwards by the hapless defender, in for the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers.
The away side found their rhythm and started stringing passes together. From a flowing attack, the midfielder released the full-back to set up McGregor, who rolled in.
Aside from the opportunity for Nygren, Celtic struggled to create much for lone frontman Jonny Kenny or his replacement Shin Yamada amid the unavailability of stricken attackers Kelechi Iheanacho and Daizen Maeda.
The home team regained their intensity and adaptability in attacking from across the final third. The Greek forward, a standout performer of the club's relationship with shareholder Tony Bloom's Jamestown Analytics, fired a low shot past the goalkeeper from the edge of the box.
Immediately after, Murray tripped the midfielder in the inside right channel and the penalty taker converted. And it could've been an even more handsome win, had substitute Ageu not been denied by Schmeichel.
The visitors' performance after the break was somewhat summed up in two incidents involving big-money recruit Engles.
The midfielder's wayward free-kick delivery was in sharp opposition to his European display in the Europa League win over their Austrian opponents and the Belgium international was then booked for a professional foul.
What They Said
The Hearts manager: "The effort from the squad is evident, the togetherness. That's not sufficient on its own to win games week in, week out.
"Our strength lies in, is skillful players. You're seeing that from multiple individuals who have been here before. Recent additions are eager to show that.
"We've got a good thing going at the minute, but it's only three points. It's important for us to maintain this form. We've got loads to do, plenty to improve. Following the initial fixtures is typically a benchmark of your standing."
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "It's a really poor goal from our perspective. We didn't move when the ball went back as a defensive unit so when they play it, they ought to be caught offside but didn't. We have got to do better with the attempt.
"Plenty of matches to play for. It's only the beginning. It's just nine matches. Clearly, being eight points behind is not what we would want. The comfort is there's numerous fixtures to play.
"We now have to focus on the present and look to find more consistency and better performance in our play."
What's Next for These Teams?
Celtic are back at home on midweek against promoted side Falkirk (evening kick-off). At the identical hour in the top division, Hearts are at St Mirren.
Star Performer
Hearts Player Scores
- Number: 89 A. Kyziridis - Average Rating: 8.65
- Number: 9 L. Shankland - Average Rating: 8.40
- Jersey: 4 C. Halkett - Score: 8.30
- Jersey: 10 Cláudio Braga - Score: 8.27
- Number: 14 C. Devlin - Average Rating: 8.22
- Jersey: 6 Beni Baningime - Average Rating: 8.16
- Jersey: 19 Stuart Findlay - Average Rating: 8.07
- Jersey: 3 S. Kingsley - Score: 8.06
- Jersey: 18 Harry Milne - Score: 8.05
- Jersey: 25 A. Schwolow - Score: 8.04
- Jersey: 31 Owen McEntee - Average Rating: 7.74
- Jersey: 40 Ageu - Score: 7.35
- Jersey: 7 Eliezer Kabangu - Score: 7.22
- Jersey: 22 T. Magnússon - Score: 7.05
- Number: 15 M. Steinwender - Average Rating: 7.01
- Jersey: 5 J. McCart - Average Rating: 6.82
Celtic Ratings
- Number: 42 C. McGregor - Average Rating: 4.02
- Jersey: 1 Kasper Schmeichel - Score: 3.85
- Number: 63 Kieran Tierney - Average Rating: 3.68
- Jersey: 23 S. Tounekti - Average Rating: 3.56
- Number: 5 L. Scales - Score: 3.43
- Number: 51 C. Donovan - Score: 3.34
- Jersey: 8 B. Nygren - Average Rating: 3.28
- Number: 27 A. Engels - Average Rating: 3.24
- Number: 49 J. Forrest - Score: 3.10
- Number: 14 Liam McCowan - Score: 3.09
- Number: 41 R. Hatate - Average Rating: 3.05
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