Powerful Heart of Midlothian Overpower Struggling The Hoops to Move 8 Pts Ahead

Lawrence Shankland celebrates impressive victory
The Hearts forward put the seal on Hearts' statement win

At a glance

  • Kyziridis & Shankland secure victory for the hosts and propel them eight ahead at the top
  • Celtic's McGregor equalized early Murray own goal
  • Hearts go 13 league matches without defeat for the first occasion in over two decades

Rampant Hearts powered eight points clear of their Glasgow rivals at the top of the Scottish top flight to bolster their early-season title credentials and worsen the malaise around Brendan Rodgers' side.

A superb goal from Kyziridis and a spot-kick from Shankland gave the Hearts team a two-goal advantage that the title holders could not overcome.

The young defender - among three youth players in the Celtic starting lineup - slashed into his own net early on to put the home side ahead at a bouncing Tynecastle, and it was the 22-year-old's foul that led to the penalty.

A stylish finish from McGregor of the season had quickly cancelled out Hearts' opener, and Benjamin Nygren almost put Celtic in front, choosing placement over power and allowing Alexander Schwolow to make a crucial stop.

But Derek McInnes' irrepressible Hearts regained dominance to consign Celtic to successive league defeats for the initial occasion since last year.

It also gives the Edinburgh side a significant lead at the summit.

The previous occasion they were so far clear was in the 2005-2006 season under their former manager, when they ended as runners-up - one of just four occasions that a team has failed to win the title having held such a lead in the past 27 years.

The Hearts coach, whose Aberdeen side were runners-up to the champions on multiple times, has been working hard to downplay title talk, as the club seek their first top-flight crown since the 1960s.

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

But on Sunday's evidence, this Edinburgh outfit showed they need to be taken seriously.

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 - fans' favourite Kyziridis poked a cross in for Shankland to fire off target.

The Glasgow team didn't help themselves with some unusual sloppiness in possession and they faltered under their initial test.

A headed effort from Braga was tipped onto the woodwork by Kasper Schmeichel and the follow-up from Shankland was diverted goalwards by the unfortunate Murray, in for the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers.

The away side grew into the contest and started building moves. From a flowing attack, Sebastian Tounekti released the full-back to square for the captain, who rolled in.

Match action from Hearts vs Celtic

Apart from the opportunity for Nygren, the visitors struggled to create much for lone frontman Jonny Kenny or his substitute Yamada amid the absence of injured forwards their key strikers.

Hearts regained their intensity and versatility in attacking from across the final third. Kyziridis, a standout performer of the club's scouting network, fired a low shot past Schmeichel from the edge of the box.

Immediately after, Murray fouled the midfielder in the right side of the box and the penalty taker scored. And it could've been an more comprehensive victory, had substitute Ageu not been denied by Schmeichel.

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 European display in the continental victory over their Austrian opponents and the Belgium international was then booked for a professional foul.

What They Said

The Hearts manager: "You see how hard the players work, the togetherness. That's not sufficient on its own to win games consistently.

"Our strength lies in, is skillful players. You're witnessing it from multiple individuals who have been here previously. Recent additions are keen to demonstrate their quality.

"We're in a positive moment at the minute, but it's only three points. It's important for us to maintain this form. We've got loads to do, loads to do. After the first two rounds is typically a benchmark of your standing."

The Celtic boss: "It's a really poor goal from our perspective. We failed to push up when the ball went back as a line so when they play it, they should have players offside but didn't. We have got to do better with the attempt.

"Plenty of matches to play for. It's still so early. It's only nine games in. Obviously, being eight points behind is not what we would want. The positive 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 Both Sides?

The Glasgow club are back at home on midweek against promoted side Falkirk (19:45 GMT). At the same time in the Scottish Premiership, the Edinburgh outfit are at their opponents' ground.

Player of the Match

Number: 89 A. Kyziridis
Average rating 8.65

Team Player Scores

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

Visitors Ratings

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

Cybersecurity specialist with over a decade of experience in threat analysis and digital defense strategies.