Dominant Heart of Midlothian Defeat Disappointing Celtic to Move Eight Pts Ahead

Lawrence Shankland seals statement win
The Hearts forward secured the team's emphatic victory

Key points

  • Kyziridis & Shankland secure Hearts win and propel them eight ahead at summit
  • Celtic's McGregor equalized early Murray own goal
  • Hosts go 13 league matches unbeaten for first time in 27 years

The dominant Edinburgh side powered eight points clear of Celtic at the top of the Scottish top flight to strengthen their early-season title credentials and worsen the struggles around the Celtic team.

A superb goal from Kyziridis 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 - among three youth players in the Celtic XI - scored an own goal in the early stages 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 spot-kick.

A stylish finish from McGregor 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 Derek McInnes' irrepressible Hearts regained dominance to hand the visitors to back-to-back losses for the initial occasion since last year.

It also gives the Edinburgh side a commanding advantage at the top of the table.

The previous occasion they were this far ahead was in 2005-06 under George Burley, when they ultimately finished second - one of just four occasions that a team has failed to win the title having held such a lead in the last three decades.

McInnes, whose Aberdeen side were runners-up to the champions on multiple times, has been at pains to downplay championship discussions, 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 the weekend's performance, this Edinburgh outfit showed they need to be taken seriously.

Match Analysis: The hosts Capitalize of Depleted The Visitors

The Edinburgh side started with the self-assurance of a side unbeaten in the league this season - fans' favourite Kyziridis delivered a ball for the striker to fire off target.

Celtic didn't help themselves with some unusual sloppiness in possession and they buckled under their initial test.

Claudio Braga's header was tipped onto the woodwork by the Celtic keeper and Shankland's return ball was turned into the net by the hapless defender, in for the absent center-back.

The away side found their rhythm and started stringing passes together. From a flowing attack, Sebastian Tounekti released the full-back to square for the captain, who slotted home.

Key moment from Hearts vs Celtic

Aside from the Nygren chance, Celtic struggled to create much for striker Kenny or his substitute Yamada amid the unavailability of stricken attackers 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, struck low past the goalkeeper from the edge of the box.

Immediately after, Murray tripped Braga in the right side of the box and the penalty taker scored. And it could've been an even more handsome win, had replacement Ageu not been stopped by the shot-stopper.

The visitors' performance after the break was somewhat summed up in a couple of moments 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 sufficient on its own to win games week in, week out.

"What we have got, is good technical ability. You're witnessing it 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 just one win. It's important for us to maintain this form. We've got much work ahead, plenty to improve. After the first two rounds is typically a benchmark of where you are."

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "The second goal was disappointing from our perspective. We failed to push up when the ball went back as a defensive unit so when they play it, they should have players offside but weren't. We have got to improve with the attempt.

"Plenty of matches to play for. It's only the beginning. It's only nine games in. Clearly, 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 here and now and look to find more consistency and more quality in our play."

Upcoming Fixtures for These Teams?

The Glasgow club are returning to their stadium on Wednesday against promoted side Falkirk (evening kick-off). At the identical hour in the Scottish Premiership, the Edinburgh outfit are at St Mirren.

Star Performer

Jersey: 89 Alexandros Kyziridis
Average rating 8.65

Hearts Player Scores

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

Visitors Ratings

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

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