The Tynecastle side Extend Eight Points Clear at the Pinnacle Following Shankland's Penalty Sees Off The Hoops
We did not witness at Tynecastle, since it's far too early for such achievements. What this match did emphasise is that Heart of Midlothian have a genuine strong chance of disrupting Scottish football's 40-year title duopoly. Make that an eight-point lead for the team over Celtic, whom they decisively beat. Try to chase them down.
Turning Point in the Second Half
A crucial three-minute spell were key, following a tight first half that was evenly matched. What was so notable after they took a 3-1 lead was how stress-free the remainder of the game was for the Tynecastle team. Kyziridis doubled the lead, cutting in from the left before firing a powerful effort past the stationary the goalkeeper. More joy followed in the stands, the Celtic defender fouling the Hearts player for a foul that the captain tucked away. The Celtic manager cut such a disconsolate figure; he hardly has his troubles to seek.
The crowd erupted after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) puts Hearts 2-1 up against the opposition.
The Visitors' Fightback
Celtic bounced back from Hearts’ rapid start. Dane Murray, who had a difficult day, conceded an own goal due to haste when trying to remove a delivery from Shankland. The Hoops worked their way into the game, skipper Callum McGregor, scoring a Tierney pass for level terms.
Hearts' Defensive Resilience
The keeper Schwolow, who had saved superbly from Nygren in the first half, kept out an Arne Engels shot which flicked off Magnússon. Halkett blocked a Shin Yamada attempt in added time. The hosts faced little else as the game concluded. “We stand firm” has become the popular anthem at the stadium. One cannot overlook the buzz.
- Complete analysis to follow.
