🔗 Share this article

Rampant Hearts powered eight points clear of Celtic at the top of the Scottish top flight to bolster their early championship claims and worsen the malaise around the Celtic team.

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 recover from.

Dane Murray - one of three youngsters in the Celtic starting lineup - slashed into his own net early on to put Hearts ahead at a energetic their home ground, and it was the youngster's infringement that led to the spot-kick.

Callum McGregor's classy first goal 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 save from close range.

But Derek McInnes' irrepressible Hearts regained dominance to consign Celtic to successive league defeats for the first time since 2023.

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

The previous occasion they were so far clear was in 2005-06 under George Burley, when they ended as runners-up - a rare instance 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 downplay title talk, as the club seek their first top-flight crown since the 1960s.

The Celtic boss has seen it all before at Celtic - 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 need to be taken seriously.

Analysis: Hearts Capitalize of Depleted The Visitors

The Edinburgh side started with the confidence of a side unbeaten in the league this season - the popular attacker delivered a ball for Shankland to fire off target.

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

A headed effort from Braga 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.

Celtic found their rhythm and started building moves. From one such move, Sebastian Tounekti released Tierney to set up the captain, who slotted home.

Apart from the opportunity for Nygren, Celtic found it hard to generate chances for lone frontman Jonny Kenny or his substitute Yamada amid the unavailability of stricken attackers their key strikers.

Hearts rediscovered their energy and versatility in attacking from across the final third. Kyziridis, a standout performer of the club's relationship with shareholder Tony Bloom's Jamestown Analytics, fired a low shot past Schmeichel from the edge of the box.

Immediately after, the defender tripped the midfielder in the right side of the box and Shankland 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 Sturm Graz and the national team player was then yellow-carded for a cynical foul.

Post-Match Comments

Hearts head coach Derek McInnes: "The effort from the squad is evident, the team spirit. That's not always enough to win games consistently.

"Our strength lies in, is good technical ability. You're seeing that from a lot of players who have been here before. Recent additions are keen to demonstrate their quality.

"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, loads to do. Following the initial fixtures is normally an indication of your standing."

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 didn't. We have got to improve with the shot.

"Plenty of matches to play for. It's still so early. It's just nine matches. 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 achieve greater stability and more quality in our play."

Upcoming Fixtures for These Teams?

The Glasgow club are back at home on Wednesday against promoted side Falkirk (evening kick-off). At the same time in the Scottish Premiership, Hearts are at St Mirren.

---