The Jambos Push 8 Points Ahead Ahead at the Pinnacle After Lawrence Shankland's Penalty Defeats Celtic
A historic moment didn't occur at Tynecastle, as it's far too early for such achievements. What this match did emphasise is that Hearts have a genuine credible shot of breaking Scottish football's four decade-long title duopoly. That advantage stands at eight points for Hearts over their rivals, whom they comfortably swatted aside. Try to chase them down.
Turning Point in the Second Half
Three second-half minutes made the difference, after an opening period that was fiercely fought. The striking aspect after they took a 3-1 lead was how untroubled the rest of the game was for the hosts. Kyziridis netted the second goal, cutting in from the left before firing a powerful effort past the static Kasper Schmeichel. Delight increased in the stands, the Celtic defender fouling Cláudio Braga for a foul that Shankland slotted home. The Celtic manager appeared frustrated; challenges abound for him.
The crowd erupted after Kyziridis (second right) scores to make it 2-1 against Celtic.
Celtic's Response
The away side responded positively from Hearts’ rapid start. Murray, who endured a torrid afternoon, scored an own goal due to haste when trying to remove a Shankland cross. Celtic edged their way back into the game, the captain Callum McGregor, turning home a Tierney pull-back for level terms.
Stubborn Defence
The shot-stopper Alexander Schwolow, who had denied from Nygren in the first half, kept out an Arne Engels shot which touched Tómas Magnússon. Halkett blocked a Yamada attempt in the dying moments. They comfortably saw out the game as the game concluded. “We stand firm” has become the Tynecastle verse of choice at the ground. It's hard to ignore the excitement.
- Complete analysis to follow.
