Rampant Hearts Overpower Struggling The Hoops to Go 8 Pts in Front

Hearts striker celebrates impressive victory
Lawrence Shankland put the seal on the team's emphatic victory

Match summary

  • Kyziridis & Shankland secure Hearts win and propel them eight ahead at summit
  • Celtic's McGregor equalized the early own goal by Dane Murray
  • Hearts extend 13 league matches unbeaten for the first occasion in over two decades

The dominant Edinburgh side powered eight ahead of their Glasgow rivals at the summit of the Scottish top flight to bolster their early-season title credentials and deepen the struggles around Brendan Rodgers' side.

A superb goal from Kyziridis and a spot-kick from Shankland gave Derek McInnes' side a 3-1 lead that the title holders could not recover from.

The young defender - one of three youngsters in the Celtic XI - slashed into his own net early on to put the home side ahead at a energetic Tynecastle, and it was the 22-year-old's foul that led to the penalty.

Callum McGregor's classy first goal of the season had swiftly equalized the first goal, and Benjamin Nygren almost put Rodgers' team in front, opting for finesse over power and allowing Alexander Schwolow to save from close range.

But the unstoppable Hearts side regained dominance to hand the visitors to successive league defeats for the first time since last year.

It also gives the Hearts a significant lead at the summit.

The last time they were so far clear was in the 2005-2006 season under George Burley, when they ended as runners-up - a rare instance that a team has failed to win the title having held such a lead in the last three decades.

McInnes, whose former team were runners-up to the champions on four occasions, has been at pains to downplay championship discussions, as Hearts seek their first top-flight crown since 1960.

The Celtic boss has seen it all before at the club - 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.

Analysis: The hosts Capitalize of Weakened The Visitors

The Edinburgh side started with the confidence of a side undefeated in the league this season - fans' favourite Kyziridis poked a cross in for Shankland to stab wide.

Celtic 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 Shankland's return ball was turned into the net by the hapless defender, in for the absent center-back.

Celtic grew into the contest and started stringing passes together. From a flowing attack, Sebastian Tounekti released Tierney to set up the captain, who rolled in.

Match action from Hearts vs Celtic

Apart from the Nygren chance, Celtic struggled to create much for lone frontman Jonny Kenny or his replacement Shin Yamada amid the absence of stricken attackers their key strikers.

Hearts regained their intensity and versatility in attacking from across the final third. The Greek forward, one of the finds of the club's relationship with shareholder Tony Bloom's Jamestown Analytics, struck low past the goalkeeper from the just outside the area.

Almost straight away, the defender fouled Braga in the right side of the box and the penalty taker converted. And it could've been an even more handsome win, had substitute Ageu not been stopped by the shot-stopper.

The visitors' performance after the break was partially encapsulated in two incidents involving record signing Arne Engles.

The midfielder's wayward free-kick delivery was in stark contrast to his midweek exploits in the continental victory over their Austrian opponents and the Belgium international was then booked for a professional foul.

What They Said

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

"What we have got, is skillful players. 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 keep winning. We've got loads to do, plenty to improve. Following the initial fixtures is typically a benchmark of where you are."

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "The second goal was disappointing from our perspective. We didn't move when the play was recycled as a line so when they play it, they ought to be caught offside but weren't. We have got to improve with the shot.

"Plenty of matches to play for. It's still so early. It's only nine games in. Obviously, being eight points behind is not ideal. The positive is there's numerous fixtures to play.

"Our attention must turn on the here and now and look to achieve greater stability and better performance in our play."

Upcoming Fixtures for Both Sides?

Celtic are back at home on midweek against newly-promoted Falkirk (evening kick-off). At the identical hour in the top division, the Edinburgh outfit are at their opponents' ground.

Player of the Match

Number: 89 A. Kyziridis
Player rating 8.65

Team Player Scores

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

Celtic Ratings

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

A technology strategist with over a decade of experience in digital innovation and startup ecosystems across Europe.