The Jambos Move 8 Points Ahead Clear at the Pinnacle Following Shankland's Penalty Kick Overcomes The Hoops
History wasn't made at their home ground, since it's far too early for such milestones. What this match did emphasise is that Hearts possess a real credible shot of ending Scottish football's 40-year title duopoly. That advantage stands at eight points for the team over the visitors, whom they easily dispatched. Try to chase them down.
Turning Point in the After the Break
A brief but pivotal phase made the difference, after an opening period that was contested closely. What was so notable after they extended their advantage was how stress-free the rest of the game was for the Tynecastle team. Kyziridis doubled the lead, drifting inside before blasting a strike past the stationary the Celtic keeper. Delight increased in the stands, Dane Murray upending Cláudio Braga for a foul that Lawrence Shankland slotted home. Brendan Rodgers looked dejected; his problems are mounting.
Fans start to rejoice after Kyziridis (second right) puts Hearts 2-1 up against the opposition.
Hoops' Reaction
Celtic bounced back from the hosts' quick opening. The defender, who had a difficult day, scored an own goal due to confusion when trying to deal with a ball into the box. The Hoops worked their way into the game, leader Callum McGregor, scoring a Tierney cutback for 1-1.
Solid Backline
The Hearts goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow, who had saved superbly from Benjamin Nygren in the first half, kept out an Engels shot which touched Tómas Magnússon. Halkett stopped a Yamada attempt in added time. The hosts faced little else as the minutes passed. “We remain resolute” has become the Tynecastle verse of choice at Tynecastle. One cannot overlook the excitement.
- Complete analysis to follow.
