Powerful Hearts Defeat Meek The Hoops to Move 8 Points Ahead

Lawrence Shankland seals statement win
The Hearts forward put the seal on the team's emphatic victory

Key points

  • Kyziridis & Shankland earn victory for the hosts and send them eight ahead at the top
  • Celtic's McGregor cancelled out early Murray own goal
  • Hosts go 13 league matches unbeaten for the first occasion in 27 years

The dominant Edinburgh side surged eight ahead of their Glasgow rivals at the summit of the Scottish Premiership to strengthen their early-season title credentials and worsen the malaise around the Celtic team.

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

Dane Murray - among three youth players in the Celtic starting lineup - slashed into his own net in the early stages to put the home side ahead at a bouncing Tynecastle, and it was the 22-year-old's foul that led to the spot-kick.

Callum McGregor's classy first goal of the season had quickly cancelled out the first goal, and Benjamin Nygren almost put Rodgers' team in front, opting for finesse over power and allowing Alexander Schwolow to make a crucial stop.

But Derek McInnes' irrepressible Hearts seized control again to consign the visitors to successive league defeats for the first time since last year.

It also gives the Edinburgh side a significant lead at the top of the table.

The previous occasion they were so far clear was in 2005-06 under George Burley, when they ultimately finished second - a rare instance that a team has not secured the title having held such a lead in the last three decades.

The Hearts coach, whose Aberdeen side were runners-up to the champions on four occasions, has been at pains to play down championship discussions, as Hearts seek their maiden league title since the 1960s.

The Celtic boss has experienced this previously at Celtic - both perfect and shaky beginnings to a season. He's never ended as runner-up.

But on the weekend's performance, this Hearts team showed they deserve serious consideration.

Analysis: The hosts Take Advantage of Weakened Celtic

The Edinburgh side started with the self-assurance of a side unbeaten in the league this season - the popular attacker poked a cross in for Shankland to stab wide.

Celtic didn't help themselves with some uncharacteristic carelessness in possession and they faltered under their initial test.

Claudio Braga's header was touched on to a post by Kasper Schmeichel and the follow-up from Shankland was diverted goalwards by the hapless defender, in for the absent center-back.

The away side grew into the contest and started building moves. From a flowing attack, the midfielder released the full-back to square for the captain, who slotted home.

Match action from the Premiership clash

Aside from the Nygren chance, the visitors struggled to create much for striker Kenny or his replacement Shin Yamada amid the absence of injured forwards their key strikers.

The home team regained their intensity and adaptability in attacking from across the final third. The Greek forward, one of the finds of the club's scouting network, struck low past the goalkeeper from the just outside the area.

Almost straight away, the defender tripped the midfielder in the right side of the box and the penalty taker scored. And it could've been an even more handsome win, had replacement Ageu not been stopped by Schmeichel.

Celtic's second half was somewhat summed up in two incidents involving record signing Arne Engles.

The midfielder's wayward free-kick delivery was in sharp opposition to his European display in the continental victory over Sturm Graz and the national team player was then yellow-carded for a professional foul.

Post-Match Comments

Hearts head coach Derek McInnes: "You see how hard the players work, the togetherness. That's not sufficient on its own to win games week in, week out.

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

"We're in a positive moment at the minute, but it's only three points. It's important for us to keep winning. We've got much work ahead, plenty to improve. After the first two rounds is normally an indication of your standing."

The Celtic boss: "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 do better with the shot.

"Plenty of matches to play for. It's still so early. It's only nine games in. Clearly, being eight adrift is not ideal. The comfort is there's so many games to play.

"We now have to focus on the here and now and look to find more consistency and more quality in our play."

Upcoming Fixtures for Both Sides?

Celtic are returning to their stadium on midweek against promoted side Falkirk (19:45 GMT). At the identical hour in the top division, the Edinburgh outfit are at their opponents' ground.

Star Performer

Number: 89 A. Kyziridis
Player rating 8.65

Hearts Player Scores

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

Visitors Ratings

  • Number: 42 Callum McGregor - Score: 4.02
  • Number: 1 Kasper Schmeichel - Score: 3.85
  • Number: 63 K. Tierney - Score: 3.68
  • Number: 23 Sebastian Tounekti - Score: 3.56
  • Jersey: 5 Liam Scales - Average Rating: 3.43
  • Jersey: 51 C. Donovan - Average Rating: 3.34
  • Number: 8 B. Nygren - Score: 3.28
  • Number: 27 Arne Engels - Score: 3.24
  • Jersey: 49 J. Forrest - Score: 3.10
  • Number: 14 L. McCowan - Average Rating: 3.09
  • Jersey: 41 R. Hatate - Average Rating: 3.05
  • Number:
Aaron Collins
Aaron Collins

Maya Chen is a data scientist and tech writer specializing in AI applications for business analytics and digital transformation.