Dominant Hearts Outclass Meek The Hoops to Extend Eight Pts in Front

Hearts striker celebrates impressive victory
Lawrence Shankland secured the team's emphatic victory

Key points

  • Kyziridis & Shankland earn Hearts win and propel them eight points clear at summit
  • Callum McGregor equalized the early own goal by Dane Murray
  • Hearts go 13 games unbeaten for first time in 27 years

Rampant Hearts powered eight points clear of their Glasgow rivals at the summit of the Scottish top flight to strengthen 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 starting lineup - scored an own goal 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.

A stylish finish from McGregor of the season had quickly cancelled out Hearts' opener, and Benjamin Nygren almost put Rodgers' team in front, choosing placement over power and allowing the Hearts keeper to make a crucial stop.

But Derek McInnes' irrepressible Hearts seized control again to hand Celtic to successive league defeats for the initial occasion since last year.

It also gives the Edinburgh side a significant lead at the summit.

The last time they were this far ahead was in 2005-06 under George Burley, when they ultimately finished second - one of just four occasions that a team has not secured the title having held such a lead in the past 27 years.

The Hearts coach, whose former team were second to Celtic on four occasions, has been at pains to downplay championship discussions, as Hearts seek their first top-flight crown since 1960.

Rodgers has seen it all before at the club - both perfect and shaky beginnings to a season. He's yet to finish second best.

But on Sunday's evidence, this Edinburgh outfit showed they deserve serious consideration.

Match Analysis: The hosts Capitalize of Depleted Celtic

The Edinburgh side started with the self-assurance of a side undefeated in the league this season - the popular attacker delivered a ball for the striker to fire off target.

The Glasgow team didn't help themselves with some uncharacteristic carelessness in possession and they buckled under their initial test.

A headed effort from Braga was touched on to a post by Kasper Schmeichel and the follow-up from Shankland was turned into the net by the unfortunate Murray, in for the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers.

The away side found their rhythm and started building moves. From one such move, the midfielder released Tierney to square for McGregor, who rolled in.

Key moment from the Premiership clash

Apart from the Nygren chance, Celtic found it hard to generate chances for striker Kenny or his replacement Shin Yamada amid the absence of stricken attackers their key strikers.

The home team regained their intensity and adaptability in creating chances in the opposition half. Kyziridis, one of the finds of the club's relationship with shareholder Tony Bloom's Jamestown Analytics, struck low past Schmeichel from the just outside the area.

Immediately after, Murray tripped the midfielder in the inside right channel and the penalty taker converted. And it could've been an even more handsome win, had replacement Ageu not been stopped by Schmeichel.

The visitors' performance after the break was partially encapsulated in two incidents involving big-money recruit Engles.

The set-piece from Engles delivery was in stark contrast to his midweek exploits in the Europa League win over Sturm Graz and the national team player was then booked for a professional foul.

What They Said

The Hearts manager: "The effort from the squad is evident, 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 just one win. It's crucial for us to keep winning. We've got much work ahead, plenty to improve. After the first two rounds is normally an indication of where you are."

The Celtic boss: "The second goal was disappointing from our perspective. We didn't move when the ball went back as a defensive unit so when they play it, they ought to be caught offside but didn't. We have got to improve with the shot.

"There's still so many points to play for. It's still so early. It's just nine matches. Clearly, being eight points behind is not ideal. The comfort is there's numerous fixtures to play.

"Our attention must turn on the here and now and look to find more consistency and more quality in our play."

Upcoming Fixtures for These Teams?

Celtic are back at home on midweek against newly-promoted Falkirk (evening kick-off). At the same time in the top division, the Edinburgh outfit are at St Mirren.

Player of the Match

Number: 89 A. Kyziridis
Average rating 8.65

Team Ratings

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

Visitors Ratings

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

A seasoned gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in online casinos, specializing in slot machine mechanics and player strategies.