Rampant Hearts Overpower Meek The Hoops to Move Eight Points Clear

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

Match summary

  • Kyziridis & Shankland earn Hearts win and propel them eight points clear at the top
  • Celtic's McGregor equalized early Murray own goal
  • Hearts go 13 games without defeat for the first occasion in 27 years

Rampant Hearts surged eight ahead of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership to bolster their early-season championship claims and deepen the struggles around the Celtic team.

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

The young defender - among three youth players 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 spot-kick.

Callum McGregor's classy first goal of the season had swiftly equalized Hearts' opener, and the Swedish attacker almost put Rodgers' team in front, choosing placement over power and allowing Alexander Schwolow to make a crucial stop.

But Derek McInnes' irrepressible Hearts seized control again to consign the visitors to back-to-back losses for the first time since last year.

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

The previous occasion they were this far ahead was in 2005-06 under George Burley, when they ultimately finished second - a rare instance that a team has not secured the title after building such an advantage in the past 27 years.

McInnes, whose Aberdeen side were runners-up to the champions on four occasions, has been at pains to downplay championship discussions, as the club seek their maiden league title since 1960.

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

But on the weekend's performance, this Hearts team showed they need to be taken seriously.

Analysis: Hearts Capitalize of Depleted Celtic

The Edinburgh side started with the self-assurance of a side undefeated in the league this season - fans' favourite Kyziridis delivered a ball for Shankland to stab wide.

Celtic didn't help themselves with some uncharacteristic carelessness in possession and they buckled under their first real examination.

Claudio Braga's header was tipped onto the woodwork by Kasper Schmeichel and the follow-up from Shankland was turned into the net by the hapless defender, in for the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers.

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

Key moment from the Premiership clash

Aside from the Nygren chance, the visitors found it hard to generate chances for striker Kenny or his replacement Shin Yamada amid the unavailability of injured forwards their key strikers.

Hearts regained their intensity and adaptability in attacking from across the final third. The Greek forward, a standout performer of the club's relationship with shareholder Tony Bloom's Jamestown Analytics, fired a low shot past the goalkeeper from the just outside the area.

Almost straight away, the defender fouled Braga in the inside right channel and Shankland converted. And it could've been an more comprehensive victory, had substitute Ageu not been denied by Schmeichel.

The visitors' performance after the break was somewhat summed up in a couple of moments involving big-money recruit Engles.

The set-piece from Engles delivery was in sharp opposition to his midweek exploits in the continental victory over Sturm Graz and the national team player was then booked for a professional foul.

Post-Match Comments

Hearts head coach Derek McInnes: "You see how hard the players work, the team spirit. That's not always enough to win games consistently.

"What we have got, is good technical ability. You're witnessing it from multiple individuals who have been here before. Some of the new signings are eager to show that.

"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, loads to do. Following the initial fixtures is typically a benchmark of your standing."

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "It's a really poor goal from our perspective. We failed to push up when the play was recycled as a line so when they pass the ball, they ought to be caught offside but weren't. We have got to do better with the attempt.

"There's still so many points to play for. It's only the beginning. It's just nine matches. Clearly, being eight adrift 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 more quality in our play."

Upcoming Fixtures for These Teams?

The Glasgow club are returning to their stadium on midweek against newly-promoted Falkirk (evening kick-off). At the identical hour in the Scottish Premiership, Hearts are at their opponents' ground.

Player of the Match

Number: 89 A. Kyziridis
Player rating 8.65

Hearts Ratings

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

Visitors Ratings

  • Jersey: 42 Callum McGregor - Score: 4.02
  • Jersey: 1 Kasper Schmeichel - Score: 3.85
  • Number: 63 Kieran Tierney - Score: 3.68
  • Number: 23 Sebastian Tounekti - Score: 3.56
  • Jersey: 5 Liam Scales - Average Rating: 3.43
  • Jersey: 51 Cillian Donovan - Average Rating: 3.34
  • Jersey: 8 B. Nygren - Average Rating: 3.28
  • Jersey: 27 A. Engels - Average Rating: 3.24
  • Jersey: 49 James Forrest - Score: 3.10
  • Jersey: 14 Liam McCowan - Average Rating: 3.09
  • Jersey: 41 R. Hatate - Average Rating: 3.05
  • Jersey:
Christine Carey
Christine Carey

A cultural historian and critic with a passion for uncovering timeless themes in modern artistic expressions.