The Tynecastle side Extend 8 Points Clear at the Summit After Lawrence Shankland's Penalty Sees Off Celtic
A historic moment didn't occur at Tynecastle, as it's far too early for such achievements. What this match did emphasise is that Heart of Midlothian have a genuine strong chance of breaking Scottish football's 40-year dominance by two. Make that an eight-point lead for the team over the visitors, whom they easily dispatched. Try to chase them down.
Decisive Period in the After the Break
A crucial three-minute spell proved decisive, following a tight first half that was contested closely. What was so notable after they took a 3-1 lead was how stress-free the remainder of the game was for the hosts. Kyziridis doubled the lead, moving infield before blasting a strike past the static the goalkeeper. Soon there was further euphoria in the stands, Murray bringing down Braga for a spot-kick that Shankland tucked away. Brendan Rodgers cut such a disconsolate figure; he hardly has his troubles to seek.
The crowd erupted after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) puts Hearts 2-1 up against the opposition.
The Visitors' Fightback
Celtic had actually recovered well from an early setback. The defender, who struggled throughout, turned the ball into his own net due to confusion when trying to deal with a delivery from Shankland. The Hoops worked their way into the game, skipper McGregor, turning home a Tierney pull-back for level terms.
Hearts' Defensive Resilience
The keeper Alexander Schwolow, who had made a brilliant stop from Nygren in the first half, parried an Engels shot which flicked off Magnússon. Halkett stopped a Yamada attempt in stoppage time. They comfortably saw out the game as the clock ticked down. “We remain resolute” has become the Tynecastle verse of choice at the ground. It is becoming increasingly difficult the excitement.
- Complete analysis to follow.
