The Jambos Move 8 Points in Front at Top After Shankland's Spot-Kick Defeats Celtic
History wasn't made at Tynecastle, since it's far too early for such milestones. What this match did emphasise is that Heart of Midlothian possess a real credible shot of breaking Scottish football's long-standing dominance by two. Make that an eight-point lead for Hearts over Celtic, whom they decisively beat. Catch them if you can.
Turning Point in the After the Break
A crucial three-minute spell made the difference, following a tight first half that was contested closely. The striking aspect after they took a 3-1 lead was how untroubled the remainder of the game was for the hosts. Alexandros Kyziridis doubled the lead, drifting inside before firing a powerful effort past the motionless the goalkeeper. Soon there was further euphoria in the stands, Dane Murray fouling Cláudio Braga for a penalty that the captain converted. Brendan Rodgers looked dejected; he hardly has his troubles to seek.
The crowd erupted after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) puts Hearts 2-1 up against Celtic.
Celtic's Response
Celtic had actually recovered well from Hearts’ rapid start. The defender, who endured a torrid afternoon, conceded an own goal due to haste when trying to remove a ball into the box. They gradually fought back into the game, the captain Callum McGregor, scoring a Kieran Tierney pass for the equaliser.
Solid Backline
The Hearts goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow, who had denied from Nygren in the first half, kept out an Arne Engels shot which deflected off Magnússon. Halkett blocked a Shin Yamada attempt in the dying moments. The hosts faced little else as the minutes passed. “We stand firm” has become the favoured chant at the stadium. It's hard to ignore the excitement.
- Detailed coverage to follow.
