The Tynecastle side Push 8 Points Clear Clear at the Summit Following Shankland's Spot-Kick Sees Off The Hoops
A historic moment didn't occur at Tynecastle, with it being far too early for such achievements. What this match did emphasise is that the Edinburgh club possess a real credible shot of disrupting Scottish football's 40-year stranglehold. They now lead by eight points for Hearts over their rivals, whom they comfortably swatted aside. Catch them if you can.
Key Moments in the Second Half
Three second-half minutes were key, following a tight first half that was contested closely. The striking aspect after they took a 3-1 lead was how stress-free the remainder of the game was for the hosts. Alexandros Kyziridis scored Hearts’ second, cutting in from the left before firing a powerful effort past the static the Celtic keeper. Soon there was further euphoria in the stands, the Celtic defender fouling the Hearts player for a foul that Lawrence Shankland converted. Brendan Rodgers appeared frustrated; his problems are mounting.
Supporters began celebrating after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) scores to make it 2-1 against the opposition.
Celtic's Response
Celtic had actually recovered well from the hosts' quick opening. Dane Murray, who struggled throughout, turned the ball into his own net due to haste when trying to remove a delivery from Shankland. They gradually fought back into the game, the captain Callum McGregor, scoring a Kieran Tierney pass for 1-1.
Stubborn Defence
The shot-stopper Alexander Schwolow, who had made a brilliant stop from Benjamin Nygren in the first half, kept out an Engels shot which flicked off Magnússon. Craig Halkett blocked a Yamada attempt in added time. The hosts faced little else as the clock ticked down. “We shall not be moved” has become the popular anthem at the stadium. It's hard to ignore the buzz.
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