The Tynecastle side Move Eight Points Ahead in Front at the Pinnacle Following Shankland's Penalty Kick Defeats The Hoops
A historic moment didn't occur at Tynecastle Park, as it's far too early for such milestones. This game highlighted is that Heart of Midlothian have a genuine credible shot of breaking Scottish football's 40-year title duopoly. Make that an eight-point lead for the maroon side over Celtic, whom they easily dispatched. Try to chase them down.
Key Moments in the Latter Period
Three second-half minutes were key, after an opening period that was evenly matched. It was remarkable after Hearts surged 3-1 in front was how comfortable the closing stages of the game was for the Tynecastle team. Kyziridis scored Hearts’ second, cutting in from the left before blasting a strike past the stationary the goalkeeper. Delight increased in the stands, the Celtic defender upending the Hearts player for a foul that the captain tucked away. The Celtic manager cut such a disconsolate figure; his problems are mounting.
Fans start to rejoice after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) puts Hearts 2-1 up against the opposition.
Hoops' Reaction
Celtic had actually recovered well from Hearts’ rapid start. The defender, who had a difficult day, scored an own goal due to haste when trying to remove a ball into the box. They gradually fought back into the game, skipper McGregor, finishing a Kieran Tierney cutback for level terms.
Solid Backline
The keeper Schwolow, who had saved superbly from Nygren in the first half, parried an Engels shot which touched Magnússon. Craig Halkett thwarted a Yamada attempt in added time. The hosts faced little else as the clock ticked down. “We remain resolute” has become the favoured chant at Tynecastle. It's hard to ignore the noise.
- Detailed coverage to follow.
