Powerful Hearts Overpower Disappointing The Hoops to Extend 8 Points in Front

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

Match summary

  • Hearts' attacking duo earn Hearts win and send them eight points clear at the top
  • Callum McGregor equalized early Murray own goal
  • Hearts go 13 games unbeaten for the first occasion in 27 years

The dominant Edinburgh side surged eight ahead of their Glasgow rivals at the summit of the Scottish top flight to strengthen their early-season title credentials and deepen the struggles around Brendan Rodgers' side.

Alexandros Kyziridis' fine strike and a spot-kick from Shankland gave the Hearts team a 3-1 lead that the title holders could not recover from.

The young defender - among three youth players in the Celtic starting lineup - scored an own goal in the early stages to put the home side ahead at a bouncing their home ground, and it was the youngster's infringement that led to the spot-kick.

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

But Derek McInnes' irrepressible Hearts regained dominance to hand Celtic to back-to-back losses for the initial occasion 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 ended as runners-up - a rare instance that a team has not secured the title after building such an advantage in the last three decades.

McInnes, whose Aberdeen side were second to Celtic on four occasions, has been at pains to downplay title talk, as the club seek their maiden league title since 1960.

Rodgers has seen it all before at the club - both flawless and stuttering starts to a season. He's yet to finish second best.

But on Sunday's evidence, this Edinburgh outfit showed they deserve serious consideration.

Analysis: The hosts Capitalize of Depleted The Visitors

Hearts started with the self-assurance of a side unbeaten in the league this season - fans' favourite Kyziridis delivered a ball for the striker to fire off target.

Celtic didn't aid their cause with some unusual sloppiness in possession and they buckled under their first real examination.

Claudio Braga's header was tipped onto the woodwork by the Celtic keeper and the follow-up from Shankland was diverted goalwards by the hapless defender, in for the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers.

The away side grew into the contest and started stringing passes together. From one such move, Sebastian Tounekti released Tierney to square for McGregor, who slotted home.

Key moment from the Premiership clash

Apart from the opportunity for Nygren, Celtic struggled to create much for striker Kenny or his replacement Shin Yamada amid the absence of stricken attackers their key strikers.

The home team rediscovered their energy and versatility in creating chances in the opposition half. Kyziridis, one of the finds of the club's relationship with shareholder Tony Bloom's Jamestown Analytics, struck low past the goalkeeper from the edge of the box.

Almost straight away, Murray tripped Braga in the inside right channel and the penalty taker converted. And it could've been an more comprehensive victory, had replacement Ageu not been stopped by Schmeichel.

The visitors' performance after the break was somewhat summed up in two incidents involving big-money recruit Engles.

The set-piece from Engles delivery was in stark contrast to his European display in the continental victory over Sturm Graz and the national team player was then booked for a cynical foul.

What They Said

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

"Our strength lies in, is good technical ability. You're witnessing it from a lot of players 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 just one win. It's crucial for us to maintain this form. We've got loads to do, plenty to improve. Following the initial fixtures is typically a benchmark of where you are."

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "It's a really poor goal from our perspective. We didn't move when the play was recycled as a defensive unit so when they pass the ball, they should have players offside but weren't. We have got to improve with the attempt.

"Plenty of matches to play for. It's still so early. It's only nine games in. Clearly, being eight adrift is not what we would want. The positive is there's so many games to play.

"We now have to focus on the present and look to achieve greater stability and better performance in our play."

Upcoming Fixtures for Both Sides?

The Glasgow club are returning to their stadium on Wednesday against promoted side Falkirk (19:45 GMT). At the identical hour in the Scottish Premiership, Hearts are at St Mirren.

Player of the Match

Number: 89 Alexandros Kyziridis
Average rating 8.65

Hearts Player Scores

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

Celtic Player Scores

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