The Jambos Move 8 Points Ahead in Front at the Pinnacle After Lawrence Shankland's Penalty Kick Sees Off Celtic
History wasn't made at Tynecastle, since it's far too early for such milestones. What this match did emphasise is that Hearts possess a real credible shot of ending Scottish football's long-standing title duopoly. That advantage stands at eight points for the team over the visitors, whom they easily dispatched. The challenge is now for others.
Key Moments in the Second Half
A brief but pivotal phase were key, following a tight first half that was evenly matched. What was so notable after Hearts surged 3-1 in front was how comfortable the rest of the game was for the home side. Alexandros Kyziridis scored Hearts’ second, cutting in from the left before blasting a strike past the motionless Kasper Schmeichel. More joy followed in the stands, the Celtic defender upending the Hearts player for a foul that Shankland tucked away. Rodgers looked dejected; challenges abound for him.
The crowd erupted after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) scores to make it 2-1 against Celtic.
Celtic's Response
Celtic had actually recovered well from Hearts’ rapid start. Murray, who had a difficult day, scored an own goal due to haste when trying to remove a ball into the box. Celtic edged their way back into the game, skipper McGregor, turning home a Kieran Tierney pull-back for 1-1.
Solid Backline
The shot-stopper Schwolow, who had denied from Nygren in the first half, blocked an Engels shot which deflected off Magnússon. Craig Halkett blocked a Yamada attempt in stoppage time. They comfortably saw out the game as the clock ticked down. “We stand firm” has become the Tynecastle verse of choice at Tynecastle. One cannot overlook the noise.
- Full report to follow.
