The Tynecastle side Push 8 Points Ahead Clear at the Pinnacle Following Lawrence Shankland's Penalty Sees Off The Hoops
A historic moment didn't occur at Tynecastle Park, since it's far too early for such achievements. What this match did emphasise is that Hearts have a genuine credible shot of breaking Scottish football's four decade-long title duopoly. They now lead by eight points for Hearts over Celtic, whom they easily dispatched. Catch them if you can.
Decisive Period in the Second Half
A crucial three-minute spell were key, after an opening period that was fiercely fought. The striking aspect after Hearts surged 3-1 in front was how stress-free the rest of the game was for the Tynecastle team. The Greek winger doubled the lead, moving infield before thumping a right-footed shot past the static the goalkeeper. Soon there was further euphoria in the stands, the Celtic defender fouling the Hearts player for a penalty that Lawrence Shankland converted. Brendan Rodgers looked dejected; challenges abound for him.
Fans start to rejoice after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) gives Hearts the lead against Celtic.
Hoops' Reaction
Celtic had actually recovered well from an early setback. The defender, who endured a torrid afternoon, scored an own goal due to haste when trying to remove a delivery from Shankland. Celtic edged their way back into the game, skipper Callum McGregor, turning home a Tierney pull-back for 1-1.
Stubborn Defence
The shot-stopper Alexander Schwolow, who had denied from Benjamin Nygren in the first half, blocked an Arne Engels shot which flicked off Tómas Magnússon. Craig Halkett stopped a Shin Yamada attempt in the dying moments. They comfortably saw out the game as the clock ticked down. “We remain resolute” has become the favoured chant at the ground. One cannot overlook the buzz.
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