Dominant Hearts Overpower Struggling The Hoops to Move Eight Points in Front
Match summary
- Kyziridis & Shankland earn Hearts win and send them eight points clear at the top
- Celtic's McGregor equalized the early own goal by Dane Murray
- Hearts extend 13 games without defeat for first time in over two decades
The dominant Edinburgh side surged eight points clear of Celtic at the summit of the Scottish top flight to bolster their early-season title credentials and deepen the struggles around Brendan Rodgers' side.
A superb goal from Kyziridis and a spot-kick from Shankland gave Derek McInnes' side a 3-1 lead that the title holders could not overcome.
The young defender - among three youth players in the Celtic starting lineup - scored an own goal early on to put Hearts ahead at a bouncing Tynecastle, and it was the 22-year-old's foul that led to the penalty.
Callum McGregor's classy first goal of the season had quickly cancelled out the first goal, and Benjamin Nygren almost put Rodgers' team in front, choosing placement over power and allowing Alexander Schwolow to save from close range.
But the unstoppable Hearts side regained dominance to hand the visitors to successive league defeats for the initial occasion since last year.
It also gives the Edinburgh side a commanding advantage at the top of the table.
The previous occasion they were so far clear was in 2005-06 under their former manager, when they ultimately finished second - one of just four occasions that a team has not secured the title after building such an advantage in the past 27 years.
McInnes, whose Aberdeen side were runners-up to the champions on four occasions, has been working hard to downplay title talk, as the club seek their first top-flight crown since the 1960s.
The Celtic boss has seen it all before at the club - both flawless and stuttering starts to a season. He's never ended as runner-up.
But on the weekend's performance, this Hearts team showed they need to be taken seriously.
Match Analysis: Hearts Capitalize of Weakened The Visitors
The Edinburgh side started with the self-assurance of a side undefeated in the league this season - the popular attacker delivered a ball for Shankland to fire off target.
The Glasgow team didn't help themselves with some unusual sloppiness in possession and they faltered under their first real examination.
A headed effort from Braga was touched on to a post by the Celtic keeper and Shankland's return ball 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 the captain, who slotted home.
Apart from the Nygren chance, the visitors found it hard to generate chances for striker Kenny or his replacement Shin Yamada amid the unavailability of injured forwards their key strikers.
Hearts rediscovered their energy and versatility in attacking from across the final third. Kyziridis, one of the finds of the club's relationship with shareholder Tony Bloom's Jamestown Analytics, fired a low shot past the goalkeeper from the just outside the area.
Almost straight away, Murray tripped Braga in the inside right channel and the penalty taker converted. And it could've been an even more handsome win, had replacement Ageu not been denied by Schmeichel.
Celtic's second half was partially encapsulated in two incidents involving record signing Arne Engles.
The set-piece from Engles delivery was in stark contrast to his midweek exploits in the Europa League win over their Austrian opponents and the national team player was then booked for a cynical foul.
Post-Match Comments
Hearts head coach Derek McInnes: "You see how hard the players work, the togetherness. That's not always enough to win games week in, week out.
"Our strength lies in, is skillful players. You're witnessing it from multiple individuals who have been here before. Recent additions are keen to demonstrate their quality.
"We've got a good thing going at the minute, but it's only three points. It's important for us to keep winning. We've got much work ahead, plenty to improve. After the first two rounds is typically a benchmark of where you are."
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "It's a really poor goal from our perspective. We failed to push up when the ball went back as a line so when they pass the ball, they ought to be caught offside but didn't. We have got to improve with the shot.
"Plenty of matches to play for. It's only the beginning. It's just nine matches. Obviously, being eight points behind is not what we would want. The comfort 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."
What's Next for Both Sides?
Celtic are returning to their stadium on midweek against promoted side Falkirk (19:45 GMT). At the identical hour in the top division, the Edinburgh outfit are at St Mirren.
Player of the Match
Hearts Ratings
- Jersey: 89 Alexandros Kyziridis - Score: 8.65
- Jersey: 9 L. Shankland - Score: 8.40
- Jersey: 4 C. Halkett - Score: 8.30
- Jersey: 10 Braga - Average Rating: 8.27
- Jersey: 14 Cameron Devlin - Score: 8.22
- Number: 6 Beni Baningime - Score: 8.16
- Jersey: 19 Stuart Findlay - Score: 8.07
- Jersey: 3 S. Kingsley - Score: 8.06
- Jersey: 18 Harry Milne - Score: 8.05
- Number: 25 A. Schwolow - Score: 8.04
- Jersey: 31 Owen McEntee - Average Rating: 7.74
- Jersey: 40 Ageu - Score: 7.35
- Jersey: 7 E. Kabangu - Average Rating: 7.22
- Jersey: 22 Theodor Magnússon - Score: 7.05
- Number: 15 Maximilian Steinwender - Score: 7.01
- Jersey: 5 Jamie McCart - Score: 6.82
Visitors Ratings
- Jersey: 42 C. McGregor - Score: 4.02
- Jersey: 1 Kasper Schmeichel - Score: 3.85
- Number: 63 K. Tierney - Score: 3.68
- Jersey: 23 S. Tounekti - Average Rating: 3.56
- Number: 5 Liam Scales - Average Rating: 3.43
- Number: 51 C. Donovan - Score: 3.34
- Number: 8 B. Nygren - Average Rating: 3.28
- Number: 27 A. Engels - Average Rating: 3.24
- Number: 49 J. Forrest - Average Rating: 3.10
- Jersey: 14 L. McCowan - Score: 3.09
- Number: 41 R. Hatate - Average Rating: 3.05
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