Powerful Hearts Outclass Struggling Celtic to Go 8 Pts Clear
Key points
- Kyziridis & Shankland secure victory for the hosts and send them eight ahead at summit
- Callum McGregor cancelled out the early own goal by Dane Murray
- Hosts go 13 games unbeaten for first time in 27 years
The dominant Edinburgh side surged eight ahead of Celtic at the summit of the Scottish top flight to bolster their early-season championship claims and deepen the struggles around the Celtic team.
A superb goal from Kyziridis and Lawrence Shankland's penalty gave the Hearts team a two-goal advantage that the title holders could not recover from.
Dane Murray - one of three youngsters in the Celtic starting lineup - slashed into his own net in the early stages to put Hearts ahead at a bouncing Tynecastle, and it was the youngster's infringement that led to the penalty.
A stylish finish from McGregor of the season had swiftly equalized the first goal, and the Swedish attacker almost put Celtic in front, opting for finesse over power and allowing the Hearts keeper to save from close range.
But the unstoppable Hearts side regained dominance to hand Celtic to successive league defeats for the first time since last year.
It also gives the Hearts a commanding advantage at the top of the table.
The previous occasion they were this far ahead was in 2005-06 under their former manager, when they ended as runners-up - one of just four occasions that a team has not secured the title after building such an advantage in the past 27 years.
The Hearts coach, whose former team were runners-up to the champions on multiple times, has been working hard to play down title talk, as Hearts seek their first top-flight crown since the 1960s.
The Celtic boss has seen it all before at Celtic - both perfect and shaky beginnings to a season. He's never ended as runner-up.
But on the weekend's performance, this Edinburgh outfit showed they need to be taken seriously.
Match Analysis: Hearts Take Advantage of Weakened Celtic
Hearts started with the self-assurance of a side unbeaten in the league this season - the popular attacker poked a cross in for the striker to fire off target.
The Glasgow team didn't help themselves with some uncharacteristic carelessness in possession and they faltered under their first real examination.
Claudio Braga's header was touched on to a post by the Celtic keeper and Shankland's return ball was turned into the net by the unfortunate Murray, in for the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Celtic grew into the contest and started building moves. From one such move, the midfielder released the full-back to square for McGregor, who rolled in.
Aside from the opportunity for Nygren, the visitors struggled to create much for striker Kenny or his replacement Shin Yamada amid the unavailability of injured forwards their key strikers.
The home team rediscovered their energy and adaptability in creating chances in the opposition half. Kyziridis, a standout performer of the club's scouting network, fired a low shot past the goalkeeper from the edge of the box.
Almost straight away, the defender tripped Braga in the inside right channel and the penalty taker scored. And it could've been an even more handsome win, had substitute Ageu not been denied by the shot-stopper.
Celtic's second half was somewhat summed up in a couple of moments involving big-money recruit Engles.
The midfielder's wayward free-kick delivery was in sharp opposition to his midweek exploits in the Europa League win over their Austrian opponents and the Belgium international was then booked for a cynical foul.
What They Said
Hearts head coach Derek McInnes: "You see how hard the players work, the team spirit. That's not always enough to win games week in, week out.
"What we have got, is skillful players. You're witnessing it from multiple individuals who have been here before. Some of the new signings are keen to demonstrate their quality.
"We're in a positive moment at the minute, but it's just one win. It's important for us to maintain this form. We've got loads to do, plenty to improve. Following the initial fixtures is normally an indication of your standing."
The Celtic boss: "The second goal was disappointing from our perspective. We failed to push up when the play was recycled as a defensive unit so when they play it, they ought to be caught offside but weren't. We have got to improve with the shot.
"Plenty of matches to play for. It's only the beginning. It's only nine games in. Clearly, being eight points behind 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."
What's Next for These Teams?
Celtic are returning to their stadium on midweek against promoted side Falkirk (19:45 GMT). At the same time in the top division, the Edinburgh outfit are at St Mirren.
Player of the Match
Hearts Ratings
- Number: 89 Alexandros Kyziridis - Average Rating: 8.65
- Number: 9 Lawrence Shankland - Average Rating: 8.40
- Jersey: 4 Craig Halkett - Average Rating: 8.30
- Number: 10 Braga - Average Rating: 8.27
- Jersey: 14 C. Devlin - Average Rating: 8.22
- Jersey: 6 Beni Baningime - Score: 8.16
- Jersey: 19 Stuart Findlay - Average Rating: 8.07
- Jersey: 3 S. Kingsley - Score: 8.06
- Number: 18 H. Milne - Score: 8.05
- Number: 25 Alexander Schwolow - Score: 8.04
- Jersey: 31 Owen McEntee - Average Rating: 7.74
- Number: 40 Ageu - Average Rating: 7.35
- Number: 7 E. Kabangu - Score: 7.22
- Jersey: 22 T. Magnússon - Score: 7.05
- Jersey: 15 Maximilian Steinwender - Average Rating: 7.01
- Number: 5 Jamie McCart - Score: 6.82
Celtic Ratings
- Jersey: 42 Callum McGregor - Score: 4.02
- Number: 1 Kasper Schmeichel - Score: 3.85
- Number: 63 Kieran Tierney - Average Rating: 3.68
- Jersey: 23 S. Tounekti - Score: 3.56
- Number: 5 Liam Scales - Score: 3.43
- Number: 51 Cillian Donovan - Score: 3.34
- Number: 8 B. Nygren - Score: 3.28
- Jersey: 27 Arne Engels - Score: 3.24
- Jersey: 49 James Forrest - Score: 3.10
- Number: 14 Liam McCowan - Score: 3.09
- Number: 41 Reo Hatate - Score: 3.05
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