The Jambos Move 8 Points Clear Ahead at the Summit After Lawrence Shankland's Penalty Defeats The Hoops
We did not witness at Tynecastle, with it being far too early for such achievements. What this match did emphasise is that Heart of Midlothian possess a real serious opportunity of breaking Scottish football's long-standing stranglehold. That advantage stands at eight points for Hearts over their rivals, whom they easily dispatched. Catch them if you can.
Turning Point in the Second Half
A brief but pivotal phase proved decisive, once the initial exchanges that was evenly matched. The striking aspect after they took a 3-1 lead was how stress-free the closing stages of the game was for the home side. The Greek winger netted the second goal, drifting inside before firing a powerful effort past the motionless the goalkeeper. Delight increased in the stands, Murray fouling Braga for a penalty that Lawrence Shankland converted. The Celtic manager cut such a disconsolate figure; his problems are mounting.
Fans start to rejoice after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) gives Hearts the lead against the opposition.
Hoops' Reaction
Celtic bounced back from the hosts' quick opening. The defender, who endured a torrid afternoon, conceded an own goal due to panic when trying to deal with a delivery from Shankland. The Hoops worked their way into the game, skipper McGregor, turning home a Tierney pull-back for 1-1.
Hearts' Defensive Resilience
The shot-stopper Schwolow, who had saved superbly from Nygren in the first half, blocked an Engels shot which deflected off Tómas Magnússon. Craig Halkett blocked a Shin Yamada attempt in stoppage time. Hearts were otherwise untroubled as the game concluded. “We shall not be moved” has become the favoured chant at the ground. It's hard to ignore the noise.
- Full report to follow.
