Dominant Heart of Midlothian Defeat Disappointing Celtic to Go Eight Points Ahead
Match summary
- Hearts' attacking duo earn victory for the hosts and send them eight points clear at the top
- Callum McGregor cancelled out the early own goal by Dane Murray
- Hearts go 13 league matches unbeaten for the first occasion in 27 years
Rampant Hearts powered eight points clear of their Glasgow rivals at the summit of the Scottish top flight to bolster their early title credentials and deepen the struggles around the Celtic team.
A superb goal from Kyziridis and a spot-kick from Shankland gave Derek McInnes' side a two-goal advantage that the title holders could not recover from.
Dane Murray - among three youth players in the Celtic starting lineup - scored an own goal early on to put Hearts ahead at a bouncing their home ground, and it was the youngster's infringement that led to the spot-kick.
Callum McGregor's classy first goal of the season had swiftly equalized the first goal, and Benjamin Nygren almost put Rodgers' team in front, opting for finesse over power and allowing the Hearts keeper to save from close range.
But Derek McInnes' irrepressible Hearts regained dominance to consign Celtic to successive league defeats for the initial occasion 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 - a rare instance that a team has not secured the title having held such a lead in the past 27 years.
McInnes, whose Aberdeen side were runners-up to the champions on four occasions, has been at pains to play down title talk, as the club seek their maiden league title since 1960.
Rodgers has seen it all before at Celtic - both flawless and stuttering starts to a season. He's never ended as runner-up.
But on the weekend's performance, this Edinburgh outfit showed they deserve serious consideration.
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 the striker to stab wide.
Celtic didn't aid their cause with some unusual sloppiness in possession and they buckled under their first real examination.
Claudio Braga's header was tipped onto the woodwork by the Celtic keeper and the follow-up from Shankland was diverted goalwards by the hapless defender, in for the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Celtic grew into the contest and started stringing passes together. From a flowing attack, Sebastian Tounekti released Tierney to square for McGregor, who rolled in.
Aside from the opportunity for Nygren, Celtic struggled to create much for striker Kenny or his replacement Shin Yamada amid the absence of injured forwards Kelechi Iheanacho and Daizen Maeda.
The home team rediscovered their energy and versatility in creating chances in the opposition half. 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 edge of the box.
Immediately after, the defender tripped Braga in the right side of the box and Shankland scored. And it could've been an more comprehensive victory, had substitute Ageu not been denied by Schmeichel.
The visitors' performance after the break was somewhat summed up in a couple of moments involving big-money recruit Engles.
The set-piece from Engles delivery was in stark contrast to his midweek exploits in the continental victory over their Austrian opponents and the Belgium international was then yellow-carded for a cynical foul.
Post-Match Comments
The Hearts manager: "The effort from the squad is evident, the team spirit. That's not always enough to win games consistently.
"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 eager to show that.
"We're in a positive moment 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. Following the initial fixtures is normally an indication of your standing."
The Celtic boss: "It's a really poor goal from our perspective. We didn't move when the ball went back as a defensive unit so when they pass the ball, they should have players offside but didn't. We have got to do better with the attempt.
"There's still so many points to play for. It's only the beginning. It's just nine matches. Obviously, being eight points behind is not ideal. The comfort is there's numerous fixtures to play.
"We now have to focus on the present and look to find more consistency and better performance in our play."
What's Next for These Teams?
The Glasgow club are returning to their stadium on midweek against promoted side Falkirk (evening kick-off). At the identical hour in the top division, the Edinburgh outfit are at their opponents' ground.
Star Performer
Hearts Player Scores
- Jersey: 89 Alexandros Kyziridis - Score: 8.65
- Jersey: 9 Lawrence Shankland - Average Rating: 8.40
- Jersey: 4 C. Halkett - Score: 8.30
- Jersey: 10 Cláudio Braga - Score: 8.27
- Number: 14 Cameron Devlin - Score: 8.22
- Jersey: 6 Beni Baningime - Average Rating: 8.16
- Number: 19 Stuart Findlay - Average Rating: 8.07
- Number: 3 S. Kingsley - Average Rating: 8.06
- Number: 18 Harry Milne - Average Rating: 8.05
- Jersey: 25 Alexander Schwolow - Score: 8.04
- Number: 31 Owen McEntee - Average Rating: 7.74
- Jersey: 40 Ageu - Score: 7.35
- Number: 7 E. Kabangu - Score: 7.22
- Jersey: 22 T. Magnússon - Score: 7.05
- Number: 15 M. Steinwender - Average Rating: 7.01
- Number: 5 Jamie McCart - Average Rating: 6.82
Celtic Player Scores
- Number: 42 C. McGregor - Score: 4.02
- Number: 1 K. Schmeichel - Score: 3.85
- Number: 63 Kieran Tierney - Score: 3.68
- Number: 23 S. Tounekti - Average Rating: 3.56
- Jersey: 5 L. Scales - Average Rating: 3.43
- Number: 51 Cillian Donovan - Score: 3.34
- Jersey: 8 B. Nygren - Average Rating: 3.28
- Number: 27 Arne Engels - Score: 3.24
- Jersey: 49 James Forrest - Score: 3.10
- Jersey: 14 Liam McCowan - Score: 3.09
- Number: 41 Reo Hatate - Score: 3.05
- Jersey: