Dominant Hearts Overpower Struggling Celtic to Go Eight Pts in Front
At a glance
- Kyziridis & Shankland earn victory for the hosts and send them eight points clear at summit
- Callum McGregor equalized early Murray own goal
- Hearts extend 13 games unbeaten for the first occasion in over two decades
The dominant Edinburgh side powered eight ahead of Celtic at the top of the Scottish top flight to bolster their early-season title credentials and worsen the malaise around Brendan Rodgers' side.
A superb goal from Kyziridis and a spot-kick from Shankland gave the Hearts team a 3-1 lead that the title holders could not recover from.
The young defender - among three youth players in the Celtic starting lineup - slashed into his own net early on to put the home side ahead at a energetic 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 swiftly equalized the first goal, and Benjamin Nygren almost put Celtic in front, opting for finesse over power and allowing Alexander Schwolow to make a crucial stop.
But the unstoppable Hearts side seized control again 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 last time they were so far clear was in the 2005-2006 season under George Burley, when they ultimately finished second - a rare instance that a team has not secured the title after building such an advantage in the last three decades.
The Hearts coach, whose former team were second to Celtic on multiple times, has been at pains to downplay title talk, as the club seek their maiden league title since the 1960s.
Rodgers has experienced this previously at Celtic - both perfect and shaky beginnings 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: The hosts Capitalize of Depleted Celtic
Hearts started with the confidence of a side unbeaten in the league this season - fans' favourite Kyziridis delivered a ball for the striker to stab wide.
Celtic didn't aid their cause with some unusual sloppiness in possession and they faltered under their initial test.
A headed effort from Braga was touched on to a post by Kasper Schmeichel and Shankland's return ball was diverted goalwards by the hapless defender, in for the absent center-back.
The away side found their rhythm and started stringing passes together. From one such move, the midfielder released the full-back to set up the captain, who slotted home.
Aside from the Nygren chance, the visitors found it hard to generate chances for lone frontman Jonny Kenny or his replacement Shin Yamada amid the absence of injured forwards their key strikers.
The home team rediscovered their energy and adaptability in attacking from across the final third. Kyziridis, one of the finds of the club's relationship with shareholder Tony Bloom's Jamestown Analytics, struck low past Schmeichel from the edge of the box.
Almost straight away, Murray tripped the midfielder in the right side of the box and the penalty taker converted. And it could've been an more comprehensive victory, had substitute Ageu not been stopped by Schmeichel.
The visitors' performance after the break was partially encapsulated 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 Europa League win over Sturm Graz and the national team player was then booked for a cynical foul.
What They Said
The Hearts manager: "The effort from the squad is evident, the togetherness. That's not sufficient on its own to win games week in, week out.
"What we have got, is good technical ability. You're seeing that from multiple individuals who have been here before. Some of the new signings are eager to show that.
"We've got a good thing going at the minute, but it's just one win. It's important for us to keep winning. We've got loads to do, plenty to improve. After the first two rounds is normally an indication of where you are."
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "It's a really poor goal from our perspective. We didn't move when the play was recycled as a defensive unit so when they pass the ball, they should have players offside but didn't. We have got to improve with the shot.
"There's still so many points to play for. It's still so early. It's only nine games in. Clearly, being eight adrift is not what we would want. The comfort is there's numerous fixtures 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?
The Glasgow club are back at home on midweek against newly-promoted Falkirk (evening kick-off). At the same time in the top division, the Edinburgh outfit are at St Mirren.
Player of the Match
Hearts Player Scores
- Jersey: 89 Alexandros Kyziridis - Average Rating: 8.65
- Jersey: 9 L. Shankland - Average Rating: 8.40
- Number: 4 Craig Halkett - Average Rating: 8.30
- Jersey: 10 Braga - Score: 8.27
- Jersey: 14 Cameron Devlin - Average Rating: 8.22
- Jersey: 6 Beni Baningime - Average Rating: 8.16
- Jersey: 19 Stuart Findlay - Score: 8.07
- Jersey: 3 Stephen Kingsley - Score: 8.06
- Jersey: 18 Harry Milne - Score: 8.05
- Number: 25 Alexander Schwolow - Average Rating: 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 Theodor Magnússon - Average Rating: 7.05
- Jersey: 15 Maximilian Steinwender - Score: 7.01
- Jersey: 5 Jamie McCart - Average Rating: 6.82
Celtic Ratings
- Jersey: 42 C. McGregor - Score: 4.02
- Number: 1 Kasper Schmeichel - Average Rating: 3.85
- Jersey: 63 K. Tierney - Average Rating: 3.68
- Jersey: 23 S. Tounekti - Score: 3.56
- Jersey: 5 L. Scales - Score: 3.43
- Jersey: 51 Cillian Donovan - Score: 3.34
- Number: 8 B. Nygren - Average Rating: 3.28
- Number: 27 Arne Engels - Score: 3.24
- Number: 49 James Forrest - Average Rating: 3.10
- Number: 14 Liam McCowan - Score: 3.09
- Jersey: 41 Reo Hatate - Average Rating: 3.05
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