Dominant Hearts Defeat Struggling Celtic to Extend Eight Points Ahead
At a glance
- Kyziridis & Shankland secure victory for the hosts and propel them eight points clear at the top
- Callum McGregor cancelled out early Murray own goal
- Hosts extend 13 games without defeat for first time in over two decades
The dominant Edinburgh side powered eight ahead of their Glasgow rivals at the summit of the Scottish Premiership to strengthen their early-season title credentials and worsen 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 reigning champions could not recover from.
Dane Murray - one of three youngsters in the Celtic starting lineup - scored an own goal in the early stages to put the home side 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 Hearts' opener, and Benjamin Nygren almost put Rodgers' team in front, choosing placement over power and allowing Alexander Schwolow to save from close range.
But Derek McInnes' irrepressible Hearts seized control again to hand Celtic to back-to-back losses for the first time since last year.
It also gives the Hearts a commanding advantage at the summit.
The last time they were this far ahead was in the 2005-2006 season under their former manager, when they ultimately finished second - a rare instance that a team has failed to win the title having held such a lead in the past 27 years.
McInnes, whose Aberdeen side were second to Celtic on multiple times, has been at pains to downplay championship discussions, as the club seek their maiden league title since the 1960s.
The Celtic boss has seen it all before at Celtic - both perfect and shaky beginnings to a season. He's yet to finish second best.
But on the weekend's performance, this Edinburgh outfit showed they deserve serious consideration.
Match Analysis: The hosts Capitalize of Weakened The Visitors
The Edinburgh side started with the self-assurance of a side undefeated in the league this season - fans' favourite Kyziridis delivered a ball 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.
A headed effort from Braga was tipped onto the woodwork by the Celtic keeper and the follow-up from Shankland was diverted goalwards by the unfortunate Murray, in for the absent center-back.
The away side grew into the contest and started building moves. From one such move, Sebastian Tounekti released Tierney to square for the captain, who slotted home.
Aside from the Nygren chance, the visitors struggled to create much for striker Kenny or his replacement Shin Yamada amid the absence of injured forwards their key strikers.
Hearts rediscovered their energy and versatility in attacking from across the final third. The Greek forward, one of the finds of the club's relationship with shareholder Tony Bloom's Jamestown Analytics, fired a low shot past Schmeichel from the edge of the box.
Immediately after, Murray tripped the midfielder in the right side of the box and the penalty taker scored. And it could've been an more comprehensive victory, had substitute Ageu not been stopped by Schmeichel.
Celtic's second half was somewhat summed up 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 Sturm Graz and the national team player was then yellow-carded 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 sufficient on its own to win games consistently.
"Our strength lies in, is good technical ability. You're witnessing it from a lot of players 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 just one win. It's crucial for us to keep winning. We've got much work ahead, loads to do. After the first two rounds is typically a benchmark of where you are."
The Celtic boss: "The second goal was disappointing from our perspective. We failed to push up when the ball went back as a line so when they play it, they ought to be caught offside but weren't. We have got to do better with the shot.
"There's still so many points to play for. It's still so early. It's just nine matches. Clearly, being eight points behind is not what we would want. The positive is there's so many games to play.
"Our attention must turn on the present and look to find more consistency and more quality in our play."
Upcoming Fixtures for These Teams?
Celtic are back at home on Wednesday against promoted side Falkirk (19:45 GMT). At the identical hour in the Scottish Premiership, Hearts are at their opponents' ground.
Player of the Match
Team Player Scores
- Number: 89 A. Kyziridis - Average Rating: 8.65
- Number: 9 Lawrence Shankland - Average Rating: 8.40
- Jersey: 4 C. Halkett - Score: 8.30
- Jersey: 10 Cláudio Braga - Score: 8.27
- Number: 14 C. Devlin - Score: 8.22
- Number: 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 H. Milne - Score: 8.05
- Jersey: 25 A. Schwolow - Average Rating: 8.04
- Number: 31 O. McEntee - Score: 7.74
- Jersey: 40 Ageu - Average Rating: 7.35
- Number: 7 Eliezer Kabangu - Score: 7.22
- Jersey: 22 T. Magnússon - Score: 7.05
- Jersey: 15 M. Steinwender - Average Rating: 7.01
- Jersey: 5 J. McCart - Score: 6.82
Visitors Ratings
- Number: 42 C. McGregor - Average Rating: 4.02
- Jersey: 1 K. Schmeichel - Average Rating: 3.85
- Number: 63 Kieran Tierney - Score: 3.68
- Number: 23 Sebastian Tounekti - Score: 3.56
- Number: 5 L. Scales - Score: 3.43
- Number: 51 C. Donovan - Score: 3.34
- Number: 8 Benjamin Nygren - Average Rating: 3.28
- Number: 27 A. Engels - Score: 3.24
- Jersey: 49 J. Forrest - Average Rating: 3.10
- Jersey: 14 Liam McCowan - Average Rating: 3.09
- Jersey: 41 R. Hatate - Average Rating: 3.05
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