The Jambos Push 8 Points Clear Ahead at the Pinnacle Following Lawrence Shankland's Penalty Sees Off The Glasgow Giants
History wasn't made at Tynecastle Park, as it's far too early for such landmarks. What this match did emphasise is that Hearts have a genuine strong chance of breaking Scottish football's 40-year dominance by two. That advantage stands at eight points for Hearts over their rivals, whom they decisively beat. Try to chase them down.
Key Moments in the Second Half
Three second-half minutes were key, once the initial exchanges that was evenly matched. The striking aspect after they took a 3-1 lead was how comfortable the remainder of the game was for the Tynecastle team. Alexandros Kyziridis doubled the lead, moving infield before blasting a strike past the static the goalkeeper. More joy followed in the stands, the Celtic defender bringing down the Hearts player for a penalty that Lawrence Shankland slotted home. The Celtic manager cut such a disconsolate figure; challenges abound for him.
The crowd erupted after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) scores to make it 2-1 against Celtic.
Celtic's Response
Celtic bounced back from an early setback. The defender, who endured a torrid afternoon, conceded an own goal due to haste when trying to remove a ball into the box. Celtic edged their way back into the game, the captain Callum McGregor, scoring a Tierney cutback for the equaliser.
Hearts' Defensive Resilience
The shot-stopper Schwolow, who had saved superbly from Nygren in the first half, kept out an Engels shot which touched Magnússon. Craig Halkett stopped a Yamada attempt in stoppage time. Hearts were otherwise untroubled as the minutes passed. “We remain resolute” has become the favoured chant at Tynecastle. It's hard to ignore the excitement.
- Complete analysis to follow.
