Dominant Heart of Midlothian Outclass Disappointing Celtic to Go 8 Pts in Front
At a glance
- Hearts' attacking duo secure Hearts win and propel them eight points clear at the top
- Callum McGregor equalized early Murray own goal
- Hearts go 13 league matches without defeat for first time in over two decades
Rampant Hearts surged eight ahead of their Glasgow rivals at the top of the Scottish top flight to bolster their early championship claims and worsen the malaise 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.
The young defender - among three youth players in the Celtic starting lineup - scored an own goal early on to put Hearts ahead at a energetic their home ground, and it was the youngster's infringement that led to the spot-kick.
A stylish finish from McGregor of the season had quickly cancelled out Hearts' opener, and the Swedish attacker almost put Celtic in front, opting for finesse over power and allowing Alexander Schwolow to save from close range.
But Derek McInnes' irrepressible Hearts 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 summit.
The last time they were this far ahead was in 2005-06 under George Burley, when they ended as runners-up - one of just four occasions 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 four occasions, has been at pains to downplay championship discussions, as the club seek their maiden league title since 1960.
Rodgers has seen it all before at the club - both flawless and stuttering starts to a season. He's yet to finish second best.
But on Sunday's evidence, this Edinburgh outfit showed they deserve serious consideration.
Analysis: The hosts Take Advantage of Depleted Celtic
Hearts started with the confidence of a side unbeaten in the league this season - the popular attacker poked a cross in for the striker to fire off target.
Celtic didn't help themselves with some unusual sloppiness in possession and they buckled under their first real examination.
Claudio Braga's header was touched on to a post by Kasper Schmeichel and the follow-up from Shankland was diverted goalwards by the hapless defender, in for the absent center-back.
The away side grew into the contest and started stringing passes together. From one such move, Sebastian Tounekti released Tierney to set up McGregor, who slotted home.
Aside from the Nygren chance, the visitors struggled to create much for striker Kenny or his substitute Yamada amid the unavailability of stricken attackers their key strikers.
Hearts rediscovered their energy and adaptability in attacking from across the final third. Kyziridis, one of the finds of the club's scouting network, struck low past Schmeichel from the edge of the box.
Immediately after, Murray fouled Braga in the right side of the box and the penalty taker scored. And it could've been an even more handsome win, had substitute Ageu not been stopped by the shot-stopper.
The visitors' performance after the break was partially encapsulated in two incidents involving big-money recruit Engles.
The midfielder's wayward free-kick delivery was in sharp opposition to his European display in the Europa League win over their Austrian opponents and the Belgium international was then booked for a cynical foul.
What They Said
The Hearts manager: "You see how hard the players work, the togetherness. That's not always enough to win games week in, week out.
"What we have got, is good technical ability. You're seeing that from a lot of players who have been here previously. Recent additions are keen to demonstrate their quality.
"We're in a positive moment at the minute, but it's just one win. It's important for us to maintain this form. We've got loads to do, 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 didn't move when the ball went back as a defensive unit so when they play it, they ought to be caught offside but didn't. We have got to do better with the shot.
"There's still so many points to play for. It's only the beginning. It's only nine games in. Clearly, being eight points behind is not ideal. The comfort is there's so many games to play.
"Our attention must turn on the here and now and look to find more consistency and better performance in our play."
Upcoming Fixtures for Both Sides?
Celtic are returning to their stadium on midweek against newly-promoted Falkirk (evening kick-off). At the same time in the top division, the Edinburgh outfit are at their opponents' ground.
Star Performer
Team Ratings
- Number: 89 A. Kyziridis - Score: 8.65
- Number: 9 L. Shankland - Score: 8.40
- Number: 4 C. Halkett - Average Rating: 8.30
- Jersey: 10 Braga - Score: 8.27
- Jersey: 14 C. Devlin - Score: 8.22
- Number: 6 B. Baningime - Score: 8.16
- Number: 19 S. Findlay - Score: 8.07
- Jersey: 3 Stephen Kingsley - Average Rating: 8.06
- Number: 18 Harry Milne - Score: 8.05
- Jersey: 25 A. Schwolow - Score: 8.04
- Jersey: 31 Owen McEntee - Average Rating: 7.74
- Number: 40 Ageu - Average Rating: 7.35
- Jersey: 7 E. Kabangu - Score: 7.22
- Jersey: 22 Theodor Magnússon - Average Rating: 7.05
- Jersey: 15 Maximilian Steinwender - Average Rating: 7.01
- Number: 5 J. McCart - Average Rating: 6.82
Visitors Player Scores
- Jersey: 42 C. McGregor - Score: 4.02
- Number: 1 K. Schmeichel - Score: 3.85
- Number: 63 K. Tierney - Average Rating: 3.68
- Number: 23 Sebastian Tounekti - Average Rating: 3.56
- Jersey: 5 Liam Scales - Average Rating: 3.43
- Jersey: 51 C. Donovan - Score: 3.34
- Number: 8 B. Nygren - Score: 3.28
- Jersey: 27 A. Engels - Average Rating: 3.24
- Jersey: 49 James Forrest - Average Rating: 3.10
- Jersey: 14 Liam McCowan - Average Rating: 3.09
- Number: 41 R. Hatate - Score: 3.05
- Number: