Hearts Move 8 Points Clear Ahead at the Summit Following Lawrence Shankland's Penalty Sees Off The Glasgow Giants
We did not witness at Tynecastle Park, with it being far too early for such achievements. What this match did emphasise is that Hearts have a genuine serious opportunity of disrupting Scottish football's 40-year stranglehold. They now lead by eight points for Hearts over Celtic, whom they decisively beat. Try to chase them down.
Decisive Period in the Second Half
Three second-half minutes made the difference, following a tight first half that was evenly matched. It was remarkable after they took a 3-1 lead was how stress-free the rest of the game was for the hosts. The Greek winger netted the second goal, drifting inside before firing a powerful effort past the static the Celtic keeper. Delight increased in the stands, the Celtic defender bringing down Braga for a foul that Lawrence Shankland converted. Rodgers looked dejected; he hardly has his troubles to seek.
The crowd erupted after Kyziridis (second right) puts Hearts 2-1 up against the opposition.
Celtic's Response
Celtic had actually recovered well from the hosts' quick opening. Dane Murray, who struggled throughout, scored an own goal due to panic when trying to clear a ball into the box. The Hoops worked their way into the game, leader Callum McGregor, scoring a Tierney cutback for 1-1.
Hearts' Defensive Resilience
The Hearts goalkeeper Schwolow, who had denied from Benjamin Nygren in the first half, blocked an Arne Engels shot which deflected off Magnússon. Halkett thwarted a Shin Yamada attempt in stoppage time. The hosts faced little else as the game concluded. “We shall not be moved” has become the favoured chant at the ground. It's hard to ignore the noise.
- Complete analysis coming soon.
