The Jambos Push Eight Points Clear in Front at Top After Lawrence Shankland's Penalty Kick Defeats Celtic
History wasn't made at Tynecastle, with it being far too early for such achievements. The encounter underlined is that Heart of Midlothian possess a real strong chance of breaking Scottish football's four decade-long title duopoly. That advantage stands at eight points for the team over Celtic, whom they decisively beat. The challenge is now for others.
Decisive Period in the After the Break
Three second-half minutes proved decisive, following a tight first half that was fiercely fought. It was remarkable after they extended their advantage was how comfortable the remainder of the game was for the Tynecastle team. Kyziridis doubled the lead, drifting inside before thumping a right-footed shot past the motionless the goalkeeper. Delight increased in the stands, Dane Murray upending the Hearts player for a penalty that Shankland converted. Rodgers appeared frustrated; his problems are mounting.
The crowd erupted after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) scores to make it 2-1 against the opposition.
Celtic's Response
Celtic bounced back from an early setback. Dane Murray, who had a difficult day, conceded an own goal due to confusion when trying to deal with a delivery from Shankland. They gradually fought back into the game, leader McGregor, scoring a Tierney cutback for level terms.
Solid Backline
The shot-stopper Schwolow, who had denied from Benjamin Nygren in the first half, kept out an Arne Engels shot which touched Tómas Magnússon. Craig Halkett stopped a Yamada attempt in stoppage time. They comfortably saw out the game as the clock ticked down. “We stand firm” has become the favoured chant at the stadium. It's hard to ignore the buzz.
- Full report coming soon.
