Dominant Hearts Outclass Struggling Celtic to Go Eight Pts Clear
Key points
- Hearts' attacking duo earn victory for the hosts and send them eight points clear at the top
- Celtic's McGregor equalized early Murray own goal
- Hearts go 13 games unbeaten for the first occasion in 27 years
Rampant Hearts powered eight points clear of their Glasgow rivals at the top of the Scottish top flight to strengthen their early-season title credentials and worsen the malaise around the Celtic team.
A superb goal from Kyziridis and Lawrence Shankland's penalty gave Derek McInnes' side a two-goal advantage that the reigning champions could not overcome.
Dane Murray - one of three youngsters in the Celtic starting lineup - scored an own goal early on to put the home side ahead at a bouncing Tynecastle, and it was the 22-year-old's foul that led to the penalty.
Callum McGregor's classy first goal of the season had quickly cancelled out the first goal, and the Swedish attacker almost put Rodgers' team in front, choosing placement over power and allowing Alexander Schwolow to save from close range.
But Derek McInnes' irrepressible Hearts regained dominance to hand the visitors to successive league defeats for the first time since last year.
It also gives the Edinburgh side a commanding advantage at the top of the table.
The last time they were so far clear 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 last three decades.
McInnes, whose Aberdeen side were second to Celtic on four occasions, has been working hard to downplay championship discussions, as Hearts seek their first top-flight crown since the 1960s.
Rodgers has seen it all before at Celtic - both flawless and stuttering starts to a season. He's yet to finish second best.
But on the weekend's performance, this Hearts team showed they deserve serious consideration.
Analysis: The hosts Capitalize of Weakened The Visitors
The Edinburgh side started with the confidence of a side unbeaten 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 unusual sloppiness in possession and they buckled under their first real examination.
A headed effort from Braga was touched on to a post by Kasper Schmeichel and Shankland's return ball was turned into the net by the unfortunate Murray, in for the absent center-back.
Celtic found their rhythm and started building moves. From a flowing attack, the midfielder released Tierney to square for the captain, who slotted home.
Apart from the opportunity for Nygren, the visitors struggled to create much for striker Kenny or his replacement Shin Yamada amid the unavailability of stricken attackers Kelechi Iheanacho and Daizen Maeda.
Hearts regained their intensity and versatility in creating chances in the opposition half. The Greek forward, one of the finds of the club's scouting network, fired a low shot past the goalkeeper from the edge of the box.
Almost straight away, Murray fouled Braga in the right side of the box and the penalty taker converted. And it could've been an even more handsome win, had replacement Ageu not been denied by the shot-stopper.
The visitors' performance after the break was somewhat summed up in a couple of moments involving big-money recruit Engles.
The set-piece from Engles delivery was in stark contrast to his midweek exploits in the continental victory over their Austrian opponents and the Belgium international was then yellow-carded for a cynical foul.
What They Said
The Hearts manager: "You see how hard the players work, the togetherness. That's not sufficient on its own to win games consistently.
"Our strength lies in, is good technical ability. You're seeing that from multiple individuals who have been here before. Recent additions are keen to demonstrate their quality.
"We've got a good thing going at the minute, but it's just one win. It's important for us to keep winning. We've got loads to do, loads to do. After the first two rounds is normally an indication of where you are."
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "The second goal was disappointing from our perspective. We failed to push up when the ball went back as a defensive unit so when they pass the ball, they ought to be caught offside but didn't. We have got to improve with the attempt.
"Plenty of matches to play for. It's only the beginning. It's only nine games in. Clearly, being eight adrift is not what we would want. The comfort is there's numerous fixtures to play.
"Our attention must turn on the here and now and look to achieve greater stability and more quality in our play."
Upcoming Fixtures for Both Sides?
The Glasgow club are returning to their stadium on midweek against promoted side Falkirk (19:45 GMT). At the same time in the top division, Hearts are at their opponents' ground.
Player of the Match
Hearts Ratings
- Jersey: 89 Alexandros Kyziridis - Score: 8.65
- Jersey: 9 Lawrence Shankland - Average Rating: 8.40
- Number: 4 Craig Halkett - Score: 8.30
- Jersey: 10 Braga - Score: 8.27
- Number: 14 C. Devlin - Score: 8.22
- Jersey: 6 B. Baningime - Average Rating: 8.16
- Jersey: 19 Stuart Findlay - Average Rating: 8.07
- Jersey: 3 S. Kingsley - Score: 8.06
- Jersey: 18 H. Milne - Score: 8.05
- Number: 25 A. Schwolow - Average Rating: 8.04
- Number: 31 Owen McEntee - Score: 7.74
- Jersey: 40 Ageu - Score: 7.35
- Number: 7 Eliezer Kabangu - Average Rating: 7.22
- Number: 22 Theodor Magnússon - Average Rating: 7.05
- Jersey: 15 M. Steinwender - Score: 7.01
- Jersey: 5 Jamie McCart - Score: 6.82
Visitors Player Scores
- Number: 42 C. McGregor - Average Rating: 4.02
- Jersey: 1 Kasper Schmeichel - Score: 3.85
- Number: 63 Kieran Tierney - Average Rating: 3.68
- Number: 23 S. Tounekti - Average Rating: 3.56
- Number: 5 Liam Scales - Average Rating: 3.43
- Number: 51 Cillian Donovan - Score: 3.34
- Number: 8 B. Nygren - Score: 3.28
- Number: 27 Arne Engels - Average Rating: 3.24
- Jersey: 49 J. Forrest - Score: 3.10
- Number: 14 Liam McCowan - Score: 3.09
- Jersey: 41 R. Hatate - Average Rating: 3.05
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