History wasn't made at Tynecastle, as it's far too early for such landmarks. This game highlighted is that the Edinburgh club have a genuine credible shot of breaking Scottish football's long-standing dominance by two. They now lead by eight points for the maroon side over the visitors, whom they comfortably swatted aside. Catch them if you can.
Decisive Period in the Second Half
A crucial three-minute spell made the difference, after an opening period that was contested closely. What was so notable after they took a 3-1 lead was how comfortable the rest of the game was for the Tynecastle team. The Greek winger scored Hearts’ second, drifting inside before thumping a right-footed shot past the static the goalkeeper. Soon there was further euphoria in the stands, Murray bringing down the Hearts player for a spot-kick that the captain tucked away. Rodgers looked dejected; his problems are mounting.
Fans start to rejoice after Kyziridis (second right) scores to make it 2-1 against Celtic.
Celtic's Response
The away side responded positively from Hearts’ rapid start. The defender, who had a difficult day, conceded an own goal due to confusion when trying to remove a Shankland cross. Celtic edged their way back into the game, leader McGregor, scoring a Tierney pull-back for level terms.
Solid Backline
The Hearts goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow, who had saved superbly from Benjamin Nygren in the first half, parried an Arne Engels shot which touched Magnússon. Craig Halkett stopped a Yamada attempt in the dying moments. The hosts faced little else as the clock ticked down. “We shall not be moved” has become the popular anthem at the stadium. It's hard to ignore the noise.
- Complete analysis to follow.
