The Tynecastle side Extend Eight Points Ahead at the Summit After Shankland's Spot-Kick Defeats The Hoops
We did not witness at Tynecastle, with it being far too early for such achievements. The encounter underlined is that Heart of Midlothian possess a real credible shot of disrupting Scottish football's long-standing stranglehold. They now lead by eight points for Hearts over their rivals, whom they easily dispatched. The challenge is now for others.
Turning Point in the After the Break
A crucial three-minute spell proved decisive, following a tight first half that was evenly matched. What was so notable after they extended their advantage was how stress-free the closing stages of the game was for the Tynecastle team. The Greek winger netted the second goal, moving infield before firing a powerful effort past the static the goalkeeper. More joy followed in the stands, Murray bringing down Braga for a penalty that Lawrence Shankland slotted home. The Celtic manager cut such a disconsolate figure; his problems are mounting.
Fans start to rejoice after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) puts Hearts 2-1 up against the opposition.
Hoops' Reaction
Celtic had actually recovered well from Hearts’ rapid start. Dane Murray, who struggled throughout, turned the ball into his own net due to haste when trying to remove a ball into the box. They gradually fought back into the game, skipper McGregor, turning home a Tierney pull-back for level terms.
Hearts' Defensive Resilience
The Hearts goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow, who had denied from Benjamin Nygren in the first half, kept out an Arne Engels shot which deflected off Magnússon. Halkett thwarted a Shin Yamada attempt in added time. They comfortably saw out the game as the game concluded. “We shall not be moved” has become the Tynecastle verse of choice at the stadium. One cannot overlook the noise.
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