The Jambos Move Eight Points Ahead Ahead at the Pinnacle After Shankland's Penalty Kick Sees Off The Glasgow Giants
History wasn't made at Tynecastle Park, with it being far too early for such achievements. What this match did emphasise is that Heart of Midlothian possess a real strong chance of ending Scottish football's four decade-long stranglehold. Make that an eight-point lead for the maroon side over the visitors, whom they decisively beat. Catch them if you can.
Key Moments in the After the Break
A brief but pivotal phase made the difference, once the initial exchanges that was contested closely. The striking aspect after they extended their advantage was how stress-free the remainder of the game was for the hosts. Kyziridis doubled the lead, drifting inside before firing a powerful effort past the static the goalkeeper. More joy followed in the stands, Murray fouling Cláudio Braga for a foul that the captain slotted home. Brendan Rodgers appeared frustrated; he hardly has his troubles to seek.
Fans start to rejoice after Kyziridis (second right) gives Hearts the lead against Celtic.
The Visitors' Fightback
Celtic had actually recovered well from Hearts’ rapid start. The defender, who endured a torrid afternoon, scored an own goal due to haste when trying to remove a delivery from Shankland. They gradually fought back into the game, skipper Callum McGregor, turning home a Tierney pass for the equaliser.
Stubborn Defence
The Hearts goalkeeper Schwolow, who had saved superbly from Nygren in the first half, blocked an Arne Engels shot which flicked off Magnússon. Craig Halkett stopped a Shin Yamada attempt in stoppage time. They comfortably saw out the game as the clock ticked down. “We stand firm” has become the Tynecastle verse of choice at Tynecastle. It's hard to ignore the buzz.
- Full report will be available.
