The Tynecastle side Extend 8 Points Clear Ahead at Top After Lawrence Shankland's Spot-Kick Overcomes The Glasgow Giants
History wasn't made at Tynecastle, 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 disrupting Scottish football's 40-year dominance by two. That advantage stands at eight points for the maroon side over Celtic, whom they easily dispatched. Try to chase them down.
Key Moments in the After the Break
A brief but pivotal phase proved decisive, following a tight first half that was fiercely fought. It was remarkable after they took a 3-1 lead was how untroubled the remainder of the game was for the home side. The Greek winger netted the second goal, cutting in from the left before thumping a right-footed shot past the static Kasper Schmeichel. Delight increased in the stands, the Celtic defender bringing down Braga for a foul that Lawrence Shankland converted. Rodgers cut such a disconsolate figure; challenges abound for him.
Fans start to rejoice after Kyziridis (second right) puts Hearts 2-1 up against the opposition.
Hoops' Reaction
The away side responded positively from an early setback. Murray, who endured a torrid afternoon, turned the ball into his own net due to haste when trying to deal with a Shankland cross. The Hoops worked their way into the game, leader McGregor, turning home a Kieran Tierney pass for level terms.
Hearts' Defensive Resilience
The Hearts goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow, who had denied from Nygren in the first half, parried an Engels shot which touched Magnússon. Halkett stopped a Shin Yamada attempt in stoppage time. They comfortably saw out the game as the minutes passed. “We shall not be moved” has become the favoured chant at Tynecastle. It's hard to ignore the buzz.
- Complete analysis coming soon.