Hearts 3 Celtic 1
WHEN the last whistle sounded, Tynecastle was a riot of noise and colour, a veritable assault on the senses.
As Derek McInnes’ players drank in the moment, Scottish football rubbed its eyes and began to come to terms with a new reality.
The words of ‘We shall not be moved,’ echoed around this famous arena as they have done since this season was in its infancy. It’s beginning to sound like a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Anyone doubting that Hearts were genuine title contenders before this clash will surely be forced into some hasty revision.
In anyone’s language, twenty-five points taken from 27 is the form of champions. Yes, it’s still early. But a significant chunk of this campaign has come and gone and the resolve of the Tynecastle men remains. There is nothing to suggest they cannot last the pace.
Hearts players mob Lawrence Shankland after he scored their third from the spot
Celtic players look on in horror after Dane Murray’s own goal at Tynecastle
Alexandros Kyziridis finds space to score Hearts’ second goal against Celtic
Although McInnes’ side had already won at Ibrox, this was the sternest test yet of their credentials. They passed it with flying colours.
Having seen their control of the first half game taken away from them, they showed character in spades to take it back and dominate the second period. From the moment they got back in front, they were never losing this.
With investor Tony Bloom looking on from the Tynecastle stands, they scored twice through Alexandros Kyziridis and Lawrence Shankland to add to the opener which Dane Murray’s own goal had given them. The truth was they could gave had more.
Teams from out with the Old Firm have had sporadic moments of hope in the 40 years since Aberdeen won the title.
But not like this. Not an eight-point gap. Not with the spirit and momentum Hearts now enjoy.
Notwithstanding the midweek card which sees McInnes’ men travel to Paisley, they could go 11 points clear of they beat Dundee next Saturday. The naysayers are becoming fewer in number by the day.
This yet another desperate day for Brendan Rodgers in what’s already a desperate season.
His side started poorly, rallied for a spell then completely wilted in the second period. Even allowing for the lack of options the Northern Irishman had, this was a spineless and troubling performance. They are now running on empty.
Celtic captain Callum McGregor squares up to Hearts midfielder Cammy Devlin
The pressure is on Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers after falling eight points behind Hearts
It will do absolutely nothing to change the fractured state of the club. Things are seemingly only going from bad to worse.
Rodgers’ hand was certainly diminished. Already without Daizen Maeda, he lost Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Kelechi Iheanacho from Thursday’s win over Sturm Graz.
That said, he was still able to name a bench containing £6m Auston Trusty, £4.5m Michel-Ange Balikwisha £4.5m, Paulo Bernardo £3.5m and £1.5m Shin Yamaha. Context is everything.
It had been some time since Tynecastle crackled with such anticipation. No matter the twists and turns yet to come, you did not dare underestimate the importance of how this would unfold.
It more than lived up to its billing. It was fast and furious, played with an edge. You couldn’t take your eyes off the individual battles being fought and the antics of the men stood in the dug-outs.
Hearts’ start threatened to overwhelm Rodgers’ side. Shankland flicked one chance just side before Kyziridis worried Kasper Schmeichel. Celtic looked rattled.
Eight minutes in, Hearts made their pressure count. Schmeichel did well to get a fingertip to Claudio Braga’s header. He ball came off the upright and fell at Shankland’s feet.
The forward drilled the ball across goal. Murray didn’t adjust his feet, took a wild swing and fired high into the net. The noise threatened to take the roof off Tynecastle. It was the start of nightmares for the visitors.
Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland celebrates after putting the Gorgie men 3-1 up
Celtic responded swiftly and impressively, levelling within four minutes. It was an out sending passing move which started on the right through Colby Donovan.
The ball was worked centrally to Benjamin Nygren then to McGregor. The skipper fed Seb Tounekti then awaited the moment to make a penetrating run.
It came when the winger found Tierney who, in turn, kept the ball moving with a perfect pass. McGregor didn’t break stride and swept the ball home. For the first time in five matches, Alexander Schwolow was left to pick the ball from his net.
McGregor thrived on the challenge of dragging his side forward. Cammy Devlin enjoyed the task of shackling him. The upshot was a shoving match between the pair which thankfully did not boil over. It was a day when tempers had to be kept in check.
For all Hearts started impressively, they might well have been a goal down at the break. Played in by Tounekti, Nygren was a just a little too clever when he tried it beat the keeper from five yards.
The Swede’s attempt to outfox Schwolow didn’t quite work. Having feigned to shoot, he tried to chip the ball high into the net. The German stood up tall and palmed the ball to safety. With Celtic briefly on top in that period, it felt like a big moment.
Hearts were able to regroup at the interval. Whatever words of reassurance McInnes gave them, they worked. His side re-started like a hurricane.
Nothing summed up their ability to score all manner of goals like Kyziridis’ strike. He’d it all to do when he was confronted by Donovan on the left side. His directness just took his opponent out of the game. Nygren shuffled over but was a bystander.
Kyziridis stepped inside with only one thing on his mind. A tracer bullet of a strike beat Schmeichel all ends up at his near post.
The deafening din hadn’t relented when Hearts were handed the chance to open up a two-goal lead. Murray insisted that he’d caught something of the ball in the challenge which saw Braga hit the deck. Neither referee Steven McLean or VAR Andrew Dallas agreed.
Shankland took the penalty as if he was down his local park for a kick about. He rattled it to the keeper’s right. Hearts were in dreamland.
Rodgers threw on a raft of substitutes. Desperate measures in a desperate time.
Hearts ought to have been out of sight. Braga’s lay-off to Ageu should have seen the returning midfielder add the fourth. Schmeichel blocked with his legs.
Strikes from Luke McCowan and Arne Engels, both of which went inches wide, reminded Hearts that they were not there yet.
Schwolow’s magnificent save to prevent Engels’ deflected shot giving Celtic late hope was the signal for many any the visiting section to head for the exit.
Those in maroon were going nowhere. On and off the field, it seems.
