🔗 Share this article

Rampant Hearts surged eight points clear of their Glasgow rivals at the summit of the Scottish Premiership to bolster their early championship claims and deepen the struggles around Brendan Rodgers' side.

Alexandros Kyziridis' fine strike and Lawrence Shankland's penalty gave the Hearts team a two-goal advantage that the reigning champions could not overcome.

The young defender - one of three youngsters in the Celtic XI - slashed into his own net early on to put the home side ahead at a energetic their home ground, and it was the 22-year-old's foul that led to the spot-kick.

Callum McGregor's classy first goal of the season had swiftly equalized the first goal, and the Swedish attacker almost put Rodgers' team in front, opting for finesse over power and allowing Alexander Schwolow to save from close range.

But Derek McInnes' irrepressible Hearts seized control again to hand the visitors to successive league defeats for the initial occasion since last year.

It also gives the Hearts a commanding advantage at the summit.

The last time they were so far clear was in 2005-06 under their former manager, when they ultimately finished second - one of just four occasions that a team has not secured the title after building such an advantage in the past 27 years.

The Hearts coach, whose former team were second to Celtic on four occasions, has been working hard to downplay championship discussions, as Hearts seek their first top-flight crown since the 1960s.

Rodgers has seen it all before at Celtic - both perfect and shaky beginnings to a season. He's yet to finish second best.

But on Sunday's evidence, this Hearts team showed they need to be taken seriously.

Match Analysis: Hearts Capitalize of Depleted Celtic

The Edinburgh side started with the self-assurance of a side unbeaten in the league this season - the popular attacker delivered a ball for Shankland to stab wide.

The Glasgow team didn't help themselves with some unusual sloppiness in possession and they faltered under their first real examination.

A headed effort from Braga was touched on to a post by the Celtic keeper and the follow-up from Shankland was turned into the net by the hapless defender, in for the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers.

The away side grew into the contest and started stringing passes together. From one such move, the midfielder released Tierney to set up McGregor, who rolled in.

Aside from the Nygren chance, Celtic struggled to create much for striker Kenny or his substitute Yamada amid the absence of injured forwards their key strikers.

The home team regained their intensity and versatility in creating chances in the opposition half. Kyziridis, a standout performer of the club's relationship with shareholder Tony Bloom's Jamestown Analytics, fired a low shot past the goalkeeper from the just outside the area.

Almost straight away, the defender tripped Braga in the right side of the box and the penalty taker scored. And it could've been an even more handsome win, had replacement Ageu not been stopped by the shot-stopper.

Celtic's second half was somewhat summed up in two incidents involving record signing Arne Engles.

The midfielder's wayward free-kick delivery was in sharp opposition to his European display in the Europa League win over Sturm Graz and the Belgium international was then yellow-carded for a cynical foul.

Post-Match Comments

Hearts head coach Derek McInnes: "The effort from the squad is evident, the togetherness. That's not sufficient on its own to win games week in, week out.

"What we have got, is skillful players. You're witnessing it from a lot of players who have been here previously. Recent additions are eager to show that.

"We've got a good thing going at the minute, but it's just one win. It's important for us to keep winning. We've got loads to do, loads to do. Following the initial fixtures is typically a benchmark of where you are."

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "The second goal was disappointing from our perspective. We didn't move when the play was recycled as a defensive unit so when they play it, they should have players offside but didn't. We have got to do better with the shot.

"Plenty of matches to play for. It's only the beginning. It's just nine matches. Clearly, being eight adrift is not what we would want. The comfort is there's numerous fixtures to play.

"Our attention must turn on the present and look to find more consistency and better performance in our play."

Upcoming Fixtures for Both Sides?

The Glasgow club are back at home on midweek against newly-promoted Falkirk (19:45 GMT). At the same time in the top division, Hearts are at their opponents' ground.

---