Powerful Hearts Overpower Disappointing Celtic to Extend 8 Points in Front
Key points
- Hearts' attacking duo secure Hearts win and send them eight points clear at summit
- Celtic's McGregor cancelled out early Murray own goal
- Hosts extend 13 games unbeaten for the first occasion in 27 years
The dominant Edinburgh side powered eight ahead of Celtic at the top of the Scottish top flight to bolster their early-season championship claims and deepen the malaise around the Celtic team.
A superb goal from Kyziridis and a spot-kick from Shankland gave Derek McInnes' side a two-goal advantage that the title holders could not recover from.
The young defender - among three youth players in the Celtic starting lineup - slashed into his own net early on to put the home side ahead at a bouncing Tynecastle, and it was the youngster's infringement that led to the penalty.
Callum McGregor's classy first goal of the season had swiftly equalized the first goal, and the Swedish attacker almost put Celtic in front, opting for finesse over power and allowing Alexander Schwolow to make a crucial stop.
But the unstoppable Hearts side regained dominance to consign Celtic to back-to-back losses for the first time since last year.
It also gives the Edinburgh side a significant lead at the summit.
The previous occasion 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 failed to win the title after building such an advantage in the last three decades.
The Hearts coach, whose former team were second to Celtic on multiple times, has been at pains to play down title talk, as Hearts seek their first top-flight crown since the 1960s.
The Celtic boss has seen it all before at Celtic - both flawless and stuttering starts to a season. He's yet to finish second best.
But on Sunday's evidence, this Edinburgh outfit showed they deserve serious consideration.
Match Analysis: The hosts Take Advantage of Weakened The Visitors
The Edinburgh side started with the confidence of a side unbeaten in the league this season - fans' favourite Kyziridis delivered a ball for Shankland to stab wide.
Celtic didn't aid their cause with some uncharacteristic carelessness in possession and they buckled under their first real examination.
Claudio Braga's header was touched on to a post by Kasper Schmeichel and Shankland's return ball was turned into the net by the hapless defender, in for the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers.
The away side found their rhythm and started building moves. From one such move, Sebastian Tounekti released Tierney to square for the captain, who rolled in.
Apart from the Nygren chance, Celtic found it hard to generate chances for lone frontman Jonny Kenny or his replacement Shin Yamada amid the unavailability of injured forwards Kelechi Iheanacho and Daizen Maeda.
Hearts rediscovered their energy and adaptability in attacking from across the final third. Kyziridis, one of the finds of the club's relationship with shareholder Tony Bloom's Jamestown Analytics, struck low past Schmeichel from the just outside the area.
Immediately after, the defender fouled Braga in the right side of the box and Shankland converted. And it could've been an even more handsome win, had replacement Ageu not been denied by Schmeichel.
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 midweek exploits in the continental victory over Sturm Graz and the Belgium international was then yellow-carded for a cynical foul.
What They Said
The Hearts manager: "The effort from the squad is evident, the togetherness. That's not sufficient on its own to win games week in, week out.
"Our strength lies in, is skillful players. You're seeing that from multiple individuals who have been here previously. Recent additions are eager to show that.
"We're in a positive moment at the minute, but it's only three points. It's important for us to keep winning. We've got loads to do, plenty to improve. After the first two rounds is normally an indication of your standing."
The Celtic boss: "The second goal was disappointing from our perspective. We didn't move when the play was recycled as a defensive unit so when they pass the ball, they ought to be caught offside but weren't. We have got to improve with the shot.
"There's still so many points to play for. It's still so early. It's just nine matches. Clearly, being eight points behind is not what we would want. The comfort is there's so many games to play.
"Our attention must turn on the here and now 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 (evening kick-off). At the same time in the Scottish Premiership, Hearts are at their opponents' ground.
Star Performer
Hearts Player Scores
- Number: 89 Alexandros Kyziridis - Score: 8.65
- Number: 9 L. Shankland - Average Rating: 8.40
- Number: 4 C. Halkett - Average Rating: 8.30
- Jersey: 10 Cláudio Braga - Average Rating: 8.27
- Number: 14 C. Devlin - Average Rating: 8.22
- Number: 6 Beni Baningime - Score: 8.16
- Jersey: 19 S. Findlay - Score: 8.07
- Jersey: 3 Stephen Kingsley - Score: 8.06
- Jersey: 18 Harry Milne - Score: 8.05
- Jersey: 25 A. Schwolow - Average Rating: 8.04
- Jersey: 31 Owen McEntee - Score: 7.74
- Jersey: 40 Ageu - Score: 7.35
- Jersey: 7 Eliezer Kabangu - Score: 7.22
- Number: 22 T. Magnússon - Score: 7.05
- Number: 15 M. Steinwender - Average Rating: 7.01
- Number: 5 J. McCart - Average Rating: 6.82
Celtic Player Scores
- Jersey: 42 Callum McGregor - Average Rating: 4.02
- Jersey: 1 K. Schmeichel - Average Rating: 3.85
- Number: 63 Kieran Tierney - Score: 3.68
- Jersey: 23 S. Tounekti - Score: 3.56
- Jersey: 5 Liam Scales - Score: 3.43
- Jersey: 51 Cillian Donovan - Average Rating: 3.34
- Jersey: 8 Benjamin Nygren - Score: 3.28
- Jersey: 27 Arne Engels - Average Rating: 3.24
- Number: 49 James Forrest - Average Rating: 3.10
- Number: 14 L. McCowan - Score: 3.09
- Jersey: 41 R. Hatate - Average Rating: 3.05
- Jersey: