Hearts Push 8 Points Clear in Front at the Pinnacle After Lawrence Shankland's Penalty Kick Overcomes The Hoops
We did not witness at Tynecastle, as it's far too early for such milestones. The encounter underlined is that Heart of Midlothian are at least in with credible shot of breaking Scottish football's long-standing stranglehold. That advantage stands at eight points for the maroon side over their rivals, whom they easily dispatched. Catch them if you can.
Key Moments in the Second Half
A brief but pivotal phase made the difference, following a tight first half that was evenly matched. What was so notable after they took a 3-1 lead was how comfortable the closing stages of the game was for the Tynecastle team. The Greek winger netted the second goal, cutting in from the left before firing a powerful effort past the static Kasper Schmeichel. Delight increased in the stands, Murray upending the Hearts player for a foul that the captain converted. The Celtic manager looked dejected; his problems are mounting.
Fans start to rejoice after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) puts Hearts 2-1 up against Celtic.
The Visitors' Fightback
The away side responded positively from an early setback. The defender, who had a difficult day, conceded an own goal due to haste when trying to deal with a Shankland cross. The Hoops worked their way into the game, leader McGregor, scoring a Tierney cutback for 1-1.
Solid Backline
The shot-stopper Schwolow, who had made a brilliant stop from Nygren in the first half, parried an Arne Engels shot which touched Tómas Magnússon. Craig Halkett thwarted a Shin Yamada attempt in added time. They comfortably saw out the game as the game concluded. “We stand firm” has become the Tynecastle verse of choice at the stadium. One cannot overlook the buzz.
- Detailed coverage to follow.
