History wasn't made at Tynecastle Park, as it's far too early for such landmarks. This game highlighted is that Heart of Midlothian have a genuine strong chance of ending Scottish football's four decade-long dominance by two. They now lead by eight points for the maroon side over their rivals, whom they decisively beat. The challenge is now for others.
Three second-half minutes made the difference, following a tight first half that was contested closely. What was so notable after Hearts surged 3-1 in front was how comfortable the closing stages of the game was for the home side. The Greek winger doubled the lead, moving infield before firing a powerful effort past the static the goalkeeper. More joy followed in the stands, Dane Murray upending Cláudio Braga for a foul that Shankland tucked away. Rodgers looked dejected; his problems are mounting.
Fans start to rejoice after Kyziridis (second right) scores to make it 2-1 against the opposition.
Celtic had actually recovered well from Hearts’ rapid start. Dane Murray, who had a difficult day, scored an own goal due to panic when trying to clear a ball into the box. The Hoops worked their way into the game, the captain McGregor, scoring a Tierney pass for level terms.
The Hearts goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow, who had made a brilliant stop from Nygren in the first half, blocked an Arne Engels shot which deflected off Tómas Magnússon. Halkett blocked a Shin Yamada attempt in added time. They comfortably saw out the game as the minutes passed. “We stand firm” has become the favoured chant at Tynecastle. It is becoming increasingly difficult the buzz.
Elena Voss is a tech enthusiast and writer with over a decade of experience in software development and digital media.